Psalm 119:37

Psalm 119:37

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

 

Only the life that pursues God's commandments is a life worth living. Saints are called to give up everything for the obedience of God. There is nothing in this world which has so great a value that it can be placed beside the gospel. All that is not according to the ways of God is worthless.

 

What are these worthless things? Evil things? Yes, but not only those. This world will pass away; everything worthless will burn up (2 Pet. 3:10). But treasures in Heaven will never pass away. What is done for the love of God and neighbor, for the care of orphan and widow, for the peace of enemy and friend, for the benefit of the Church - those will remain.

 

It is only walking in the ways of Yahweh that will allow us to do these things. Only by His grace can we remove our eyes from vain things and set them on Christ (Heb. 12:1-2). We are dead when left alone; God is the Giver of life. For more of Him, we must turn to Him. We must take time to turn off the TV and stop looking at our phones, and we must see Christ. And in seeing Christ, we will live.

Psalm 116:15

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his saints.

The most detestable thing to the heart, soul, and mind of a natural man is death. Because man is temporal-minded, there is no greater thing to fear. Death takes away all we have in life. It separates us from loved ones and pulls us from riches. It is truly the Grim Reaper.

But for the saints there is ultimate hope because God rescues from ultimate fear - the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15). Christ's resurrection on our behalf eliminates any need of fear. His power over the grave is our hope of eternal life; death is merely a means to get there, so death is our gain (Php. 1:21). All in this life pales in comparison to the life to come (Pss. 63:3; 116:9).

It is fitting then for God to count the death of His people as a positive thing. It is not discouraging in His sight; it is not hopeless, dark, or terrible; it is not a tragedy. It is precious. And it is precious because death - spiritual then physical - is the gateway to life.