There are several precious stories in the Bible about people passing from this life into eternal life in heaven. I think of the death of Sarah and how carefully Abraham planned for her burial. There is the story of Jacob, gathering his twelve sons together to give them his last will and testament in verbal form and make dramatic predictions of what would become of them. There is the climax of the life of Moses as God escorted him to the top of Mount Nebo and allowed him to see the land God had promised His people.
Two most unusual stories of this event in a person’s life are the ones about Enoch and Elijah. We don’t read as much about Enoch’s graduation to heaven without dying as we do Elijah’s. Some day, many living believers will get to be modern-day Enoch’s as we whisk through the skies to meet the Lord in the air!
But, there are painful experiences behind the deaths of loved ones, too. Even in these stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Moses I referred to, people left behind were suffering a painful loss—not painful so much that they did not know they were better off now, but because they missed them. I think also of the widow of Nain and Mary and Martha as they felt the pain of the loss of their loved ones—but oh, how exciting it was to see them brought back to life for just a little longer!
The death of a stalwart, steadfast saint of the Lord is indeed precious for some reasons I’d like to share today.
I. It reminds us of his accomplishments.
A. Example of Steven (Acts 7)
B. Example of Paul (2Ti 4:7)
C. Example of Peter (2Pe 1:14)
II. It reunites him with others gone before.
A. Example of David (2Sa 12:23)
B. Examples of those referred to with phrase, “slept with his fathers”
III. It reassures us of our future reunion.
A. Paul’s assurance (1Co 15; 1Th 4:13-18)
B. Peter’s assurance (2Pe 3:13)
C. John’s assurance (1Jn 5:11-13)
D. Jesus’ guarantee (Rev 22:12)
Conclusion: Will it be precious in the sight of the Lord in the death of every saint? Well, I’m not so sure! Paul speaks of the judgment seat of Christ where our works will be tried by fire. The gold, silver, and precious stones will be purified. The wood, hay, and stubble will be burned. Then Paul speaks of someone “saved yet so as by fire.” True, some who get saved and die soon after have very little time to accumulate rewards. But that is not the issue here. The question for you or I, those who have lived many years since receiving Christ, is will our death be precious to Him? Will it be more painful to those left behind who might not be quite sure we went to heaven? One thing I know for sure, no death of a lost person is precious in His sight. Probably one of the best ways we can be sure our death will be precious in His sight is to have those we win to Christ with us there. Daniel 12:3 promises such people will be bright shining stars there. May we determine today to live lives that will make our death precious in His sight!