Precious

4 deaths! Four godly people each gone in a moment. I found it very frustrating. My belief is that God is the author of life, not death. So after brooding for a time, which is my sad human nature, I asked God straight out, “Why did we have to lose such faithful friends, such diligent servants with not even a chance to pray for them.”

God was not slow about answering from my stack of childhood memory verses. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

At first I did not accept that as an answer. But if there is one thing I've learned about God in the past 6 months -and 50 years, it is that God is never offended by the hard questions when asked by a seeking heart. The problem is, we sometimes don't even know the question, let alone the answer.

I read the whole Psalm that day. It reminds us of God's care and faithfulness toward his own, of his tenderness and care from the day we are conceived until the day of our death. It admits that we don't always recon him as tender and caring, but he loves us and is patient.

Another thought I had never entertained is that it is precious in his sight. God never loses sight of his beloved whether at birth, at rebirth, during trials of our faith, during growing pains, during death, God is always watching and caring. I recall going on outings in the mountains with my next door neighbors. They had a very large family and 'their mom' dressed them all in the same color and or print. She didn't have to look hard to see her brood and know if they were just fine or if attention was required. The Father has marked us as his own. He sees where we are and knows our predicament. He was neither surprised nor casual with the death of his servants.

Also I saw that God is not just watching indifferently at the progress and moments of our lives. Our birth, rebirth, trials, joys and death are all precious to him. They don't pass by haphazardly or unattended. He is waiting for us at each turn including death. Like earthly parents, he's there to share in the joy, the growth, the pain and passing from one reality to the next. He didn't miss my kindergarten graduation, my wedding, my father's death or the death of my friends. He will be with me when I step through the threshold into his full presence.

“I serve you as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering and call on the name of the Lord.” My mother was an example to other believers as was my father. They trained me to behave myself and to consider what was done in the public eye as well as in private. Yet God goes further: he frees us from the chains. We are no longer chained to sin and guilt. We are not chained to fear and rejection. We are not chained to earthly thinking.

There are no chains in death for the believer. Because he sacrificed his Son, we are free to live life as his precious children. Our behavior and gratitude comes out of his goodness. He offers and we accept the cup of salvation for this moment on. Praise the LORD. He's a good, good father. It's who he is.