The Death Of A Believer

-January 8, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

(Psalm 116:15).

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the month and we remembered the Lord, celebrated the our January birthdays, had our Scripture Memory Class, two solos, and a message from our pastor on the new year. Everything was such a blessing. After church a number of us had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.

As we were having lunch, our pastor received an email from one of our members, who is a retired cardiologist that our dear brother David, 96 was not doing well. He was unresponsive and it seemed he may not live much longer. Right after lunch the pastor and I went to visit him and his daughter was there by his side. He did not look good and was unresponsive to all of us. We prayed with him and left sad, but assured he was in the Lord’s hands. We later got the news through his daughter that he had past away at 7:00 pm.

We sent out a message to all the members of our church informing them of his passing. There is sorrow, there is grief, there is pain in the death of everyone in the world; but the death of a believer it is very different, for we know the person is with the Lord in heaven. Brother David was a wonderful Christian who loved and served the Lord for many years. He headed up the Emmaus correspondence course ministry for prisoners, shared the Word, played the piano, and served the Lord. His lived a rich, full, and long life.

I visited him in the place were he was living just about once a week over the last couple of years. He and my mom were born in the same year 1927. I visit my mom once a week also. Whenever I visited brother Dave I was always the one who was the most blessed. I was so glad I got to visit him one more time at 3:18 pm, less than four hours before he went home to be with the Lord.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and be present with the Lord.” Even in our sorrow, we do not sorrow like those who do not know the Lord. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”

We have all lost family members, friends, and members of our church family over the years. We remember their lives and what they did for the Lord. Jesus conquered death by dying for our sins are rising from the dead. Now whether we live or die, we live and die unto the Lord. We will all die one day unless the Lord Jesus comes first, then we will raptured altogether. This is our blessed hope.

We will have a blessed memorial service for our dear brother we loved us much. He is truly in a better place in the presence with of the Lord and all the saints and angels. He will have no more pain, nor sickness, nor sorrow, nor tears, nor death. He changed addresses from earth to heaven. In this we find great comfort, hope, joy, and encouragement that we will join him one day. The death of every believer is precious to the Lord and should be precious to us as well.

Have a blessed day of faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Stay safe and healthy walking by faith.

Just passing through this world below,

Dean