“I SHOULD not mind dying, if I only knew where I was going.”
So said an aged lady to her friend, and indeed nothing can be more serious than the position of one in her case, and the pity is that more do not feel as she does about it. To be nearing the end of a long journey with no certainty of a welcome at the end of it! Friend, would you care to take the risk?
Every one, however, is not in the same lamentable state; the Bible describes quite another attitude of mind. Speaking of the “time of my departure,” Paul says, “I am now ready”; and again, “Having a desire to depart” (2 Tim. 4; Phil. 1). You may say that he was an apostle and you are not, but he had not always been such; moreover, in his expressions of certainty, as you will see, he associates other believers with him, which shows that they ought to be sure where they are going.
“We know... we have a building of God... eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:11For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1)). “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves” (1 Thess. 5:99For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thessalonians 5:9)). If you “are saved” (1 Cor. 1:1818For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)), you will live with Jesus when you leave this world, and if you “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” you are saved.
The last few hours in the life of that wicked man who was on a cross beside the Lord Jesus, give us a striking example of what we are saying. He had been one of the worst of men—a thief, a malefactor, and probably a companion of the murderer Barabbas, and he was dying for his awn sins. He had sinned his crowning sin by railing at the Son of God. Could such a one be saved? Yes, even he, else why did the holy Saviour die, “the Just for the unjust”? God worked repentance in his soul, and turning his dying eyes on the Lord he said, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23).
Would it have been presumption had he proclaimed aloud, “I know where I am going—I am going to heaven with my Saviour”?
Oh, be comforted, doubting one. Trust to the same precious Saviour who died for you, and you too may have the same assurance. God means you to have it now while you are alive, and to be able to thank Him for it before you die, if die you do.
John wrote his beautiful gospel that you might “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing (not doubting), you might have life through His name” (20:13).
He wrote his epistle “that you may know that you have eternal life” (vs. 13). Those who have eternal life possess the life of Christ which belongs to heaven, and they will dwell there with Him forever. H. L. H.