“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Just as He who was the resurrection and the life had once to die, so all who have been given eternal life must die as well. For the believer, this death is not eternal, spiritual, ‘second death,’ but rather a fleeting and momentary passing from the mere hope of glory into its supreme realization. Death is the means by which the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality.
But precious in Jesus’ sight is the death of His beloved! He cherishes those moments when those who are His, sensing their immanent departure from this world, open their hearts to Him and embrace Him. He is honored when His people stand against the accusers and confess Him despite caves of lions, fiery furnaces, or scourging whips. He delights to receive souls into heaven that are weary of fighting sin and offer them eternal rest, and He loves to satisfy every longing of the hearts of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
The reason we are baptized into His death is so that we will also be united with Him in His resurrection. And when that day comes, the prophetic vision will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Lord, Your death is forever precious in our sight. Thank you for loving us, even unto death!