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TO CHEW ON: "Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15
In a psalm where the writer can't thank God enough for sparing his life, he takes a moment to reflect on what almost got him—death. It's like he's saying, That wouldn't have been so bad. After all, the death of a saint ("His loving ones" AMP) is something that is precious ("important, no light matter" - AMP) to God - Psalm 116:15.
The Bible has more positive implications, claims, and promises about death to those who are in a right relationship with God:
Death will be a reunion.
To Abraham God promised that death would be a time when he would join his fathers (Genesis 15:15). The poor man in Jesus' story found himself, after death, in Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22).
The way we live may impact our peace and well-being at death.
God-fearing king Josiah ruled during an era when the pendulum of good and bad kings (and the good and bad actions of the people) swung back and forth. The prophetess Huldah predicted his death when he was only 26. She said God would judge the nation's evil but Josiah, because he feared God, would die without having to see it - 2 Chronicles 34:28.
God's presence with us during death overcomes our fear (Psalm 23:4).
Death can be a refuge and blessed (Proverbs 14:32, Revelation 14:13).
We can look forward to death because it means we'll be with Jesus (Philippians 1:21; Romans 14:8).
We can experience a good end even though some of our prayers remain unanswered and we leave behind unfinished business (Hebrews 11:13,21,22).
The way we've lived our lives will impact us in eternity—our works will follow us (Revelation 14:13).
May we all find comfort in these deathbed assurances.
PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to live my life soberly and intentionally in the knowledge that death creeps closer every day. Help me to be always ready for it. Amen.
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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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