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Yes, death is part of life. Since creation’s fall, the verdict is: guilty. Now you will face death. It is punishment for original sin. Everything that has life faces its end. Except for God. God is infinite, omnipresent, omniscient, and, according to Psalm 139, knows us even before conception, and chooses, from the beginning when sinews and cells form us in our mothers’ bodies, assigns our death date as well. Nothing we do–exercise, diet, risk-taking, selfish gratification, etc. will change that time, date, nanosecond when we meet Him for judgment. It is inescapable.
What then is our purpose? According to scripture, God makes us for HIS pleasure, to glorify Him, as does all creation. He knows who we are, where we are, our very thoughts, our motivations, and whether or not we will choose to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord, or go our wayward ways in this mortal life. Not everyone will call Him Lord, Lord, will be acknowledged as one of His.
We are assigned to heaven or hell. Read the scriptures.
Sometimes it helps us to read alternative translations. The 23rd Psalm, New Living Translation says:
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
When a follower of Christ dies, we do not mourn without hope, as those who do not know the Lord. We trust God that we will join Him in Heaven where there will be no more death, no tears, no suffering, not concept of mortality.
I hope My Psalm, The Death of a Saint, points you to scripture so this Lenten season, you deal with your own mortality and trust God’s word. I, like others, presumably (for scripture says even Jesus does not know the time), that the end of the world is near. We may, praise God, see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in all His glory as predicted by scripture. Are you ready for that day? Nevertheless, are you ready for the moment you stand before the righteous Jesus and the sovereign God of the universe , to bow to His almighty presence, and join with the saints of the century?
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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