"40 Years"
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
Psalm 116:15
Looking at this verse from our side, it is not to us what it is to God. Especially when the death of a loved one comes unexpectedly. What is precious when parents lose a child, or a child loses a parent, or a spouse loses a spouse? We can begin to unwrap this mystery when we see it from God's side. What is precious to the Lord is not confined to earthly blessings. This verse examines a heaven-based perspective. When any saved person dies, no matter what age, it was expected in Heaven. God looks for the arrival of all those who belong to Him. Their arrival is precious to Him.
II Corinthians 5:8 tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The Lord Jesus is at the right hand of the heavenly Father according to Colossians 3:1. Hebrews 12:1 also tells us there is a great cloud of witnesses in Heaven right now. Based on these truths, every time a saved person dies, they end up where Jesus is, and they join that great crowd. Though our hearts grieve when they leave us, the Father's joy is wonderful as He sees their absolute ecstasy in being face to face with His Son.
When death comes for the child of God, God opens His arms to welcome each one into His prescence. Others already there, no doubt join in also to welcome another family member home. Unless Jesus comes back soon, we, too, will one day take our flight from here to there, and so shall we ever be with the Lord, and with each other.
March 10, 2019
From the Pastor,
James H. Baker
Proverbs 3: 5-8