Jump Start # 4109

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.”

Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

The Death of a Christian

The Psalmist tells us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Ps 116:15). We also read in the last book of the Bible, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now one!” (Rev 14:13). It is often hard on us when we are feeling the pain and sorrow at the passing of a beloved Christian to think that such events are precious and blessed. But the death of a Christian means something that we often fail to see.

  It means that one has become what God wanted him to be. The life of a Christian is “choice and precious in the sight of God” (1 Pet 2:4). God wants us to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29). Living for Christ is exactly what God wants us to be.

  It means that one has finished what God wanted him to do. God not only has an image that He wants us to be like, He also has a work that He wants us to be busy doing. Revelation 14:13 says concerning the dead who die in the Lord, “yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” There is no reward for the one who quits. There is no praise to the one who fails. But to those who finish what God wants done, their death is blessed. Paul could say that he “fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). Paul did what God wanted Him to do.

It means that one will enjoy what God has awaiting for him. Jesus has gone to “prepare a place” for the Christian (Jn 14:2-3). Christ calls us to “enter into the joy of your master” (Mt 25:21).

Indeed the life of a Christian is worth it. The death of a Christian is precious. It isn’t the end, but just the beginning of something special. The best is yet to come!

Roger

June 1996