To Die a Righteous Death

Published in God's Message (Pasugo) Sept 2007

Even though man can point to triumphs in meaningful pursuits and fields of knowledge, he cannot prevent death.

“Let me end my days like one of God’s people; Let me die in peace like the righteous.” – Numbers 23:10, Today’s English Version

“A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” – Psalm 49:20, New International Version

MAN’S ADVANCEMENT in the field of science and technology has been remarkable, especially in the last century. He has been able to land sophisticated probes on other planets; he can now meld the seed of one kind of grain with another in order to produce a new, more sturdy variety; through studying DNA, he is able to virtually peer into the building blocks of life in an attempt to not only find the remedy to many diseases, but to even avoid such maladies from birth. Truly, the progress of human knowledge is astounding and will continue to be so at an even more rapid pace.

But in spite of man’s success, there is one thing that he will never be able to dominate, control, or overcome by himself alone. Ecclesiastes 8:8 proclaims:

“no one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.” (New King James Version)

Even though man can point to triumphs in meaningful pursuits and fields of knowledge, he cannot prevent death. But why can’t man prevent death, considering that he seemingly is able to cope with many problems of life? Job 12:10 reveals the following:

“For the soul of every living thing is in the hand of God, and the breath of all mankind.” (Living Bible)

Man, on his own, cannot overcome death because it is beyond his own power. Life and death is under the dominion and power of the Creator – none other than the Almighty God. We live and breathe only until He permits us. When the time and day of our death comes, there is nothing we can do to prevent it from happening.

Just how fragile is the life of man? The apostles liken it to a vapor or mist:

“You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears.” (James 4:14, Today’s English Version)

To die a righteous death
The life of a human being is indeed very delicate since he faces death in a variety of ways (I Cor. 15:30-31). If not through sickness, we might face death while traveling. And there is also the threat of suffering brutality or violence in the hands of our fellowmen. Even in the assumed security of our own homes, the danger of death is apparent, what with the threat of some burglar invading our privacy or of the accidental misuse of electrical equipment that can trigger a fire. Though we may be able to steer clear of such travails in life, but in the end, the truth remains that man cannot escape death because this has been appointed for all men (Heb. 9:27). Not even a person’s wealth or fame can keep him from the grave (Ps. 49:16-17, 20).

Despite this, however, the Bible teaches of a death that all men should aspire for. This is the death of the righteous or to die as one of God’s people:

“The descendants of Israel are like the dust – There are too many of them to be counted. Let me end my days like one of God’s people; Let me die in peace like the righteous.” (Num. 23:10, TEV)

How, on the other hand, does the Bible describe the death of those who are not counted amongst the righteous or the people of God? Psalm 49:20 answers, thus:

“A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” (New International Version)

Those who lack a certain understanding or knowledge will die just as the beasts of the field do: theirs is a meaningless death. No matter what they may have attained in life, be it wealth or fame; all of it will be for naught because they lack understanding. What is not understood by those whose death is likened to that of beasts? Jeremiah 9:23-24 makes known this:

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight’, declares the LORD.” (Ibid.)

The ungodly who will perish like animals are those who do not recognize or acknowledge God. These include atheists who deny that God exists and the agnostics who argue that there is no proof of God’s existence. But are they the only ones who will die like beasts? Titus 1:16 states this:

“They claim that they know God, but their actions deny it. They are hateful and disobedient, not fit to do anything good.” (TEV)

Even if a person professes belief in God, his actions or deeds – disobedience – belie this. So those who refuse to acknowledge God and those who claim to know Him, but who, through their deeds, deny Him will both suffer the death that is likened to that of the animals. Worse, these people will be punished by God on the day of Judgment:

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and for the glory of His power.” (II Thess. 1:8, NKJV)

Thus those who refuse to acknowledge God should change before it is too late.

How about those who claim to know God but their actions belie it? What actions or deeds are expected from them in order for them to be recognized by God? I John 2:3 teaches, thus:

“If we obey God’s commands, then we are sure that we know him.” (TEV)

Obedience to the commandments of God is of paramount importance since it is through this that we can prove that we truly know or recognize Him. In fact, those who claim to know God but refuse to obey all His statutes are deemed liars in His sight (I John 2:4). On the other hand, what will become of those who obey the commandments of God until the end? Christ answers, thus:

“‘Why do you ask me concerning what is good?’ answered Jesus. ‘There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life’.” (Matt. 19:17, TEV)

The commandments of God written in the Holy Scriptures will not only benefit a person in this life (Deut. 5:29) but will also lead him to eternal life.

How to become righteous
Why is it said that to die as one of God’s people is like having the death of the righteous? Who are righteous before God? The Bible explains:

“If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it, because of the sin he has committed he will die.” (Ezek. 18:26, NIV)

Those who are righteous before God are those who have done no sin. While it is true that all men have sinned (Rom. 5:12), the Bible teaches of a group of people who are considered righteous despite their sins. They are the ones who were put right before God or justified through the redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.” (Rom. 3:23-25, NKJV)

Those who have been redeemed by Christ are the members of the Church of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which He has purchased with His blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Therefore, one should not only aspire to become a member of the Church of Christ but also remain as one until his very last breath. This is the kind of death which is most fortunate.

What is expected of true members
What else does Christ expect from the sheep of His flock or the members of His Church? Christ makes known the following:

“‘All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock. But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash’.” (Matt. 7:24-28, LB)

The Lord Jesus Christ expects the members of His Church not only to listen to His teachings or the commandments of God but also to fulfill them. Those who do are likened to wise men who build their house upon the rock, which is Christ (Acts 4:11). Even if the rains, winds, and floods of life (which are the false beliefs and the tribulations of living in this world) come upon members of the Church, they will not become weak, let alone be separated; they will not stumble or fall. If, however, they do not obey what is taught unto them, when the problems of life arise, they will experience a tragic fall.

What then should the members of the Church of Christ keep in mind as they await the promised salvation? The apostle Paul teaches the following:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (I Thess. 4:16-17, NKJV)

On the return of Christ, those who died with their membership intact will be resurrected and join the members of the Church who are still alive on that day to meet the Savior, to enjoy the benefits of being a part of the first resurrection. What blessing awaits those who will be part of the first resurrection?

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6, Ibid.)

Those who remained true to God and to Christ will dwell in the Holy City. What will be the quality of their existence there? Revelation 21:1-4 gives us an inspiring account of what awaits such servants of God:

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’.” (Ibid.)

May all of us do what it takes to be included in those who will receive the tremendous grace of eternal life on the day of Christ’s return. By obeying the commandments of God and the teachings of Christ not only to become a member of the true Church of Christ, but also to remain as such, we will go a long way towards making our hope of salvation a reality.