“SHE’S dead, sir; she died at Christmas,” was the reply I got on calling to inquire for a poor widow with whom I lodged not long since. The last time I saw her she was tolerably well, attending much as usual to her domestic duties. But she is dead. The house and furniture looked just the same; but “She’s dead, sir,” was all I could learn about the departed one from the orphan daughter.
It was a solemn moment; many thoughts pressed much on my mind. It is true that I had more than once spoken to her of the atoning work of Christ, and of the blessedness of present peace with God; but had 1 thought her opportunities of hearing would have so soon ended, and that she was then actually on the brink of eternity, how much more earnest should I have been in commending the love of God in Christ to her. But now she is dead! The place that once knew her will know her no more forever! Whether she really received Christ crucified and risen as her Saviour the future will make manifest.
Happy indeed are those who now see such glory and beauty in Jesus the Son of God as to be attracted to Him, and constrained to confess Him before men. Present peace with God, and present testimony for Christ, become those who are saved by the precious blood of the Lamb. Not to confess Christ before men is indeed very solemn; to be ashamed of Christ very alarming; for “whosoever,” said Jesus, “shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).
“Jesus! and shall it ever be,
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days!
Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend?
No; when I blush, be this my shame
That I no more confess His name.”
Death is so common that many seem to think little more of it than the present separation of tender ties; few appear to regard it as God’s just penalty for sin. Men are appointed to death, and after that judgment, because they are sinners. The Son of God came to deliver from death and judgment, by bearing sins, and by being a substitute for those who believe—going under death and judgment. So that those who accept Christ risen from the dead, and ascended, as their life and righteousness before God, have died and have been judged in Christ their substitute on the cross. Death and judgment are therefore behind them; they have a present standing of completeness in Christ at God’s right hand, and they wait for glory; they wait for God’s Son from heaven; they expect to be caught up to meet Him in the air, and so be forever with the Lord.
Being cleansed from our sins by the precious blood of Christ, the sting of death—which is sin—is gone. It they should die before the Lord comes, it is not strictly death, but falling asleep, as scripture calls it; or really, as I believe, being put to sleep by Jesus. But the Lord is coming quickly, and we may not even fall asleep, but be changed in a moment, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air—death and judgment behind us, and glory before us. What a victory! “Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”