Of Death and A Distant Mountain

“Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.” Deuteronomy 34:7

All of us will die. When those close to us pass away and we love them, we ask, ‘why?’ In most cases, we believe there was so much more ahead of them. In 1981, my brother, Roger, died in a single car accident. He was twenty-one and my mother’s most precious companion and friend. She wept bitterly and long. Though Roger was the youngest of her five sons, all had moved away except for him. Eight years later, my mom passed away. She died in her sleep. Some attributed her heart failure to an undiagnosed bruise that she incurred in a car accident months before. I don’t question the bruise; but I wouldn’t entirely place the cause of her death and wound on what happened that one dark, rainy night on Route 169 in Woodstock, Connecticut. I suspect her heart had been weakened many years earlier.

We hurt when loved ones pass. We hurt more when they seem to have a long and prosperous life ahead of them. That is why I was struck this morning by what is said here of Moses. One hundred and twenty years old? Phooey.  His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. He could have well gone on if that was God’s sovereign will, but that wasn’t to be. God is true to His own word; plan and purpose. Moses was not to enter the land of milk and honey because he did not hallow God in the midst of the children of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:51) Was that harsh for a true servant of God? One instance of disrespect?  Perhaps to us, but Moses understood. He would not complain as the children of Israel did all too frequently. However, God did grant Moses the eyes to see across the Jordan and take in the full expanse of the promised land; hence his eyes were not dim. Oh, to have such faith by grace to fully see what is beyond! To have such sight! It is to see!

Of course, from our standpoint, because Moses also retained his natural vigor, he could have crossed over the Jordan and proven himself of enormous value! How often is it that we hear of wonderfully talented and gifted Christian men and women who are called home? Why? In fact, Moses might have fought alongside Caleb (another old man whom God allowed to live and did cross over with Joshua from the prior generation.) They could have battled together against the giants that lived in the mountains!  Yes, we all have our thoughts of how much more someone might have done if they were not taken from us. How many songs could have been sung… souls saved… God, do You know what You’re doing? I have asked. “Why, Oh Lord, did you take my brother Roger? My mom wasn’t that old! 71? She loved and served you!” I have dear Christian friends who have lost children, grandchildren… all too young… so much ahead of them… but…. yes, they were taken. But then I’m reminded of the words of the Preacher, ‘what profit is there if a man lives a hundred years and sins a million times and feels that he can get away with it? What profit is there when the wages are known to be death?’ As for the young, is it far-fetched to believe God demonstrates His tender mercy in taking the young? Consider, King David. When he learned his first born son died, what did he say? The boy would not return to him but he would go to his son! What hope! What faith! No wonder after he heard the news, he got up, washed his face and went to eat to the amazement of his colleagues!

God’s will be done. Truly, if as a man I had the power to bring to fulfillment the best I see in the abilities and talents of others, then I would have a basis to protest God’s decision-making. The truth is, I don’t, and as much as I think that I have something to offer God worth living, there were many times I did not hallow His glorious name and yet I live! I live, while my eyes grow dimmer and my natural vigor diminishes. To that, I equally ask, ‘why?’  To be honest, I would say I’m an increasingly reasonable candidate for a life soon to be brought to a pinnacle and then instructed by my Lord to look into the future in the light of the Scriptures (which was what Moses was really doing. He knew the end. We all should read Deuteronomy 31.) How many grandparents mourn and say how it is wrong that a child or grandchild precede them in death? God is wrong? Thank Jesus that He understands our loss when we say this! Does our heavenly Father feel any less in the loss of His own Son? Thank you Lord for such understanding of our humanity and dimness of vision. The thing is, for those of us who do come to understand… resting in the promises of God… faith increased and boldness found in having traversed with Him our own wilderness… I think we can see for ourselves, and for those who died resting in the loving arms of Christ Jesus, a rest far beyond what Moses saw that day (not that Moses didn’t what we see either.)

Yes, in reading this verse this morning, I would definitely say that in human terms and in Moses’ condition, he was not ready, but he did obediently go up the mountain as God instructed him without protest. In that regard, he was ready, and interestingly, it was the Lord Jehovah who buried him. “And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.” (34:6) My beloved, though we often know the place our loved one’s body was buried, I’m convinced that for those asleep today in Christ, the very same Lord who called them home; such as Roger and my mother, He too buried their flesh and one day their bodies will be summoned and brought home to join their spirits in glory. As for the time and why of their deaths? Our Lord understands. Jesus had great compassion when acknowledging Mary and Martha’s grief in the death of their brother, Lazarus. While our loved ones were not called from the grave as Jesus summoned Lazarus, Lazarus’  calling forth; as is true of our Lord’s resurrection, is the basis for all our hope. For God is not the God of the dead but of the living! To that end, I encourage those who read this today to find their lives climbing; even as Moses… ascending in faith and trust the mound built by our lives… and looking across… for ourselves, and having the mind of Christ, seeing for all others the necessity of the spreading the Gospel.

The greatest loss that any man could face is to live out their lives in sin. Already condemned, they push away the gracious and welcoming arms of Christ in this life, which will be withdrawn in the next. Having heard the Gospel; they returned to the valley. The second greatest loss will be found when he looks into the faces of those encountered in this life, and while comforted for the moment in their numbers as they traveled together in life, finding their end in death’s valley. For those, we should cry out for them now… while they live… perhaps God will hear our appeals and show them mercy while the opportunity presents itself. Such are the tears of the Saints… those persecuted, sent under trials and suffered losses… and shed for the unsaved and who remained so… those are the tears that are promised to be dried by the hand of Jesus. Can you see it? Are you standing on His mountain? Is it that distant?