The death of a saint is precious in the eyes of the Lord. Believers can often act like death is the worst thing that can happen. But death can be a gift. Isaiah 57 verses one and two explain. “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.”

It says that the righteous and upright person who dies, enters into peace and has rest and the Lord gives that to him to take him away from calamity. They are spared the trouble God knows is there or that God sees coming.

God brings the humble and those with a broken spirit, who seek Him as their refuge, to His holy mountain. He commands the way be prepared and all the obstacles removed from their way.

What does that mean? What does that look like? What way needs to be prepared so we can dwell with God?

We need to be holy. The mountains of pride need removing. The valleys of fear and unbelief need removing. The crooked places of sin need removing. The rough places of character need removing.

But God says He will heal and restore. He promises to comfort the mourners. Who would be mourning? Those who have seen the pride and fear and sin and lack of love in themselves and have wept over their sin.

God gives them comfort and peace. They can have peace because God comes to the contrite in heart and helps and saves. We have a savior in sin and from sin. He takes away our sins. He prepares the way. The way to the Father is open and we are reconciled, at peace with Him.

But the wicked have no peace. We can’t remain in our sin and find peace with God. His name is holy. He dwells in a high and holy place and we need to come up to Him. He bridges the gap and makes the way, but we have to take the way. Our salvation, our victory over sin, is through our Savior Jesus Christ.