Funeral Sermon: When Good People Die Young Series

Funeral Sermon: WHEN GOOD PEOPLE DIE YOUNG

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Isaiah 57:1-2 (KJV)

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

INTRODUCTION:

The death of a young person, especially one who is good, righteous, and full of promise, is often a deeply painful experience for family, friends, and the community. It raises questions about why such a loss occurs and why it happens to those who seem most deserving of life. In moments like these, it can be easy to feel as though life is unfair or that God has forgotten us. Yet, the Bible reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His understanding far surpasses our own (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The prophet Isaiah speaks to a truth that may seem difficult to grasp: sometimes, the righteous are taken away early, but they are spared from the evil to come. Though we mourn their loss, we can find comfort in knowing that, in God's eyes, their passing is not a tragedy but a merciful act. They are at peace with the Lord, resting in His presence, free from the struggles of this world. As we reflect on the untimely death of a good person, let us remember that their departure is not in vain, and God has a purpose that is beyond our understanding.

Let us hold onto hope, knowing that the righteous are in the hands of a loving God, and their legacy remains in the lives they touched and the example they set.

1. GOD'S UNDERSTANDING OF DEATH IS DIFFERENT FROM OURS

Though it may seem like a tragedy when good people die young, we must trust that God’s perspective on death is different from ours.

a) God knows the beginning from the end. He is not bound by time as we are, and He knows when each person’s life should end to fulfill His divine plan (Psalm 139:16).

b) Our human understanding is limited. We cannot always comprehend why a good person is taken early, but God sees the bigger picture (Proverbs 3:5-6).

c) God’s timing is always perfect. He allows life and death to happen according to His wisdom, even if it is beyond our comprehension (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

d) Death, even of the righteous, is part of God’s sovereign will. We are all part of His plan, and death is not an accident but part of His divine purpose (Romans 8:28).

Biblical Example: When the prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven, he did not experience a natural death, showing that sometimes God calls His faithful ones early (2 Kings 2:11).

God's understanding of death is beyond ours, and we must trust in His infinite wisdom and perfect timing.

2. THE RIGHTEOUS ARE SPARED FROM THE EVIL TO COME

Isaiah speaks of the righteous being taken away from the evil to come, indicating that God sometimes calls good people home to protect them from suffering or the future troubles of this world.

a) God protects His faithful servants. Sometimes, God takes His righteous ones early to spare them from the pain, heartache, or turmoil that would come in their future (Psalm 116:15).

b) The righteous are at peace with the Lord. Their departure is not a punishment, but a peaceful transition to rest in God’s presence (Isaiah 57:2).

c) Death for the righteous is a merciful act of deliverance. In a fallen world filled with pain and sorrow, God sometimes calls His beloved home to prevent further suffering (Revelation 14:13).

d) The righteous are in God’s hands. We may not understand it now, but the righteous are never far from God’s loving care, even in death (Psalm 73:24).

Biblical Example: Enoch walked with God, and he was taken away early to avoid the corruption of the world (Genesis 5:24).

God’s mercy in taking the righteous early is a reflection of His love and care, sparing them from the trials that may lie ahead.

3. GOD GIVES PEACE TO THE RIGHTEOUS IN DEATH

The righteous who die young enter into the peace of the Lord, where they find rest from the troubles of this world.

a) Death is a rest for the weary. Those who have labored and fought the good fight of faith will enter into God’s rest, where there is no more pain or sorrow (Hebrews 4:9-10).

b) The peace of God surpasses all understanding. For those who die in Christ, they enter into a peace that transcends the pain and sorrow of this life (Philippians 4:7).

c) Peace comes from being in God’s presence. In death, the righteous are in the immediate presence of God, which is the ultimate peace (Psalm 16:11).