How very often God in His sovereign grace, makes the occasion of the death of one the means of bringing life and blessing to another.
This was blessedly exemplified at a small village in Suffolk last summer.
The Lord had called home to Himself a dear young man, who had been a bright and blessed witness for Christ. I had the privilege of being present at his funeral, which took place at the village of F—, where the body of the departed one was committed to the grave to wait the moment when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17).
Several waited the arrival of the funeral, and many of the villagers were standing at their garden gates. I was asked by one of them to go in and see her son, a young man about twenty years of age, lying very ill, and evidently in a rapid consumption. I spoke to him about his soul, and soon found that he was quite ignorant of God’s salvation. Like many others, he could talk about himself, and thought he was as good as other people, having done nothing very bad or wicked, and that he was quite fit to die. It was himself and his good character he was resting in. There was no sense of his guilty state; no sense of God’s holy requirements; consequently no knowledge of God’s gracious remedy for his ruined condition as a sinner; all was darkness and death. Oh! how thoroughly Satan, “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4).
I well remember the unhappy look of that face, which through God’s sovereign grace was, shortly after, so bright and cheerful. I sought to direct him as a poor lost sinner to Jesus, the Sinner’s Friend; and affirmed that salvation was to be found in Him alone, that everything had been done by Him on Calvary’s cross, to meet the terrible condition we all are in by nature, through Adam’s sin; that God has raised Him from the dead, and that now He is a living Saviour at the right hand of God, willing and waiting to save all who believe in Him.
After the funeral he was visited by one or two Christian friends, who also spoke the word of the Lord unto him.
Not many weeks had passed away when I received a letter from one who had visited him again on the Lord’s day. He found him very weak in body, but happy in spirit, “trusting in Jesus.” He little thought it would be the last visit, but on the following Wednesday he passed away to be forever with the Lord. He was full of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord for having sent His servants to tell him of Jesus and His love. The Lord had saved his soul, and given him joy and peace in believing; he had passed from death unto life.
If you are in your sins, dear reader, you are out of Christ, and exposed to the judgment of God. You need, not only forgiveness of sins, but a new nature, a nature fit for the presence of a holy God, and this is to be found only in Christ Jesus, the Man who has brought life out of death; the One who said to his servant John, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death,” Rev. 1:17,1817And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17‑18).
The first man’s sin brought in death, the second Man “our Saviour, Jesus Christ, hath abolished death, and hath brought life and incorruptibility to light through the gospel,” 2 Tim. 1:1010But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10). He went down into the stronghold of Satan, “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Heb. 2:14, 1614Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)
16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. (Hebrews 2:16). Sin and death mark the first man, righteousness and life the second Man. Where are you? have you ever seriously asked yourself this solemn, yet important question? That you are in the first man and in your sins, or else that you are in Christ and not in your sins, is a fact. If in Adam you are guilty before God. Oh, terrible reality! May you be awakened to the consequences of arch a condition.
Do not put on a covering of self-righteousness, thinking that this will avail you anything or hide your real state before a holy, heart-searching God. It may be very well before man, as, alas! very many are deceiving themselves with “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,” 2 Tim. 3:55Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:5). It will not do for God. You must have on the wedding garment; the garment of God’s providing, and not your own filthy robe of self-righteousness. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6). Will you dare to go into God’s presence with such a covering? Christ Jesus is God’s righteousness for every one who accepts God’s testimony, for every one who believes the record that God hath given of His Son. Then as to life, nothing short of eternal life will do for you, and no other has God to give, and this life is in His Son. God hath said: “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life,” 1 John 5:1919And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19)
“Life is found ALONE in Jesus,
ONLY THERE ‘tis offered thee—
Offered without price or money,
‘Tis the gift of God, sent free,
Take salvation—
Take it Now and happy be.”
Jesus has been down into death and under the judgment of a holy, sin-hating God, that guilty sinners might be forgiven, and that lost sinners might be saved. Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things. Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). Can anything be more simple, more precious, more soul-satisfying? Surely it is enough to make the heart leap for joy.
Why all this for those who HEAR AND BELIEVE, AND LIVE? The only answer is—Jesus, God’s beloved Son, He paid the penalty—sin’s wages—death, on the Cross. His blood has been shed on the Cross, without which there can be no remission, or putting away of sins— “He gave Himself a ransom for all,” (1 Tim. 2:66Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6)); and now God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. A righteous God’s claims having been righteously met once and forever by Jesus, God has righteously raised Him from the dead, and righteously set Him at His own right hand, and crowned Him with glory and honor: and now He is God’s righteousness for all who believe.
God grant that you—in His rich mercy—may bow to His unfailing word, and know the Messed reality of having life through His death, eternal life, life in resurrection—and righteousness, God’s righteousness, which alone can fit you for His presence throughout the countless ages of eternity.
B. E. K.