The Righteous and Suffering
The Bible addresses the answer to this question in the book of Job. When Job asked God why he suffered so much even though he was a righteous man. God answered by reminding Job that he didn’t even know how the earth was constructed. Job realized that he can’t see the bigger picture to comprehend God’s ways. Job only had to trust in God’s love and wisdom and submit to that which the Lord sees best.
The Bible tells us “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). According to the eternal purpose of God, all things even suffering and hardships contribute to the welfare of those who love Him.
Sometimes, the righteous would find peace and rest in death. The grave would be to them a welcome release from the trials and distresses of a time of trouble (Isaiah 26:20; 57:1; Revelation 14:13). God protects His children from the earthly suffering by death. “For the righteous man is taken away from evil” (Isaiah 57:1). Even the apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:211-23). It is often that “The righteous has a refuge when he dies” (Proverbs 14:32). “He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walked in his upright way” (Isaiah 57:2).
But the Scriptures add that “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). The Lord does not regard with indifference the death of His saints (Matthew 10:29–39). Guardian angels accompany the saints through the valley of the shadow of death, mark their resting places, and are the first to greet them in the glorious resurrection morning.
Because of Christ’s victory for us, God assures us that this separation is not permanent for believers in Christ. The apostle Paul gives us the great hope: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
