WHEN DEATH CALLS

WHEN DEATH CALLS

Some have suggested that the taking of a young life is somehow cruel of God. God never does evil. However, all of us die. Some of us die early, some late, some in great sadness, and some gently but we all die. It is our one appointment in life set by God (Heb. 9:27 and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment….”). But God is very aware of our sorrow and He collects our tears in a bottle and records each one in His book, Psalm 56:8, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” He empathizes with the sorrow of his children.

Yet there are times He must call us home. When God Himself chooses to take someone it is with purpose even though we may never know until we get to heaven why it was so important that God intervened. God knew what was in the future if a certain young man continued here, or what great things will happen now that several hearts have been stirred. God may have saved one from a greater tragedy, he may have been able to use this otherwise tragic event to win someone else to Christ. I really do not know. I am not God and cannot reason out His great purpose in life.

Is it ever a tragedy to go to heaven? If someone enters heaven at age 4, or 84 is it a time for us to sorrow? Certainly, we grieve because we miss them being with us. But isn't it better that God should save them the sorrow this world holds and send them on ahead to wait for us at heaven's door. I am sure the first face we hope to see is Jesus’. But of all the saints in heaven today, is it possible that the first face your friend or loved one will see in that great crowd will be yours? I have often imagined that as we enter heaven’s gates we will be surrounded by multitudes of loved ones rejoicing as they escort us into the Celestial City. If our sorrow at death is not for the departed, but rather for each of us who must now brave the remaining days alone, though they be but very brief, can we not find solace in knowing their destiny? And can there not be at least some modicum of rejoicing when we realize they are just a moment away with outstretched arms excitedly waiting our crossing?