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NASB | Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 116:15 Precious [and of great consequence] in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones [so He watches over them]. |
Bible Question: I have been told that one reason God calls people home (through death) is to protect them from possible pain or trouble they would be facing if they remained on earth. Is there any biblical rational or reference for that thought? |
Bible Answer: Hi Greg, While I don't know about God taking us to save us from difficulty and hardship, I can offer this in answer to your question. John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. John 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit." Hebrews 12:1 – either we are running our race, or we have become entangled in sin. If we are running, we will be producing fruit, and if not, we won’t. Many believe that if we become entangled in sin, resisting the chastening of the Lord to the point of becoming completely fruitless that God will take us home, lest we come to a worse state. I believe John 15 teaches that. The branch “in Me” is a believer, who is positionally “in Christ”. The branch in Christ, who bears fruit, the Father cleanses, removing that which is fruitless, so the fruitful portion can increase. If there is nothing that can become fruitful, the entire branch is removed. But this is not the branch that is thrown into the fire. Those are branches that “remain not in Me”, and are cast out. Compare this to the parable of the sower. (Matt 13) There is the seed on the path, the birds eat it. There is the seed on the rocky soil. It springs up, then dies. There is the seed on the thorny soil. It grows, but bears no fruit. There is the seed on the good soil. It grows and bears fruit. The seed on the good soil is the branch that is in Jesus, and the Father cleanses it to bear more fruit. The seed on the thorny soil is the branch in Jesus that does not bear fruit. I hope this helps! Love in Christ, Mark |