When death comes to a friend or loved one, we seem surprised by it. Parting with someone we love is a shock; denial is our first reaction. As we get older, we become more aware of death’s inevitability. We still pray for the sick, as we should. We pray to be rescued from death’s arrival. Yet, there will come to most of us a sickness that will lead to our death. Lazarus’ sisters bemoaned that Jesus was not present to prevent his death. Jesus said, “He will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:24-26 NASB). Their hope was in a future day, our hope is now in the person of the resurrected One whose resurrection guarantees our own. We were born. We lived. We will die. We shall rise again. John Wesley said, “Our people die well”. When our “sickness unto death” arrives, know that we can die well because we have a living hope.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15 NIV).
