PERHAPS some of my younger readers have never looked upon death. I can well remember my first sight of the cold still features of a loved relative, and though it is more than twenty years ago, it seems but as yesterday to me.
My cousin Kate was a believer on the Lord Jesus, and she loved to speak of Him to all who visited her, I often saw her, and her manner was so kind towards me, that it was happier to sit by her side and listen to her pleasant words, than to play with my dolls and toys.
When they told me that Kate was dead, I felt very sad, and begged to be allowed to see her. It was a lovely evening in early summer as I walked with my mother to the house of mourning.
“Mother,” said I, “when will Kate wake up again?”
“When Christ calls for her,” was the reply.
“Will she know,” I asked, “that she lies in the cold ground?”
“No, my child; she is happy in heaven,”
I could not quite understand my mother’s answers; but I did not ask her any more questions, though I thought it over, and wondered how Kate could be in the ground and in heaven at the same time Tightly, and with childish fear, I held my mother’s hand, as she led me into the chamber of death, and a solemnity never before felt crept over me. My uncle and my mother wept together as they spoke of poor Kate’s past sufferings and present happiness. Then I was lifted up to take my last look at my cousin, and I recollect putting some lilies of the valley around her sweet calm face.
“You may kiss her forehead,” said my mother; “you will not disturb her.”
“Can’t she feel?” said I.
“No,” said Kate’s father; “the part that feels is now in heaven. She will never suffer any more, for she has gone where there is no pain, but happiness forever and ever.”
This made me very glad, and from that time I always thought of Kate as being with God in heaven.
After a few years I looked upon death again. My brother and I stood hand in hand at the foot of the bed upon which was laid the body of our young friend, Tom. Only the previous day we three had been together enjoying each other’s company. Not a thought of death had crossed our minds. Beyond complaining of a slight headache, Tom appeared in his usual health, and was almost wild with delight at meeting my brother, who had been for some time from home. The next day was Sunday, and arrangements were made how we could best enjoy ourselves till its close.
“I will call for you at seven tomorrow morning,” said Tom to my brother at parting.
Had we known God for our Father, and Jesus for our Saviour, we should have said: “If the Lord will, we will do this or that!” But, alas! we were all three regardless of God’s word. Oh, if Tom had believed to the salvation of his soul!
The following morning at the time appointed, a knocking was heard at our door, and instead of our young friend, his brother hurried into the house, and in distracted tones told us that Tom was dead. No earthly being saw him die. He died in his sleep. Poor Tom! Can you wonder, dear young friends, that my brother and I, as we stood looking at his lifeless body, trembled from head to foot?
Each asked the other, “Where has he gone?” and again came the question, “Suppose it had been I?”
Had it been either of us, we should have gone to that place of unutterable woe, where hope will never come. But God in His great mercy spared us, and we can both gladly say in the words of Scripture, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15).
If you are not saved, come, I implore you, to Jesus at once. Come to Him now. You may not be living tomorrow. Let the record of this sudden death be a warning to you.
“Come! come! come!
Come to the Saviour now!
No longer make delay,
Life’s tide is ebbing fast,
Near is the judgment-day;
Wouldst thou escape His ire,
Who then will fill the throne?
To Jesus, then, now come,
Henceforth be His alone.
Come! come! come!”
E. E. S.