When someone experiences protection of their life while another dies, it does not negate the one who lives exclaiming, "I am here only by the amazing Grace of God!"
I understand that many who don't understand God's providence think that God must act the same towards each person in the same circumstance. God's grace does not mean that God favors one over another. Even those who love God can find themselves frustrated in these circumstances. It happens more when we think living is the best outcome, while God sees His purpose for each person as the best outcome. He sees things we cannot. He acts in ways that are higher than our ways. This may be hackneyed and doesn't bring answers that make folks feel good, but Truth revives the soul, not didactic responses. We will find ourselves languishing by falling into the thought process that it is "unfair that God protects one and lets another die." Unless you're of the morbid, hateful crowd that wishes things were reversed. I'm speaking of the same God that continues to show you grace, allowing you time to repent. But I digress! (Written after the attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump).
This is not unique to last week's circumstances. First, if we look at Jesus' life and ministry, we see that he did not heal everyone. He did not raise everyone from the dead. It was not only those without faith who he did not heal. Many who were alive were also left unhealed because we see later that the Apostles were healing folks who did not receive that from Jesus. Also, Jesus was in a small portion of the world doing the work the Father sent him to do. We know that healing was not his focused ministry; it was proof of his claims concerning His Father and his relationship. Jesus' ministry was "to preach the gospel of God, which included proclaiming the Kingdom of God and bringing salvation to humanity." That was his ministry!
Then, here is a biblical view of death: there is no perfect time to die. My husband wears a shirt that says, "5 out of 5 people die." There is no promise that death will wait for us ‘til we have lived a full life with grandchildren and lay in our bed and are found peacefully dead in the morning. That is not true for most people. We will be disappointed with God if we think that and are disabused when we lose someone we are holding tightly to because our view of death is that we are in control of when we say “goodbye!”
We will all lose a loved one that we think has been taken "too soon." We find ourselves frustrated when a mom is taken and leaves behind three young children. I can go on, but many, if not all of us, have lost someone and think, "They should not be gone yet." We can assume that, but we must hold a biblical view of life and death to stay spiritually and mentally healthy. And guess what? God tells us to mourn. He understands that death is a harsh experience for the living. He comforts those who mourn and are heavy-laden! He tells us we can "mourn” but “mourn with hope!" Those who can mourn with hope have a biblical understanding of life and mortality.
Paul spent an entire chapter speaking to believers at Thessalonica about the hope they can have in Jesus' return. They were concerned about those who passed away. He lets them know those who have passed prior to them are better off. He informed them that "those who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet Christ in the air." When Jesus returns, those who have passed on will come with him. Christians must speak with hope about the enemy, that is, death. We must also speak honestly of death in that it accompanies each of us because of sin. Paul even wrestled with living versus dying. He was ready to be with Jesus but understood that God was not ready for him. Paul’s ministry was not finished yet. That is one of those answers we can get to with the purpose of this blog. If God’s purpose for you on earth is not finished, you will not die. If He has other purposes that do not include you or me, we might lose our lives while others are left to finish His mission. Hebrews 11 outlines those who gave up their lives for their faith in Jesus. Do you know what is not listed? Those who were not caught and killed. Eleven of the twelve apostles died a martyr's death, while John died of old age after many attempts on his life. God has His reasons for one to die and another to live. We must align our thinking with His Word, or it will destroy our spiritual health.
Why did God allow someone's house to be destroyed and their neighbor to go unscathed in a hurricane? It is not answered because He favors one over the other.
Why does God let one mother carry a child full term, receive the baby in her arms, and allow another to give birth to a stillborn? God does not always override circumstances that crush our souls. He does promise to give grace in times of need and peace in that horrific storm.
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
How are we tempted when we face pain of this kind? We are tempted to blame God and find Him evil. We are tempted to walk away from our faith. We are tempted to become filled with sinful anger and vitriol. Who does that help? How will that person ever experience joy again? Disdain will fill their days, destroy them physically, and send them through mental discouragement that makes the rest of their lives miserable.
James 1:2 says something that we can only appreciate by faith. It can only be actualized because we have chosen to trust God fully in the middle of things we don’t understand. It is hard to write out the words; they come across so far beyond reasonable. “Count it all joy, … whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Having a biblical understanding of trials and pain, like the one I began with, God letting one person die and another live in the same circumstances, is the truest way to “count it joy.” Knowing that our living is Christ, and our death is gain, is to understand that living or dying is not the greatest question. Living without Christ is the worst outcome for those God allows to die, and everyone does. You do not have to die without Jesus though.
Perhaps I did not answer my own question. Maybe that is true, but I will close by asking you a question: “If you don't look to God, who tells us there is joy to be found through our pain, and even in some unclear or unwanted answers to difficult circumstances, "Where will you find your answer?”
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