This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God. John 21:19
Death is all over the news today. Hardly a day goes by that we do not hear of shootings, terrorism, accidents, disasters. Some have even stopped watching the news altogether because it is so negative! But stop and think...
Death is the one thing we can be sure of... the one door everybody must go through. It does not favor the rich or poor, sinner or saint, young or old. There are no innocents since we are all deserving of death. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 5:14 - "Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression."
Why do we mourn then? It is because we fail to recognize death as a door, instead we think about it as an ending point. The best we hope for is a quick and painless passing at the end of a long life where we have experienced everything there is to experience... and if a life is cut short by a terrorist sword or rifle, or accident or illness we are sorrowful at the loss of potential.
This thinking is wrong! As the text with which we opened indicates, God is sovereign over the time and circumstances of our passing. Our passing itself is a transition from this sinful plane to the presence of God! Those who die no longer feel any pain, it is those who are left behind.. We mourn for our loss.. not for the one who has entered into Gods rest. They probably feel sorry for US! So do not mourn for the dead as those who have no hope do ... instead...
Glorify God with your life! Take up the cross cheerfully and carry it till the appointed time and dont worry about when that will be! And if your death glorifies Him as well, what a blessing that is! Think about Christ's life... Who went about personally doing good and died a most horrific and painful death... Yet the fragrance of that Life and the glory of His Sacrifice sets the golden standard for a human life! Christ was speaking of Peters martyrdom in our opening text, but He might as well have been speaking about Himself. God does not have the same perspective on death and pain that we do as finite human beings - He knows and has told us that this suffering is not worthy to be compared with the eternal glory that is in store for us!
So... stop worrying. Live life to the full! Do good! Enjoy life and glorify God for every day that you get to serve Him! Love those around you! Death has no sting... Rejoice!
Rev 14: 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' ""Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."