Jump Start # 3446

Psalms 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.”

The fall in Indiana is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. The leaves turn a vibrant collection of reds, yellows and oranges. People travel from other places just to see the beautiful leaves in Indiana. With a massive woods behind my house, I get a personal portrait from the Lord every fall.

But the changing of the leaves illustrates a powerful Biblical lesson for us. Our leaves are not these colors all year long. In the spring and summer, our trees are filled with different shades of green. It’s in the fall that the leaves turn. And, they continue to turn colors until they become brown and fall off the trees. The great fall colors come from leaves that are dying. And, that is the Biblical lesson, that there is beauty in death.

The world sees nothing good from death. The world cannot see beyond death. And the words used by the world to describe death illustrate this attitude. Words such as: gone, over, finished, kicked the bucket, tragedy. And, the dead are referred to in past tense. Heaven doesn’t use that language. Words such as: gain, blessing, precious, rest, hope, with the Lord are found in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t see death as the end.

And, as a leaf becomes beautiful as it dies, so does a disciple of the Lord. In what way is the death of a godly one “precious?”

First, because it means that someone has become what God wanted them to be. It is precious because someone chose to walk with the Lord. Some sought the grace of God and molded their life to be like Jesus. They worshipped the Lord as He desired. They became lights into the world. They used their talents to honor the Lord and build the kingdom. Out of darkness and into the light they walked. Forgiven by God and tasting the grace that the Lord offers, these people became disciples, followers of Christ. Their lives and their deaths are precious.

Second, because it means someone has finished what God wanted them to do. There is no reward for one who quits. There is no praise from Heaven for the selfish, the proud, or the ungodly. But building a life around the Lord is something that God recognizes. Even the little things, like a cup of cold water given to another is something that Heaven recognizes. The years of encouragement. The mountain of help offered. The time to teach others. Being a backbone to a congregation. Serving the Lord in whatever way possible. There was a faith, and they kept it. There was a fight, and they fought it. There was a course and they finished it. Through sunshine and storms, when it was easy and when it was hard, they remained close to the Lord. They finished.

Third, it means that they will enjoy what God wants them to enjoy. It began first here on earth. A life of walking with the Lord has obstacles, opposition and hardships, but it is filled with the joy of fellowship, the peace that comes from filling your heart with the Lord and the confidence to move onward towards Heaven. Worry, stress, fear, discouragement and even conversations about death do not hinder the child of God. He has the Lord and the Lord has him.

The disciple realizes that death is merely a door. It swings one way, but it is just a door. It is necessary to go through that door to get into the next room. And, it is in that room where the disciple wants to be. Free from the troubles that plague us here. Free from the temptations of Satan. Free from the pain and sorrow of this life. And, to be in the presence of the Lord, that’s what the disciple longs for. And, it’s not just a moment, a weekend, or a short while. This is it. That’s the end of the journey. Home, where we belong, with the Lord.

Indeed, there is a beauty in death. The leaves are the prettiest as they die and fall off the tree. And, it is the same for us. A life well lived. An example for others to follow. A fight that has been fought. A journey completed. A course finished and a faith kept. And, awaiting that disciple is a crown, a victory.

The superficial joys of this life could not turn the head of a disciple. The compromises of Satan did not move this disciple. He was heaven bound and nothing was stopping him.

A beauty in leaves and a beauty in death.

Thanks, Shannon for sharing this great idea.

Roger

Jump Start # 2547

Psalms 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.”

Word came last week of a sweet family of the Lord that was killed by a crushing tornado in Cookeville, TN. The young father, mother and little boy all lost their lives. But they really didn’t. Their lives weren’t lost. They were with the Lord and they continue to be with the Lord. They went through the door of death and they live on, never to face another storm in their lives. The outpouring of love and support for their families has been remarkable. People stepped up. People did well. Hearts were touched and hearts were broken by this tragedy.

I want to share a few thoughts about this:

First, none of us, even the people of God, are isolated from the suffering of this world. The people of God have been victims of crime. They have been killed in car accidents. They have died young. They have suffered from illness and disease. Don’t be thinking, because I am a Christian that God will keep bad from happening to me. With those thoughts, your faith will take a hit when you hear of brethren being killed by storms and disasters. You will conclude that some were not living right. You will face a huge challenge when you encounter personal tragedies in your own life. It is appointed for us to die, that includes the people of God. We remember the three Jewish men in Daniel 3 that refused to bow to Babylon’s idol. Not only were they threatened with a fiery furnace, but they were actually put in one. Pages later, and decades later, Daniel faced the threat of a lion’s den. He Daniel spent a night with the lions. Unless the Lord comes, you and I will not get out of here alive. How and when we go through that door of death is up to the Lord.

Second, as sad and as tragic as this specific story is, what a wonderful thought to go together as a family to be with the Lord. It is sad that this couple was so young. But what a blessing that their little child never had to be alone and with his mom and dad they crossed through the doorway of death to be in the presence of the Lord. There is something special about that which only the people of God truly can appreciate. Together in life. Together in death. Together with the Lord.

Third, the brevity of life is clearly seen in this tragic story. So quickly, so unexpectedly, our lives can end. We go to bed at night, with dreams of tomorrow and plans for the future, but before the sun rises, we may be called through that door of death. What a contrast there is between birth and death. It takes nine months for a baby to be developed within the womb. There are many signs that things are progressing. The process of birth can take hours, for some, more than a day. But with death, life can end in a second, often without any warning. It’s not like the movies, with music playing in the background and a long, tearful goodbye. In a flash, in an instant, life can end. We know this from reports from the battleground. We know this from what happens in car accidents.

Fourth, the true measurement of life is not in the number of years, but in how one lives those years. For the precious family in Cookeville, they were active in teaching Bible classes and inviting others to services. They were kind, sweet and godly. They were young but they left great impressions upon the hearts of others. They used their opportunities well. They were serious about their faith. And, for some of us, all we do is get older. And, as we get older, some get worse, not better. They become mean and bitter. They become a grouch. They are against everything. Many years are given but not much done with those years.

We see that Biblically. Methuselah lived to be the oldest person recorded in the Bible. He had 969 years. He was the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. And, that’s about it for ole’ Methuselah. He was old. Did he do any good? Did he help any on their journey? Did he lead any to the Lord? Did he stand for what was right? We don’t know the answer to those questions. Many have thought that Methuselah died the same year as the flood. Did he? Did he die in the flood?

America has a new idol. That idol is our obsession with health. Live as long as you can here, seems to be what so many are bowing down to. Obsessed with working out. Obsessed with pure foods. Obsessed with medicine. Keep grandma alive, by pumping all kinds of medicines in her so she can continue to sit in her wheelchair staring at a TV all day long. With this obsession, comes an increased fear of dying. Do everything possible to avoid it. It doesn’t matter what life looks like, it has to be better than dying. That’s the thoughts today. It’s based upon secular thinking that can’t see past the door of death. It sees no value in death.

Then we come to our verse today. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. Precious. That’s not a word many would use with death. What a loss, some would say. How tragic. How wrong. How unfair. But from Heaven’s side of things, it’s precious.

Now, death is not precious for everyone. It is to God’s godly ones. That’s the difference. It means that they have finished what God wanted. It means that they have kept the faith. It means that they will be with the Lord forever. Tears at a funeral are understandable. Even our Lord cried. He cried knowing what He was about to do. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. With our tears is a hope. A great hope. A hope that is absolute. A hope that the godly ones are with the Lord. Never again to suffer. Never again to be tempted. Never again to fear. They are in the best place, the place where all godly ones long to be.

Our prayers, thoughts and love extend to the precious family of Josh, Erin and little Sawyer Kimberlin. Precious is their lives, and precious is their death. They are home, safely home. Safe in the arms of Jesus, what a wonderful place to be.

May we all long to be there.

Roger