Death and Dying

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints – Psalm 116:15

From our perspective it is the greatest grief we can imagine; from God’s perspective it is the delight of his heart. From our perspective, it brings a sorrow that only heaven can erase; from God’s perspective, it brings a joy that only heaven can know.

How can the death of his people be so precious in the sight of the Lord? Doesn’t he care about the gaping wound that loved ones leave behind on earth? Is he not sensitive to the pains and anguish that usually precede our own death? Why would anything so grievous to us be so precious to God?

The answer, of course, is that God loves more, sees more, and wants more for us than we love, see, or want for ourselves or loved ones. God sees the majesty, sweetness, purity, and perfection of each glorified saint as they cross over from this cursed earth and put on the robes of Christ’s righteousness.

If we could see just how delightful heaven is, just how joyful we will be there, and just how overwhelmingly sweet it will be to live in the presence of Jesus Christ forever, we would doubtless find death as precious as God does.