It's For their good

the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil

(Isaiah 57:1)

It is hard to understand when loved ones are taken in death, especially when they are young.  In that case, to us it seems they had much more life to live, and the world would have been better if they had not died so young. But we cannot know what their lives would have been like had they lived any longer.

Mitch was only 16 when he realized his dream of earning his pilot’s license.  Two years later, as he was making a freight run in one of his father’s planes, something on the plane malfunctioned, and he and a buddy who had gone along for the ride, plunged to their deaths.

At Mitch’s memorial service, the minister made a profound statement: “We say what a shame that Mitch died so young when he had so much more life to live.  But that isn’t correct.  From the beginning, Mitch’s life consisted of 18 years, and he lived out all of his days.”

He went on to assure us mourners:  “Those of you who knew Mitch, know that for some time he had been searching for something.  I want to assure you that about six weeks ago, in my office, Mitch found what he was searching for.”

That was all he dared say in the way of spiritual matters because he had been forbidden by Mitch’s rebellious father to preach, read scripture, or say anything about God.  But those of us who understood his intentions, knew in our hearts that Mitch had found peace with God, and was now with his Savior in a better world.

Death is always sad and unthinkable from our limited viewpoint.  But God views death  entirely differently.  When we are a member of His family through faith in His Son’s death, burial and resurrection, death is merely a summons to call His loved ones home.

Lord, for Your children,
Death is a gateway in a wall,
that opens up each time You call
one of Your children to Your breast.
to join You in eternal rest.

When You open wide that gate,
we need not fear or hesitate,
for though the life we’ve known is gone,
a better life lies just beyond.

For there with You we’ll have no pain;
Your love will nourish and sustain.
Beyond the gate it’s always light,
for Your own hand holds back the night.

Yes, death is a gateway in a wall
that opens up each time You call
one of Your children to Your breast,
to join You in eternal rest.

Glenda Collins Inman