If you have been around for any length of time in life, you know someone who might have passed away at a young age. Now, young is relative. When I was 12, my cousin passed away at the age of 15. For others, they have lost a spouse in their 50’s or 60’s. Compared to those who live to their 80’s or 90’s, this can seem young as well.
We struggle with some of these things as humans, questioning God’s goodness, and bad or evil things that happen in the world. Even as Christians we face these tough questions often. In Christian philosophy this is called “the problem of evil.” In other words, if God is good, why is there evil in the world.
Today I solely want to focus on “the problem of evil” with the question of why might the good die young. I use the word “might” intentionally. This is not the answer to why everyone dies young. However, it might be an answer in some circumstances.
One answer to this question comes in Isaiah 57:1-2. It says, “the righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.”
Isaiah is asking the same question we have asked before? Why does it seem that good people die young? In fact, Isaiah takes it a step further. He is not just talking about those who seem good, but those who have faith in Jesus Christ and are made right through Him.
These are not just good people, but Christians. Why would God allow even His followers to die at a young age? Doesn’t it seem like God should take better care of His children? Did you find the answer in the passage? What does Isaiah say? He says, “is taken away from calamity.” Sometimes God brings some of His followers home, because if they were alive, something horrible would happen to them.
It seems like death would be the worst thing that could happen to anyone, but for the Christian this is not so. The Christian will live forever in Heaven with Jesus where there is no more pain, death, poverty, or sickness. Sometimes God may be sparing someone from something on this earth.
It may seem unfair to us that at times God would function like that. But we are not God. He knows our future and the perfect time to bring us home.
Like I said before, this is a “sometimes” passage. In other words, if I were counseling or encouraging someone who has lost someone young, I would not jump to this conclusion. I am not God and I do not know why He brings specific people home at specific times. That being said, if someone asked me for reasons why God brings home His followers early, I would share this passage with them. This is one possibility.
Do you know someone of faith that “died too early.” Are you willing to trust God with His timing and the way so many leave this earth before we believe they should?
Thanks for taking time to read this Maddening Theology post. If you enjoyed this content you can find Pastor Tim’s sermons at www.cornerstoneforestcity.org. You can also join us at 520 Marion St. Browndale, PA 18421 on Sundays at 10:45 AM. To make following the blog easier you can also register. You can also join us on Facebook at Cornerstone Forest City. Also, don’t forget to download our APP on iTunes or Googleplay.