THE GODLY OFTEN DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME

THE GODLY OFTEN DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME

The question of why God takes away godly people before their time is a difficult one, and there is no single answer that can fully explain it. However, there are some biblical principles and examples that may shed light on this question.

Death as a consequence of sin: The Bible teaches that death is a consequence of sin (Romans 6:23). All human beings will experience physical death as a result of the fall, regardless of their faith or righteousness. However, God may choose to take certain people home to be with Him before their time as a consequence of the sin and brokenness in the world.

Fulfillment of God's plan: The Bible teaches that God has a plan for each of our lives, and sometimes His plan involves taking us home earlier than we would expect or desire. For example, in 2 Kings 20, God told Hezekiah that he would die from his illness, but then Hezekiah prayed for healing and God granted him 15 more years of life. This suggests that sometimes God may choose to take someone home earlier than they would like in order to fulfill His plan.

God's sovereignty: Ultimately, God is sovereign over life and death. He has the power to take us home at any time, and we must trust that His timing is perfect, even if we do not understand it. As Job said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21).

To spare them from evil: Isaiah 57:1, which we discussed earlier, suggests that sometimes God may take away the righteous to spare them from evil. This may be a way for God to protect them from further suffering or to bring them into His presence sooner.

In summary, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to why God takes away godly people before their time. However, we can trust that God is sovereign, that He has a plan for our lives, and that He loves us and desires what is best for us. Even in the face of death and loss, we can find comfort and hope in the knowledge that God is with us and that He has promised us eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16).