The Righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come even through wickedness. He in death enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks straight and in his uprightness (Isaiah 57:1–2 AMP).
It’s tragic when anyone dies young. It is especially confusing, even tormenting, when people who trusted in God die of cancer or are killed in a car accident or are somehow taken from us before they had a chance to grow old. I know many people who struggle with God’s grace and love when someone they care about dies far too young. In their grief, they blame God. After all, this person was a God-fearing, good person; someone who loved God and was an avid follower of Jesus. Was this the reward? What about all those promises in the Bible about long, abundant life?
We have such a limited understanding of what truly is going on in this world and especially what exists in the spirit realm beyond our limited dimensions. The verse above gives one possible answer as to why God allows righteous people to die young. They are taken away from some future evil or calamity that would have happened to them if they had not died. It could have been something so horrific that it ultimately would have drawn them away from Christ. In essence God is rescuing them from disaster and eternal death! Sounds like a good thing to me!
Perhaps we need a slight attitude adjustment. Perhaps we need to look at the death of a believer as a promotion, instead of something bad. Yes, it’s sad for those of us left behind—but it’s a great thing for the people who are freed from earth’s bounds. They are now in the most wonderful, beautiful place imaginable with no more pain or sorrow. They are with Jesus. It’s enough to make anyone jealous.
If that’s true (and it is) then can’t we also apply this principle to the bad things that happen to us? As we look through the glass of eternity, maybe our disasters aren’t so bad after all. In fact, they may be happening for our good. I encourage you to ask God to give you spiritual eyes and spiritual ears so that you can slip outside of your earthly body and earthly perspective and see things the way He does. I have a feeling it will change everything!
MaryLu Tyndall