Righteous Perish

There are two verses I have never heard preached or taught on. I have read and thought about them many times. I have wondered why they have never been used in Christian funerals. Maybe they have, but not in any that I have attended, that I can remember.

These verses should be an encouragement to anyone that is a believer and has lost a spouse at a young age. Many times we can’t understand why some believers pass away so young. Have you ever heard this saying, "Only the good die young?" Anyone who takes time to think about this statement knows that it is not true. No one can fully understand why some people live to be over 100 years old and some pass on at a very young age.

I know this is a very sensitive subject that I can not fully understand. I have two purposes in writing this and that is to try to encourage those who find themselves in this situation and to proclaim Truth from the Word of God. It is very easy at these times to be very angry at God and to even walk away from Him at a time like this. It is easy to think that you did something wrong and God is punishing you. Or why would God allow this to happen? Dr. Dobson wrote a book awhile ago that was called "When God Doesn’t Make Sense." A better title would have been "When God Doesn’t Seem To Make Sense," because God always makes sense, but we don’t understand what and why He allows things to be done the way He does.

Think about what Isaiah says in chapter 55: verses 8–9, "My thoughts are completely different from yours, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours and my thoughts higher than your thoughts," New Living Translation Bible. Many times we think in the present and God thinks in the eternal. God is merciful, loving and kind He knows the beginning from the end of man and all that will happen in between.

He knows the hardships and the pitfalls and temptations we will face. He also knows the hurt and pain this will cause the one that is left behind. At these times we have a promise that God will never leave us or ever forsake us. He knew we would need to be comforted at these times. This is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We as Christians are never left alone at these times because God’s Spirit is there to comfort us, Praise God!

In God’s foreknowledge He left us two verses that speak so that we could be encouraged. They’re not going to erase the pain but they should help you to understand the love of God in a deeper way. These two verses are found in chapter 57 of Isaiah, verses 1 - 2 that say, "The righteous pass away, the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For the godly who die will rest in peace." What we look at as a tragedy, God looks at as protection. He doesn’t want them to experience the evil that they would have to experience.

So if God has allowed this to take place in your life, try to look at it in a spiritual way. Instead of being mad and angry at God, try to see it the way God sees it. And remember, God loves you more than you can ever imagine and He has a plan for you if you will stay faithful and He will bring it about in his time. And not only that, God will bring about healing and refreshing and restoration in your live. Don’t forget God’s purpose for His people, and that is not to harm us but to prosper us and give us hope and a future, Praise His Name!

I hope this message was a blessing to you and brought encouragement to your soul. God bless you. Have a great day and don’t forget to Praise and thank the Lord!