Promotion Time
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have broken my bonds. (Psa. 116:15-16)
Hello Saints,
Three Mondays ago, I wrote about visiting my friend Scott, who had been battling cancer for the past fifteen years. Last Wednesday, the race was over and the victory won. He was translated into glory at the young age of 55. Sad? Yes. But Oh! So much joy! Indeed, the “bonds have been broken” and he is freed into the presence of his Lord. The funeral on Saturday was a testimony to a man who persevered in faith, all the while continuing to love and care for his family and those whom God had placed in his life - he was indeed the Lord’s servant.
Because of his faith in Christ, we believe and are convinced by Scripture’s truth that Scott has been “promoted”, literally moved forward or advanced to true life in the presence of God. And to God, Scott’s death was “precious”, or “highly valued”. Why is death valued when much of Psalm 116 is about being delivered from death, which results in the psalmist’s praise? (The title in my Bible at the top of the Psalm is “Thanksgiving for deliverance from death”) Even verses 16-19 are about being healed and set free to worship God in the midst of the people. If the death of His saints is “precious” to God, why would He even heal in the first place?
I believe the key to understanding this quandary is in the word “saints” or “godly ones”. The word used can also mean “faithful”. It implies a life well lived to the glory of God – a faithful servant who has been on loan to the world and is now returning “home”. The death is precious to God because it is the “homecoming” of a faithful servant who will hear “well done”.
Secondly, the death of the saint is precious because of what was done to make that individual a “saint”. He was bought with the precious blood of Christ, secured by the redemptive work of the Son of God. The value of the individual is high because of the high price that was paid to purchase him from the grips of sin and death. How glorious it must be for God to welcome home a blood bought child of His, who has believed and received the atonement offered him in the New Covenant, justifying, sanctifying, glorifying, salvation procured through Christ.
Thirdly, what a joy it must be for God who has empowered His servant to persevere through life’s trials, to stand at the gates of heaven and see the joy on our face as we fix our eyes on the Author and Perfector of our faith and say to His child, “Welcome into your inheritance prepared before the foundation of the world” – 3 In My great mercy I have given you new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—which I kept in heaven for you. 5 Through faith I shielded you by My power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen Him, you loved Him; and even though you did not see Him, you believed in Him and were filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 but now you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul (My Paraphrase of 1Peter 1:3-9).
Scott is experiencing what we all long for..."Promotion to Glory". It was Herbert Booth, son of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, who is credited with the term “Promoted to Glory”, which is the title of the song he wrote for his mother’s funeral.
Promoted To Glory Hymn
Summoned home, the call has sounded,
Bidding a soldier his warfare cease;
And the song of angels resounded,
Welcomes a warrior to eternal peace.
Praise the Lord! from earthly struggles
A comrade has found release.
Death has lost its sting, the grave its victory;
Conflicts and dangers are over;
See him honored in the throne of glory,
Crowned by the hand of Jehovah!
Refrain
Strife and sorrow over,
The Lord’s true faithful soldier
Has been called to go from the ranks below,
To the conquering host above.
Once the sword, but now the scepter,
Once the fight, now the rest and fame,
Broken every earthly fetter,
Now the glory for the cross and shame;
Once the loss of all for Jesus,
But now the eternal gain.
Trials and sorrow here have found their meaning
Mysteries their explanation;
Safe, forever in the sunlight gleaming
Of His eternal salvation.
Blessings!
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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