Let’s face it. The last evil to be conquered in this mortal life is death. Yes, it stings. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it’s what, indeed, makes us mortal. But, thanks to the resurrection of Jesus and God’s promises, there is more to life than what we know here, with death, tears, sorrow, depression, and lost hopes. Jesus allows us, no gives us the gift, of eternal worship of the Lord who conquered death.
Yes, our saints die. But the Psalms tell us that the death of saints is precious to the Lord. May we embrace this concept, even when our hearts are heavy when one of our loved ones leaves this life. We can embrace their legacies, we can embrace our memories, we can extol honors and heap praise. But the greatest tribute we can give is that that person was a child of God. Nothing surpasses that.
MY PSALM 306 DEATH OF A SAINT
Abba, Father, God of creation, Lover of our souls,
You have known us eternally
And formed us according to Your purpose
To live in this time and place.
Your Psalm 139 tells us
That even as we were being formed in the womb
You knew the time of our death.
Your infinite plan for us even numbers our hairs.
Why then, does mankind long to do as He pleases
When You have created us for Your purposes?
“So teach us to number our days that we may
Get a heart of wisdom.”[1]
From the moment of Adam’s sin
Man has feared death.
But through Christ’s resurrection
Your saints look forward to our homecoming time
To spend eternity in Your Presence
Where “there will be no more tears.”[2]
Your word is clear. I am precious in Your sight.
“You have kept count of my troubles;
Put my tears in your bottle.[3]
Are they not recorded in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back
In the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.”[4]
We know You lead us in the valley
Of the shadow of death,
That You shepherd us through this life
And beyond.[5]
What then, is there to fear?
And Your word reveals:
“Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.” [6]
We thank You Lord
For Your grace and mercy
For the comfort You provide
As we face our own death
And suffer the loss of others to death.
We believe Your promises
And thank You for the atoning work
Of Your Son, Jesus
In showing us life to come. Amen.
[1] Psalm 90: 12
[2] Revelation 21: 4
[3][3] Psalm 56: 8
[4] Psalm 56: 11
[5] Psalm 23
[6] Psalm 116: 15
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