O death, why do you touch the tree that shelters the weary, giving them rest? Why do you take the finest people, those we cherish most? If you must use your axe, swing it at the fruitless trees instead.

Why then do you cut down the good cedars of Lebanon? Stay your hand and spare the righteous! But no, it cannot be. Death claims our dearest friends: the generous, the prayerful, the holy, and devoted all must die. But why?

It's because of Jesus' prayer, "Father, I want those you've given me to be with me where I am." This prayer lifts them on eagle's wings to heaven. Each time a believer ascends from earth to paradise, it's an answer to Christ's plea. A wise person once said, "Jesus and his people often pray against each other. You pray, ‘Father, keep your believers with me.’ While Christ prays, ‘Father, let them be with me.’" Here, the disciple disagrees with his Lord. The soul can't exist in both places: your beloved can't be with Christ and with you too. Which prayer shall God answer? If given the choice, even in pain, you'd rise and say, "Jesus, not my will, but yours be done." You'd yield your prayer for your loved one's life, knowing Christ is asking, "Father, let them be with me." Lord, by faith, we let them go to You.