August 7, 2009

Dear Brethren,

During the past two weeks, we have sadly said a farewell for now to two of our beloved and faithful members of God’s Church: Mrs. Daisy Saffels, 92 years of age, and Mrs. Carleta Hanson, 73 years of age; she was also a deaconess.

Mr. Garfield Gregoire, a dedicated member of God’s Church was so moved by what had taken place that he wrote an encouraging article to me about the deaths of God’s People. For that reason I am making it available for your reading.

Our love and prayers,

Don Billingsley

A Tribute to—

Those Who Have Died In Christ

By

Garfield Gregoire

"And it is appointed unto men once to die . . .” (Hebrews 9:27).

It is clear that death is an appointment all of mankind is required to keep at one time or another. From the day of Adam's sin, God decreed that death would be the penalty for this transgression; and as result, the penalty has fallen upon the whole world - hence, from the day we are born, we are born to die (Genesis 3:19).

Death can, and is, indeed, a sad affair; it is especially heartbreaking and painful to hear of children dying of such things as cancer and other diseases, or to hear of people that are terminally ill, or to hear of tragic circumstances as that of an airline disaster that has taken the lives of hundreds of people. But whatever the case, death is an ongoing, inescapable part of life, and we are all just a heart beat away from it.

God Has a Purpose in Allowing His Saints to Die

As heartbreaking and disruptive as death can be for the survivors, God has high regard and concern for His saints whom He allows to die.

Notice Psalms 116:15: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." This word "precious" is number 3368 in Strong's and it means costly, excellent, and honorable. In other words, this is a very precious and HIGHLY VALUED in the sight of God.

When we lose a loved one, we are normally overtaken by grief and sorrow. In such a moment, we don’t often see and comprehend just how such a death or loss is highly regarded and considered by God. But if we really believe God, it will ease or soften our sorrow when we realize this is all allowed and counted precious by Him.

God sees the death of His saints as precious because they have now been totally sealed to be born into the very Family of GOD - at the return of Jesus Christ. The saint no longer has to fight the battle of overcoming because that fight has already been won (Philippians 3:20-21). All that is now left is for that deceased saint to sleep until awakening to immortality within seconds of their consciousness (I Corinthians 15:51-52).

When death comes to God's people it is easy to apply human reasoning and wonder why God allow some to die at such time. For example, one could ask why God allowed Mr. Dick Armstrong to die the way he did, or why he allowed the accident to happen on a baptizing tour that led to his death a few days later?

We can even ask as to why God allowed Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. Billingsley to die? This writer has often pondered that question and wondered why God did not allow both these women to continue along-side their husbands.

Of course, human reasoning does not often equate with the thinking and purpose of God. Isaiah 55:8-9 makes that abundantly clear when it says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” saith the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” And it is for this reason the Scripture further reminds us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

In the course of life, we do not always have the answer as to why God has allowed some of his people to die. But if we consider the death of Mr. Armstrong— we see that a purpose had to be fulfilled after his death— we see that Mr. Armstrong had to die before this massive falling away could take place in the Church (II Thessalonians 2:1-3). Had Mr. Armstrong been alive, this probably never would have happened to the Church; but this prophecy had to be fulfilled.

Consider also that the prophet Ezekiel lost his wife. God even forewarned the prophet that his wife would die: "Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down’ " (Ezekiel 24:15, 16).

How heavy a burden Ezekiel was called to bear; he was told to not even mourn or cry but to go about his business. But in all this, God used the death of Ezekiel's wife as a sign and a lesson for Israel:

"So I spake unto people in the morning: and at even my wife died; ... And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us ... The I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me saying, Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth ... And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away in your iniquities ... Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do . . .” (Ezekiel 24:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24).

This example of the death of Ezekiel's wife clearly showed that God used her death as a sign of what was to be done to Israel. Little do we poor mortals know what purpose or plan God has when He allows His saints to die; but of this we can be sure that God would never ever allow His saints to die - without having some great purpose or reason for permitting it. Why? Because God will never do anything in vain, that is, without purpose, and plan.

The Hope of the Resurrection

The world has no understanding of the purpose of life, or what happens, or does not happen, at the time of death; such truth is revealed and understood fully only by God's Church.

When someone in the world dies, there is that hopeless sense of loss and grief that family members and friends alike express; they have not the slightest conception of what God's plan is for those who are not now being called.

Notice what the apostle Paul was inspired to write: "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - New American Standard Bible).

There should not be this contrast or difference in reaction to the death of those who die in Christ. Paul expresses that the members of God's true Church are not to grieve with the sense of hopelessness with which the world grieves.

Yes, we are to grieve at the loss of a loved one - for such is normal and helpful in the healing process; but we grieve not in hopelessness but rather with the knowledge and understanding that our loved ones will return to life within seconds of their consciousness at the return of Jesus Christ. That is the most comforting hope we could ever have and God expects us live and overcome all our trials in anticipation of the soon coming fulfillment of that hope.

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with Him. ... For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout ... and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4: 14, 16).

Notice the special consideration God gives to the dead in Christ: it says they are to rise first. In addition to the purpose of them rising first, there is another consideration that goes to show just how deeply conscious God is of those who have died in the faith.

Think of it, the time is just now around the corner when the most stupendous and marvelous miraculous event of the resurrection of God's saints will take place! Very soon now, Abraham, Jacob, and all the saints including Mr. Armstrong, Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Billingsley, and Mrs. Carleta Hansen, Mrs. Daisy Saffels, and all others who sleep in Christ Jesus, will soon rise from their sleep to meet the descending Jesus Christ in the air (Matthew 24:30-31).

Think and know— they will come alive— with a body that will never grow old or weary and will have super spiritual power that will millions times over dwarf that of the fictional superman hero that this world has created. They will radiate with the brightness of the sun— bright brilliance that would simply burn completely the very flesh of a mortal being (Daniel 12:3).

They will have minds filled with knowledge and comprehension that will be incalculably superior to that of mortal men. And they are going to have the authority and power to exercise the rule of God's government all over this earth (Revelation 5:10; 20:4, 6). What a prospect, and what a future, awaiting God's people.

Notice also these inspired words: "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (I Thessalonians 5:9, 10, 11).

If we remain faithful to God in all our trials of life, we will be assured of everlasting life in his kingdom. We must always keep in mind that God is using this physical life to prepare us for something far greater than we are now.

Mr. Armstrong has never failed to remind us that all we have is a physical existence that needs to be kept alive by food and water. God wants us to focus on the outcome of overcoming - by growing in grace and knowledge and being steadfast - enduring to the very end -- and then we shall receive unparalleled glory and honor - along with everlasting life in the kingdom of God - where ultimately we will be used by God to aid Him in bringing the rest of humanity into His Family - where they, too, will also attain everlasting life - and then there will be no more death or crying (I Corinthians 15:54-55).

What a time of glorious joy and happiness such a time is going to be. May God speedily bring us to that day and bring comfort to those who now grieve the loss of their precious loved ones.

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comfort us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (1 Corinthians 1:3, 4).

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