“SHE never regaled her consciousness,” was the answer we received on inquiring about the death of a young woman we had known.
For days she had lain in this state. The clergyman prayed at her bedside; but she heard him not, and so she died.
“Such a good, respectable life she has lived,” was the only thing her relatives could say of her. And from the window we saw her coffin, covered with flowers, being carried to the grave. Men like to cover up the degradation and corruption of death with the sweet but fading flowers of this life, and to forget that death is not the end. “After death the judgment.”
A good and respectable life will seem but as “filthy rags” to you (Isaiah 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)) when you stand before Him who sits on the great white throne, even as Adam felt his apron of fig leaves of no avail in the presence of God. But you need not meet God as a judge in that day if you meet the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour now. He came into the world to save sinners; and if, instead of valuing your own good works, you will take the place of being a sinner, you will find a Saviour whose precious blood has washed away your sins, and made you fit to stand in God’s presence without a quiver of fear. You will find “fullness of joy” there (Psalms 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)), instead of judgment on the sinner who stands on his own merits. (Revelation 20:1212And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12).)
On the same day that this young woman died another soul passed into eternity, one who would lead no “respectable life” as his hope of entrance into heaven. But as he lay dying, and the thought of his sins was ever before him, the gospel was presented very simply to him by one and another, and he learned that “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin,” that the Lord Jesus Christ had borne the punishment of his sins, and that His death had made the poor sinner meet to be with Him forever. Life was ebbing fast; but during his last moments he opened his eyes, looked up, and said, “Is it all right, Lord? Yes, it is all right,” and soon after he was gone.
Reader, on whose merit and on account of whose work will you stand before God? Your own or Christ’s?
L. C. W.