Hello everyone, I hope you are all well and had a good festive season.
I decided to write this post because of discussions among Christians I personally know in light of what is currently happening. I have come across Christians suffering from dismay because some “good” Christians that they know have died from COVID. "Why did that good person die so soon, they ask?"
I put the word good in inverted commas in the title because God alone is good. I hope that this post will bring some comfort about death.
1.1. Living in the last days
I believe that we are living in the last days, and Jesus said that there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be in Matthew 24:21. And Luke 21:26 also says that men's hearts will fail because of fear because of what they will see coming on the earth.
Therefore soon, we will have such great problems even worse than the current pandemic, and some people will not be able to handle what is going to happen. This will be a serious test on people's faith in God when they encounter disaster after disaster as well as never ending problems in their personal lives including finances.
I also suspect that some people might backslide and be lost because they will be depressed and unable to handle the suffering and tests and trials and tribulations that will happen soon.
1.2. God allows some people to die before a serious calamity.
Isaiah 57:1 says, "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come." (KJV)
This bible verse means that God allows good people to die so that they do not have to endure suffering or any horrible calamities to come.
Therefore, although some people are good, they will be unable to bear the trials and tribulations to come. Matthew 24: 13 says, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (KJV). Some will not be able to endure to the end, and I believe that God in His mercy allows them to pass away because He wants everyone to be saved. And only those who are strong enough will remain and go through the time of trouble.
Therefore death can be seen as a freedom from unnecessary suffering.
2. Sometime a good person living longer can result in detrimental consequences in the lives of others.
2.1. Example of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20)
King Hezekiah was a good king, and his life got extended for 15 more years because he walked in truth, and with a perfect heart and done what was good in God’s sight according to 2 Kings 20:3-6.
But what happened because of the extension of his life?
If good king Hezekiah had died when he was supposed to, it would not have resulted in other people's suffering.
I suspect that this is also the case with children. Children can be good when they are young and innocent, but when they grow up, they might continue to be good or might decide to become criminals and endanger other people's lives.
Therefore I suspect that God allows some children to die young because he can see that the circumstances that they are in could result in them going to hell when they are older. I also suspect that God allows some good people to die sooner than others because He can discern that living longer can have a negative effect on others.
The longer we are on this earth, the higher the chance that we will backslide and turn away from God.
3. The Apostle Paul has a more positive view of death than we do
We, in general, have a negative view of death and see it as a horrible event and dread it.
However, we see a different perspective of death from the Apostle Paul. He saw death as a gain because death was a way to be with Christ, which is better than being alive.
Philippians 1:21-26 says, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again." (KJV)
4. Why does it take a long time for bad people to die?
Wicked people tend to live for a long time because God gives them many chances and hopes that they will eventually repent and get saved.
Overall
After reading the above, you might be wondering, why am I not dead yet? Am I not good enough to die?
You are probably not dead yet because you still have a purpose to fulfil on earth, and you might have the strength to go through the trials and tribulations that will come to pass. However, it is also possible that you still need to develop your character and be a better Christian.
There are other reasons why some people die soon such as not taking good care of their health which I did not cover.
Overall, the purpose of the post is to view death from a different perspective and an attempt to comfort those who have lost loved ones and who might lose them.
And would also like to know if anyone else has read verses that show death in a more positive way then the way most of us view it.
I decided to write this post because of discussions among Christians I personally know in light of what is currently happening. I have come across Christians suffering from dismay because some “good” Christians that they know have died from COVID. "Why did that good person die so soon, they ask?"
I put the word good in inverted commas in the title because God alone is good. I hope that this post will bring some comfort about death.
1.1. Living in the last days
I believe that we are living in the last days, and Jesus said that there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be in Matthew 24:21. And Luke 21:26 also says that men's hearts will fail because of fear because of what they will see coming on the earth.
Therefore soon, we will have such great problems even worse than the current pandemic, and some people will not be able to handle what is going to happen. This will be a serious test on people's faith in God when they encounter disaster after disaster as well as never ending problems in their personal lives including finances.
I also suspect that some people might backslide and be lost because they will be depressed and unable to handle the suffering and tests and trials and tribulations that will happen soon.
1.2. God allows some people to die before a serious calamity.
Isaiah 57:1 says, "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come." (KJV)
This bible verse means that God allows good people to die so that they do not have to endure suffering or any horrible calamities to come.
Therefore, although some people are good, they will be unable to bear the trials and tribulations to come. Matthew 24: 13 says, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (KJV). Some will not be able to endure to the end, and I believe that God in His mercy allows them to pass away because He wants everyone to be saved. And only those who are strong enough will remain and go through the time of trouble.
Therefore death can be seen as a freedom from unnecessary suffering.
2. Sometime a good person living longer can result in detrimental consequences in the lives of others.
2.1. Example of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20)
King Hezekiah was a good king, and his life got extended for 15 more years because he walked in truth, and with a perfect heart and done what was good in God’s sight according to 2 Kings 20:3-6.
But what happened because of the extension of his life?
- He allowed the representatives of Babylon to come to Israel and see all their treasures. This later resulted in the people from Israel, the treasures of Israel and the sons of Hezekiah being taken by Babylon according to 2 Kings 20:15-18.
- He had a son called Manasseh during the additional 15 years. We know this because 2 Kings 21:1 says, "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem." (KJV) The son was evil and caused the people to do more evil than the other nations according to 2 Kings 21:2-12. This resulted in the people in Jerusalem and Judah being punished by God because of Manasseh’s influence.
If good king Hezekiah had died when he was supposed to, it would not have resulted in other people's suffering.
I suspect that this is also the case with children. Children can be good when they are young and innocent, but when they grow up, they might continue to be good or might decide to become criminals and endanger other people's lives.
Therefore I suspect that God allows some children to die young because he can see that the circumstances that they are in could result in them going to hell when they are older. I also suspect that God allows some good people to die sooner than others because He can discern that living longer can have a negative effect on others.
The longer we are on this earth, the higher the chance that we will backslide and turn away from God.
3. The Apostle Paul has a more positive view of death than we do
We, in general, have a negative view of death and see it as a horrible event and dread it.
However, we see a different perspective of death from the Apostle Paul. He saw death as a gain because death was a way to be with Christ, which is better than being alive.
Philippians 1:21-26 says, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again." (KJV)
4. Why does it take a long time for bad people to die?
Wicked people tend to live for a long time because God gives them many chances and hopes that they will eventually repent and get saved.
- Ezekiel 33:11 says, "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?." (KJV)
- 1 Timothy 2:4 says, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (KJV)
- 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (KJV).
- Revelation 21:4 says, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (KJV)
- Romans 8:18 says, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy of being compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (KJV)
Overall
After reading the above, you might be wondering, why am I not dead yet? Am I not good enough to die?
You are probably not dead yet because you still have a purpose to fulfil on earth, and you might have the strength to go through the trials and tribulations that will come to pass. However, it is also possible that you still need to develop your character and be a better Christian.
There are other reasons why some people die soon such as not taking good care of their health which I did not cover.
Overall, the purpose of the post is to view death from a different perspective and an attempt to comfort those who have lost loved ones and who might lose them.
And would also like to know if anyone else has read verses that show death in a more positive way then the way most of us view it.