172nd BDS – September 3, 2025

Scripture Reference: Psalm 116:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, Romans 14:7-9, Revelation 21:4

There’s no realistic timeline when dealing with death. Even on today, 34 years to this date I lost one of my older Brothers, Baron DeWone to an automobile accident that I still haven’t recovered from. You too may be struggling or may have struggled with trauma from something in the past or present day. The Scriptures remind us what our GOD says to us whenever moments like today for me tend to arise or when something triggers the memory of a taken loved one, friend and/or someone you were close to, looked up to…

(Deep sigh) So, let’s dive in!!!

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭116‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My Brother was one of the many who have passed on in death, but his soul in and through CHRIST lives on! He along with others who were saved by repenting of his sins, reborn through baptism in the Name of our LORD JESUS and who did receive the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT according to the Scriptures (Acts 2:1-4) are counted as “saints of GOD”. Not only that, but they are also acknowledged as being dear to GOD. So are we that bear the same marks of CHRIST on us.

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

GOD doesn’t want any of us to experience His anger at any point, but rather He would that no one should die without Him living, breathing and moving down in their souls.(2 Peter 3:9) JESUS went to the cross for all of us so that whether we die with His Spirit on the inside or are alive when He returns, He has prepared a place for us to live with Him in Glory!!!(1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

None of us are our own, but rather we all belong to GOD our Creator and are made in His image to worship Him. So much so, that whether we live or we die we are the LORD’s. CHRIST Who gave His very life for us died, did rise from the grave and was given an immortal body with all power in His hands and became the Eternal Ruler of every living and dead creature then, now and forevermore!!!(Matthew 28:18, John 3:35, Acts 2:36)

Final Thought: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As I close, with joy at what is to come for all who choose to live for, live by, live in and remain in our LORD.. you too take great joy in knowing that one day nothing that we experience now, have experienced or ever will experience in this life will even matter once JESUS has returned for us that believe!!! So if and when we do die to this body made of flesh whether we die to sin, turn and choose Him and/or we breathe our last breath.. DEATH COMES WITH JOY!!!

-Minister Marchand, Founder and Overseer of JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRIES-JIGM and JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY-JIGMIA