Psalm 91:16 says, “With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”
If you’re like me you know people who have died to young. It seems in the last year I’ve known too many people who have passed away far too young. It got me to thinking what God says in His Word concerning our life on earth -how we are to live and how long. God has a good, long life planned for us. But without that revelation, we can’t expect to live out the full number of our days. It takes faith to receive the promises of God.
There are several reasons people die young. To live long on the earth, it is important to do some things:
- Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, and live under God’s protection.
- Except to receive God’s promises of long life.
- Speak only good over your life, do not declare sickness, disease, or death over yourself.
- Walk in love. Bitterness and forgiveness are the root of many diseases.
- Obey God’s commandments, and live according to His Word.
- Do what’s right in the natural. Eat right, exercise, and avoid unhealthy habits.
While we have a personal responsibility to live right, there are times when tragedy comes that we can’t explain.
There is no place for blame or guilt in these circumstances. It’s never God’s will for loss to occur, but He is always there to heal our hearts and comfort us. Some scriptures where God promises to comfort us are:
- Isaiah 61:1-3
- Psalm 23:4
- Psalm 71:21
- Psalm 24
- Corinthians 1:3-4
The Bible teaches us that God is in control of all things, including death, and can even use tragic events to achieve a greater purpose.
While God’s plan may not always be clear to us, the Bible acknowledges that suffering and loss are part of life, and sometimes we may not understand why these things happen.
From Pity to Praise 