Death

It's two days before Christmas, so I am going to write about death. Does this seem odd? It isn't really that odd at all. On a day that we set aside as "Christmas", we celebrate a child who was born in Bethlehem. The birth of this child fulfilled prophecies of scripture, and also changed for all time the meaning and nature of death for us. This child was The Resurrection:
"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?...I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish (be destroyed, die, lost); neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."   Jn. 11:25-26, 10:28
The Apostle Paul wrote that what was accomplished through this birth, The Resurrection become flesh, would fulfill a scriptural promise:
"...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"  1 Cor. 15:54-55 (Isa. 25:8)
While scripture is very emphatic about this change in the nature of death for those who are part of Christ, this can be difficult for us to understand, and believe in our hearts. However, Paul tells us above that death has been consumed by victory. Paul also tells us in another place that because of resurrection, we are not to sorrow regarding death as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Because of Christ, in whom is our hope, death has been transformed into greater life. This is the epic victory of Christ.
The Apostle Paul had an interesting quandary that he was considering, which also illustrated his personal view of his own death:
"...Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (advantage). But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose, I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."   Phil. 1:20-24
This was a man who had no trouble with the concept of death, and did not identify it here with defeat, evil, or lack of faith. Death would not be an evil done to him, but a far greater gain for him, because death, itself, has been changed. Do we view it that way? If not, why not?
One reason that Paul was so confident in the power of Christ over death is because he experienced a death from stoning, and was later revived (Acts 14:19-20). He also was a firsthand witness of heaven. His entry into heaven was so immediate and seamless that he couldn't tell whether he was still in his body, or whether he was out of his body (2 Cor. 12:1-4).
We must also look at the following scripture and wonder over its meaning:
"Precious in the sight (ayin) of the LORD is the death of His saints (from the root word meaning "mercy")."   Ps. 116:15
The meaning of the specific word "precious", yakar, used here is "precious, costly, excellent, brightness, highly valued, splendid, glorious, prized". This Hebrew word for "precious" is used to also refer to the precious stones fit for a gift to, or for the possession of a king (2 Chron. 9:1, 9-10, 2 Chron. 32:27). The word is also used to describe the precious stones used to embellish the house of the LORD (2 Chron. 3:6). 
God's perspective regarding our death certainly seems to differ from our own.
There is an interesting picture in scripture regarding these "precious" stones of a king, and how they were transferred from one power to another. King David's army went into battle and ravaged the nation of Ammon (descendants of Lot, conceived through incest. "Ammon" means flock or people, to dim, darken, grow dark, be held dark)). David's general Joab  ("Jehovah is Father") besieged the capital city of Rabbah (meaning exceedingly great, captain, many, mighty, strong, ten thousands) and overthrew it. "Then David took their king's crown from his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it. And it was set on David's ("beloved") head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance." (1 Chron. 20:1-2).The royal crown full of precious stones worn by the king of a stronghold that held the people in darkness, or death, was removed from that king and transferred to the head of King David. It is as the scripture that says that we have been brought out of darkness and into His marvelous light (Jn. 12:46, Acts 26:18, 1 Pet. 2:9). No wonder God sees the death of His saints as "precious".
This Christmas, let us remember that the child born in Bethlehem, the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, by His own blood, took the power of death out of the strong and mighty control of sin, and brought out the flock that had been held in that darkness, into the light of everlasting life. The power of death to hold us in the grave has been defeated. Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Our Father has freed us from the power of death through His beloved Son.

"The Anthem"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24apOa9CZuU

"I Am the Resurrection and the Life"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gctV5prF1og