Paul is saying that they should be glad if he died in the faith. Those words do not make sense, except in the context of the reality of resurrection that Jesus brings to light. Jesus changes everything, including death. Death is not what it used to be.
When John wrote about the death of Peter, he said
I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.” (John 21:18-19)
Did you see that? John mentioned that the way Peter was going to die would give glory to God. Wow! That is definitely a different way to think of death. Death for these people was not a scary proposition. It can be a devastating experience, but listen to the words of Paul.
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
It's a whole new paradigm when it comes to Christians and death. But it's on a whole different level for someone like Paul, who was a pioneer for the gospel and had a special promise that he would be persecuted for the sake of Christ (Acts 9:16). And that was his experience. And because of his special labor, he gets special treatment when Jesus comes.
So Paul is saying to these Christians, Rejoice with me. It's like rejoicing with someone who is graduating with a PhD. He has done the job, he has put in the labor, he has made the sacrifices of time, he has invested the energy, he has deprived himself of things, years and years and years, and now we get to rejoice with the person. He is saying treat my death as you would a PhD graduation. Did you get?
Let me die the death of the upright,
and let the end of my life be like theirs.” (Numbers 10:23b)
But of course that won't be the case for everyone, even for all Christians, even though we are candidates of heaven. What Paul is talking about here is not just making heaven, it's thinking of death as a celebration because of the reward that awaits him for his work.
He wants this church to be properly prepared for his death and reframes it as being about him appearing before God since his death is directly related to the work and service for the kingdom of God.
He does not want them to be so devastated that they lose hope; rather, he wants them to stand strong, not something that they would feel bad about, but rather rejoice about.
When I said Of course, this won't be the experience of everyone, I am talking about the warnings in scriptures.
For example,
- there would be supposed workers for God, who would hear the words from Jesus: Depart from me, you workers of iniquity, I never knew you (Matthew 7:21-23).
- The one who draws back, that Jesus said his soul would not delight in. (Hebrews 10:38-39)
- Paul said that some people's work will be burnt (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
And listen to John
And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back. (1 John 2:28)
So here we have believers with the possibility of shrinking back at the appearance of Jesus.
Look outside, it does not seem that Jesus is coming back. But don't let the present condition deceive you. Don't let the fact that when you look at the sky at night, it has looked the same for millennia, deceive you.
Look at what Peter said
Above all, understand this: In the last days, blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God, heavens existed long ago, and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. Through these things, the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. But by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (2 Peter 3:3-7)
It is interesting that Peter said "Above all." You need to embrace the fact that the coming back of the Lord is a top-tier truth that should not be joked with. And everywhere it is mentioned in the bible, we are told it should have an impact on how we live.
He has to come back for the sake of restoring balance to the world, in other words, to execute justice (Psalm 97:2).
Listen to Paul.
For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7)
That repayment is God's justice. It is justice on a grand scale.
From Addiction to Freedom by Favour Oyinloye