I’ve worked out so many hard questions with God over these last six years. As hard as Dan’s death has been for me and our children, for the most part I’ve been at peace with God’s will and His sovereignty.
In fact, I’ve begged God not just to help me accept his will, but to agree with it. And in time, I believe God will answer that as he opens my eyes to understand his truth and conforms my heart like his.
For us, I’ve less often asked why? and more often asked what now? God in His kindness answers that question not for a lifetime or for this year, but for today.
This week, though, I’ve been mulling over old questions of why God allows some so young to die. When I learned of Nabeel Qureshi’s death at 34, and learned even more of his amazing testimony and ministry, like many of you I wondered — why did God allow Nabeel Qureshi to die so young? So capable.
Nabeel had a powerful testimony. He was doing great work. He had an amazing mind and a passion to see people come to Christ. He was a young husband and a new father.
He could do so much for God. Why let him die at such a young age?
Nabeel’s death causes us to step back and wonder — what are you doing God? Why this one?
Maybe you’ve asked that in your own life or your own grief — what are you doing, God? Why?
While even our collective finite minds fall short of fully knowing the infinite purposes of God, we can know these 3 things about Nabeel Qureshi’s death.
1.Death for the believer is not a tragedy.
It is loss for those who mourn. It is painful for those left – the wives and children, the mothers and fathers, siblings and friends. But it is gain for the believer.
As a believer, Nabeel never tasted death. He went from life to life.
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26
As believers, we have a promise from Jesus that because of him we will never die. If we’re gone from this body on earth, we’re at home with the Lord.
This doesn’t dismiss the pain of mourning. It is gut-wrenching and physical. I’m already praying for Nabeel’s wife and daughter.
But we grieve with hope. This separation isn’t forever and we live looking forward to seeing loved ones again in eternity.
2.Death for the believer is never untimely.
He was so young, we argue. Couldn’t he be home the Lord when he was 90? He had so much he still could have done for the Lord.
If we believe Nabeel’s death was untimely – too early – we must picture God in heaven, wringing his hands because one of his children left earth without completing the work God had for him.
God is sovereign over time, his purposes and the length of our lives.
Because of that, each of us has the perfect amount of time to accomplish exactly what God has for us in our lifetime.
We may squander that time. We may procrastinate or never take that first step in faith to walk out that work. But if we abide in Christ, we can trust that God has measured the precise amount of time needed to accomplish the ministry he has for us.
3. Death for the believer leaves a legacy.
The impact of a believer never ends with his death.
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.” Psalm 112:6
This week, we grieved a friend’s father who passed away at 86. He leaves an enormous legacy – teens discipled under him, missionaries supported and sent by him, scores of men taught by him, children and grandchildren following Jesus like him.
This seems fitting for someone who had decades to sow and labor for Christ. But what about the young believer who died so young?
Read the devotional My Utmost for His Highest? Oswald Chambers died at 43.
Heard of Jim Elliot’s work with the Auca? He died at 28.
Keith Green, the gospel singer songwriter, was 28.
David Brainerd, the missionary to Native Americans, was 29.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran martyr, was 39.
Nate Saint, the missionary jungle pilot, was 32.
Rich Mullins, the contemporary songwriter and missionary, was 41.
Robert Murray M’Cheyne, the great Scottish preacher, was 29.
And Jesus was 33.
Their lives have ended, yet their influence has flourished.
The impact of their ministry has far outlasted the length of their lives.
Now another name has been added to the list. Just this week, hundreds of thousands across the globe heard about a young Muslim man who gave up all to follow Christ. In the paradox of God, I have no doubt that God will continue to multiply the ministry of Nabeel Qureshi even in his death.
Our job is to faithfully trust. God’s job is to bring fruit. And the glory is that God does that not only in our life, but in our death.
*If you’d like to get encouragement delivered right to your inbox, subscribe here and I’ll send you my free 100 Days with Christ Bible study & journal.
Thank you for this words of encouragement. As you had very correctly mentioned we know.we have to.acceept Gid’s will but the important question we have to ask ourselves is : do we agree with His. Will.
Last night after watching the memorial service for our dearest brother Nabil both my wife and I were so heart brokn. We too asked Him, Why God, Why Nabeel at such young age when he could have done a great service for you and your Glory.
God, in His mercy answered my question so brilliantly thro you.
Thank you very much
Nabeel’s life is also such an encouragement — of the great men and women God has yet to raise up and the work He has for us. Thank you for your comment.
Lisa, this was so good. I’ve never thought about some of these things.
xoxo
His life and death have been on my heart all week…I watched his memorial service on you tube and it was incredibly powerful.
Thank you, Lisa, for this inspirational, biblical and encouraging messages for Nabeel Qureshi. Lord Jesus, comfort and strengthen his family during this period of mourning.
I just want to share what Ravi Zacharias wrote: ““Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him,” so said the apostle Paul who got a glimpse of the resurrected Jesus. Nabeel is now in his presence.
He told me how much he hurt for leaving his wife, Michelle, his young daughter, Ayah, and his family. That farewell was painful for him. But his pain is now over and the One who wipes away every tear has welcomed him. I do not mourn for him.
I mourn for our broken world where so much hate and destruction abounds. We have a cancer called “sin.” We do not like the diagnosis. But it’s a killer. The message that Nabeel carried was true. God sent his Son to heal that disease. That disease is still killing until we heed that message.
May we hear God’s voice reminding us that the disease that kills the body is minor. The disease that kills the soul is eternal. Nabeel would want more than anything else that we carry that message of Jesus to help change the world. Only then can we understand that the sad news of Nabeel’s death is temporary. The good news of his life is eternal.
Amen and amen. Thank you for sharing this, Ylaya.
You’re welcome, Lisa. I thank you for posting this article that I know about Nabeel Qureshi: a Christian Pakistani American physician, convert from the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam. Thank you for information about those Christian believers who were at young age died. Your site/blog really helps me a lot to nourish my faith and inspires me a lot. You give your own testimony that’s make everything authentic. More power! God bless <3 <3 <3
Lisa, I need to get over here and read your words more often. Such wisdom. Love the insight of this phrase, “He went from life to life.” Beautiful reminder. — I guess I’m living under a rock as I hadn’t heard of this young man’s tragedy. Thanks for sharing, will keep his family in prayer. ((Hug))
Brenda, you would be so blessed by his testimony in life and in suffering. It fans the flame for me to see who God raises up as bright lights for Him! Thank you, friend.
How beautiful are your words of wisom and encouragement, Lisa. Thank you so much for them .
Thank you, Kathleen. Blessings to you.
Lisa, I have been thinking all these thoughts this past week. Every time I hear the song “in Christ alone” I see nabeels face. He was only 2 years older to me, and I was privledged to hear him speak at a conference. So I felt I knew him personally for some reason. Your words were comforting to me. Yet it’s hard as humans to fully understand it. I’m glad you addressed it and I’m glad to have stumbled on it on my twitter feed!
Sue, to think He’s now praising face to face! Such weeping here, such joy there. <3 Thank you for connecting.
Thank you for this post. It’s exactly what’s been going through my mind since I heard about Nabeel’s passing.
I KNOW God has a reason and a plan, but my human eyes just couldn’t fathom what that would be. I think maybe you’ve answered it with this statement: “Just this week, hundreds of thousands across the globe heard about a young Muslim man who gave up all to follow Christ.” Those who had never heard of Nabeel and the work he did have now, and it all points to the Father.
Thank you!
Yes, he’s brought such glory to the Father. Only heaven will tell how much he’s impacted the kingdom. Thank you, Ashley.
Wow, Lisa. What an inspirational message. I love that thought that God gives us the exact amount of time to accomplish exactly what He calls us to do. Our deaths are never too early. And what an inspiring list of people who died young, yet whose influence God has multiplied. (On a related note, I mourn the loss of my brother’s freedom; he is still in jail after 1 year, and now it looks like he could receive multiple life sentences. So hard to understand, but I know God is in control.)
That hurts to even read, Betsy. I’m so sorry, and I know what an impact this has on other brothers and sisters in Christ near you. Praying even now for him.