--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who can comprehend how those whom God…" description: "\"“Who can comprehend how those whom God takes so early are chosen? Does not the early death of young Christians always appear to us as if God were plund..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/eric-metaxas-1651_christ-alone_who-can-comprehend-how-those-whom-god-ta_1977200.jpg" --- # Who can comprehend how those whom God takes so early are… ![“Who can comprehend how those whom God takes so early are chosen? Does not the early death of young Christians always appear to us as if God were plundering his own best instruments in a time in which they are most needed? Yet the Lord makes no mistakes. Might God need our brothers for some hidden…” quote by Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/eric-metaxas-1651_christ-alone_who-can-comprehend-how-those-whom-god-ta_1977200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/eric-metaxas-1651_christ-alone_who-can-comprehend-how-those-whom-god-ta_1977200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/eric-metaxas-1651_christ-alone_who-can-comprehend-how-those-whom-god-ta_1977200.jpg) > ““Who can comprehend how those whom God takes so early are chosen? Does not the early death of young Christians always appear to us as if God were plundering his own best instruments in a time in which they are most needed? Yet the Lord makes no mistakes. Might God need our brothers for some hidden service on our behalf in the heavenly world? We should put an end to our human thoughts, which always wish to know more than they can, and cling to that which is certain. Whomever God calls home is someone God has loved. “For their souls were pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness” (Wisdom of Solomon 4). We know, of course, that God and the devil are engaged in battle in the world and that the devil also has a say in death. In the face of death we cannot simply speak in some fatalistic way, “God wills it”; but we must juxtapose it with the other reality, “God does not will it.” Death reveals that the world is not as it should be but that it stands in need of redemption. Christ alone is the conquering of death. Here the sharp antithesis between “God wills it” and “God does not will it” comes to a head and also finds its resolution. God accedes to that which God does not will, and from now on death itself must therefore serve God. From now on, the “God wills it” encompasses even the “God does not will it.” God wills the conquering of death through the death of Jesus Christ. Only in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ has death been drawn into God’s power, and it must now serve God’s own aims. It is not some fatalistic surrender but rather a living faith in Jesus Christ, who died and rose for us, that is able to cope profoundly with death. 384 In life with Jesus Christ, death as a general fate approaching us from without is confronted by death from within, one’s own death, the free death of daily dying with Jesus Christ. Those who live with Christ die daily to their own will. Christ in us gives us over to death so that he can live within us. Thus our inner dying grows to meet that death from without. Christians receive their own death in this way, and in this way our physical death very truly becomes not the end but rather the fulfillment of our life with Jesus Christ. Here we enter into community with the One who at his own death was able to say, “It is finished.”” [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early deaths of believers are viewed as part of a divine plan, where God uses even tragedy for hidden purposes, and death ultimately serves God's redemptive aim. **In simple terms:** God can turn premature deaths into purposeful acts within His plan. Key Takeaway Trust that suffering may serve a larger divine purpose. Themes faith divine purpose death theodicy Mood solemn hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - grieving loss - spiritual counseling - theological study - personal faith challenges Key Concepts theology redemption spiritual resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect personal mourning? - Can faith coexist with questioning suffering? A Different Perspective The interpretation may conflict with emotional processing of grief and can be seen as minimizing human suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-alone/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Early death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-death/) [Faith in jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-in-jesus/) [Resurrection Of Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resurrection-of-jesus/) [Resurrection of jesus christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resurrection-of-jesus-christ/) ## Related quotes > [“Christ in us gives us over to death so that he can live within us. 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They read with particular enjoyment the piquant passages in the Psalter and in the Wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-people-whom-even-children-s-literature-would-corrupt-they/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Wow! So how Solomon’s ushers dressed mattered? How the building was built mattered? How the greeters greeted mattered? How the entryway was organized mattered?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-reising/wow-so-how-solomon-s-ushers-dressed-mattered-how-the-building-was/) Richard L. Reising > [Prime ministers require the hide of a rhinoceros, the morals of St. Francis, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/prime-ministers-require-the-hide-of-a-rhinoceros-the-morals-of-st/) [Lester B. 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The wisdom of Solomon already contained Gnostic elements and prototypes for the Jesus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-drews/gnosticism-is-undeniably-pre-christian-with-both-jewish-and-gentile/) Arthur Drews > [This sublime love, being, by an intimate conjunction with its object, thoroughly refined from all base dross of selfishness and interest, nobly begets a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/this-sublime-love-being-by-an-intimate-conjunction-with-its-object/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [“We are new creation and old sinful flesh dwelling together—two natures competing for our affections and allegiance. To be sure, these two natures are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-r-duguid/we-are-new-creation-and-old-sinful-flesh-dwelling-together-two/) [Barbara R. Duguid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-r-duguid/) > [“To clarify, it’s not that God’s will is weak—on an even playing field with all the other wills. As if we, God, and Satan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mark-comer/to-clarify-it-s-not-that-god-s-will-is-weak-on-an-even-playing-field/) [John Mark Comer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mark-comer/) > [A man's heart is right when he wills what God wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/a-man-s-heart-is-right-when-he-wills-what-god-wills/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [We are able to persevere only because God works within us, within our free wills. And because God is at work in us, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-able-to-persevere-only-because-god-works-within-us-within-our/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Bad things do happen to good people in this world, but it is not God who wills it. God would like people to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/bad-things-do-happen-to-good-people-in-this-world-but-it-is-not-god/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [That in itself is an act of peacemaking, because we're seeking to align our wills with God's will, our dreams with God's dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/that-in-itself-is-an-act-of-peacemaking-because-we-re-seeking-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) ## More by Eric Metaxas > [“If we believe miracles cannot happen today but happened to our distant ancestors, what we really seem to be saying is not that miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-we-believe-miracles-cannot-happen-today-but-happened-to-our/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. 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Christ alone is the solid rock on which a (w)holistic response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-harbaugh/even-our-best-efforts-to-control-our-lives-are-ultimately-not-good/) Gary L. Harbaugh > [Americans' deepest religion is often equality. The notion that Christ alone is God-superior, authoritative, supernatural-and that Christ's teaching and person is far greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/americans-deepest-religion-is-often-equality-the-notion-that-christ/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“Our identity is in Christ, not in our work, our accomplishments or our own good works. Our provision is from God alone, not our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddick-van-zyl/our-identity-is-in-christ-not-in-our-work-our-accomplishments-or-our/) [Paddick Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddick-van-zyl/) > [“If thou hast ever come to the blood of sprinkling, thou wilt feel thy need of coming to it every day. 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Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/all-self-effort-is-but-sinking-sand-christ-alone-is-the-rock-of-our/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“Indeed for all of us who are believers, our present circumstances and futures aren't defined by our pasts. Our identities are found in Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rosati/indeed-for-all-of-us-who-are-believers-our-present-circumstances-and/) Kelly Rosati > [The love for our enemies takes us along the way of the cross and into fellowship with the Crucified. 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Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Christ alone can bring lasting peace - peace with God - peace among men and nations - and peace within our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/christ-alone-can-bring-lasting-peace-peace-with-god-peace-among-men/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“So when the fear of not persevering raises its head, don’t try to overcome it by saying, “Oh, there is no danger, we don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-raises-its-head-don-t-try-to/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) [Browse all 71 Christ alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Who can comprehend how those whom God takes so early are chosen? Does not the early death of young Christians always appear to us as if God were plundering his own best instruments in a time in which they are most needed? Yet the Lord makes no mistakes. Might God need our brothers for some hidden service on our behalf in the heavenly world? We should put an end to our human thoughts, which always wish to know more than they can, and cling to that which is certain. Whomever God calls home is someone God has loved. “For their souls were pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness” (Wisdom of Solomon 4). We know, of course, that God and the devil are engaged in battle in the world and that the devil also has a say in death. In the face of death we cannot simply speak in some fatalistic way, “God wills it”; but we must juxtapose it with the other reality, “God does not will it.” Death reveals that the world is not as it should be but that it stands in need of redemption. Christ alone is the conquering of death. Here the sharp antithesis between “God wills it” and “God does not will it” comes to a head and also finds its resolution. God accedes to that which God does not will, and from now on death itself must therefore serve God. From now on, the “God wills it” encompasses even the “God does not will it.” God wills the conquering of death through the death of Jesus Christ. Only in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ has death been drawn into God’s power, and it must now serve God’s own aims. It is not some fatalistic surrender but rather a living faith in Jesus Christ, who died and rose for us, that is able to cope profoundly with death. 384 In life with Jesus Christ, death as a general fate approaching us from without is confronted by death from within, one’s own death, the free death of daily dying with Jesus Christ. Those who live with Christ die daily to their own will. Christ in us gives us over to death so that he can live within us. 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