A CERTAIN rich and well-known man resolved to build himself a large and handsome home. He bought a piece of ground in the best part of a great city, and spared no pains, nor cost, to make it of the handsomest description. He arranged spacious rooms, taking special care that they should be comfortably warm in winter, and refreshingly cool in summer. In short, he sought in every way possible to make it a pattern of modern elegance and case, hoping to enjoy his new and magnificent home for many years.
During the erection of this palatial family residence, he had another building prepared. How great the difference between the two! While the one contained a number of splendid apartments, the other was of one small room only, for the whole family, and that was under the ground. Although the wall was built of beautiful marble, there was no other entrance than a small iron door.
Strange! Both were prepared for the same person: the one, a large, roomy, beautiful building for the living; the other, a small, narrow, low vault for the dead, in case any member of the family should depart this life.
Long before the mansion was completed, the tomb was ready. Into which of these two houses, do you think, the rich builder made his first entry? How singular! He was ready for the tomb, before the mansion was ready for him. Long before the spacious apartments of the new house were habitable, the owner was found in the narrow, dark, cold room under the earth, where his body must lie until the hour comes, in which all who are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. (John 5:2828Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (John 5:28).)
Dear children, many things in this life may appear bright and attractive, and promise rich enjoyment, but how soon they fade into the past. “The house of the living” is great and beautiful, so that it hides from people’s eyes, and covers over “the house of the dead.” But, dear children, do not forget that you too, may be laid in the grave before you come to enjoy the looked-for pleasures of this life. And what then?
After death the judgment. “It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).) Now you are alive; and now is the day of grace. Come now to Jesus, believe on Him, and the judgment shall never overtake you.
The true believer, whose sins are forgiven, has the sure promise of a house, not made with hands, but eternal; not in this fleeting world, but in heaven. The passing out of this life into that is not death, but going into the presence of the Lord, where is fullness of joy, and pleasures forever more.
Or, if the Lord comes, which is the Christian’s blessed hope, the sleeping ones shall be raised, and those who are alive and remain changed in a moment, caught up together to meet Him in the air. (1 Cor. 15:5252In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52); 1 Thess. 4:15-1815For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For 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. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18).)
ML-11/07/1920