“God-Honoring Stewardship” Part 5 (A Heavenly Perspective About Death) Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:16

John 21:18-19

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”

(This He said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this He said to him, “Follow me.”

If death is unfair, who is the villain? When we experience sadness from the death of one of God’s saints, who are we really sad for? Why do God’s saints often view death as a tragic thing?

Man brought death into the world, not God. Genesis 2:16-17

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— Romans 5:12

God brought spiritual life back to man through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:4-5

Read Hebrews 9:11-14

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— Ephesians 2:4-5

The benefit of this spiritual life is that man can know God John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

1. The saints of God should not fear death Hebrews 2:14-15

Read Hebrews 2:9-13

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by Whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

The saints of God are drawn to Christ, not this world. 2. The saints of God are drawn to Christ, not this world. Philippians 1:23-24

Read Philippians 1:19-26

But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Philippians 1:23-24

So we are always of good courage So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:6-7

3. The saints of God see heaven as their home, not this world.

Read Philippians 3:17-21

Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.