I bet you must have heard the phrase untimely death before. And it is one used to refer to someone who dies before their time, either at a very young age or before fulfilling their full potential. But is there such a thing as untimely death? Is there a certain age ordained for all men to die and at which we call can agree it’s timely? Is it against Gods will to die young? Is the death of a young person work of the devil?
I once was in a church service some years back. The Pastor asked us to prophesy ‘See you at 120′, with the aim of claiming our ‘covenant of long life’ which God promised according to Gen 6:3 – Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”. But does this verse mean that God’s desire is for everyone to live to their 120th birthday?
If we seek the answer to this question also from the bible, then one thing will become very glaring to us, how many patriarchs of faith to whom we were admonished to emulate lived up to 120? How many of them died young but there was no mention of it being untimely or premature?
Is there such a thing as ‘Untimely Death’? I will answer this question by stating some points.
1. The life of a man is more than how long he lives
One of the of the standard the quality of life is measured is the age at which a person dies, a person that died at age above 80, 90 years are given huge burial service tagged as the celebration of life, while the burial of someone who dies young is mostly gloomy. As much as I understand that death at a young age comes with a lot of sorrow, to the family and friends, when looking at the light of eternity, it doen’t matter much.
We all say and agree that this world is not our own, we are just passing through. If that is true, does it matter how long we stay in a strange land if the ultimate goal is to get home eventually.
For a Christian, our life in its real essence concludes on knowing Jesus.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. – Phil 1:21-22
Paul summarized the purpose of life already, To live is Christ – living means living for Christ.
If we are very sincere with ourselves, what is very desirable and better to be desired in this life than can be waiting for us in Heaven?
If we believe that this world is not our own, we are just passing through. Does it matter how long we stay in a strange land if the ultimate goal is to get home eventually. Click To Tweet2. Fulfilling purpose isn’t always about how old you live.
Untimely death is also defined as the death before the person’s potential has been fully realized. This I believe has nothing to do with age. We have people who have realized and lived purposefully at 20 and we have people in their 70s who haven’t even begin to scratch the surface.
Jesus died at 33, an age many would have termed untimely, but we all know He did all he came to earth to do. And almost all his disciples followed suit, they were martyred in their early ages.
Maybe we should focus more on living on purpose and dying empty than dying old.
Maybe we should focus more on living on purpose and dying empty than dying old. Click To Tweet3. Long life isn’t what Christ died for.
Christ died to give us eternal life not long life.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10
And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. – 1 John 2:25
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. – John3:16-17
If Jesus came to give long life, then he himself and all his closest disciples didn’t get it then. Jesus came to grant us access to God, our real home.
This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent–Jesus Christ. – John 17:3
Christ died to give us eternal life not long life. Click To Tweet4. Why do you want to live long?
Why do you want to live long? I believe the answer to this question is everything. Are you all about saving your life? Or are you ready and willing to lose it for Christ and His gospel sake?
Then Jesus said to all of them,.. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self? – Luke 9:23-25
I believe the church has taught and made Christians believe that dying young is not the will of God. But if you look through the points above you’ll see that God’s concern in the New Testament outweighs how long we live, but how well we live.
We saw Paul not minding death, but he chose to live because that way, he will be able to do more for Christ.
This is not to mean that God doesn’t protect from danger or from evil, He does. But His priority is the salvation of your soul, not your body.
This is not to mean that God doesn't protect from danger or from evil, He does. But His priority is the salvation of your soul, not your body. Click To TweetNow, someone might want to ask, what about Psalms 91:16; – With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” I will paste a commentary I believe did a beautiful job on interpreting this text.
So, like Paul, we can
Philippians 1:22-26 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
I hope this question was perfectly answered? Untimely death from a Christian’s perspective will be dying before knowing Christ. This should spur us as believers to be unrelenting in our work of evangelism.
Do you have a question you’ll love we answer, please send it to tolu@lifegiva.com
This is an empowering piece. One that causes us to evaluate our life and resolve to live it to the fullest for Christ. Thank you for posting this Lifegiva!
This was timely and beautifully written. Thank you, Tolu.
It hurts when a young person dies but it hurts a little less knowing that the young person was a believer who lived for Christ.
I agree as believers that it’s so important for us to share the Gospel as that’s the guarantee for eternal life.
These points make sense when you’re not hurting from the loss of someone but gladly, the Comforter reminds us of the bigger picture.
Thank you again.