It is recorded in history of the Emperor Augustus, the founder and head of the great Roman Empire (the last of the four beasts in the Prophet Daniel) that when he felt death approaching, he said: “An emperor ought to die standing.” He then ordered a looking-glass to be brought, his hair to be arranged, and his imperial robes to be put on him. Then, turning to the dignitaries and courtiers surrounding him, he asked them: “Have I played my role in life well?” And on their reply that he had, he said: “Then applaud me,” and expired amidst their murmurs of applause.
Oh! what an arrival awaited that mighty monarch in eternity, after such a departure from this world’s vain glories and lying vanities! What a change of scene and place after the splendor, luxuries and comforts of his imperial palace in Rome! And the sounds and tones that greeted him on his arrival in an eternity of woe, how different to the voices of vain applause at his departure from this world!
Yet that emperor was (next to some of his successors on the throne, such as Titus and the two Antonines) one of the best Roman emperors. In every respect he was one of this world’s “gentlemen.” He performed many acts of kindness, was liberal to his friends, benevolent to the poor, a patron of fine arts and science, and faithful to the duties of his high and responsible position. Speaking after the manner of men, his courtiers and subjects might well applaud him. But could their applause serve the poor, dying, vain and godless monarch for a letter of recommendation to the “Judge of the whole earth” with whom there is no respect of persons, and before whom all the dead, great and small, will have to appear, when He will take His seat on the Great White Throne? That mighty and impartial Judge, ordained by God to judge the world in righteousness, was born under the reign of the Emperor Augustus, the Holy and lowly Divine Babe, laid in Bethlehem’s lowly manger, even Jesus, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. In that night when the light from glory shone upon the shepherds near Bethlehem and the first gospel greeted their ears from angel lips: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which is Christ the Lord,” and “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” In that night the Emperor Augustus slept his careless sleep in his palace in Rome, and the high priest in his palace at Jerusalem; the one under the vain shadow of his idols, and the other wrapped in the tattered cloak of religious self-righteousness and self-delusion.
Reader, high or low, rich or poor! What kind of deathbed would be yours, if you were summoned into eternity today? Neither the emperor’s looking-glass nor the high priest’s religious cloak will serve you at that solemn moment, neither a religious hymn, like this:
‘Tis religion that can give
Sweetest pleasures while we live;
‘Tis religion can supply
Solid comfort when we die.
Can you say and sing instead:
It is Jesus, who does give
Sweetest pleasures while I live;
It is Jesus will supply
Solid comfort should I die?
Nothing but Jesus and His cleansing blood will be of avail in a death-chamber.
Let us now turn to another death-bed, very different to the preceding one. It is that of an humble, aged believer, who, after great sufferings, only alleviated by the constant watchful care and loving and tender nursing of his Christian family (wife and four daughters), fell asleep in Jesus, Whose “love above all others” had smoothed his pillow during many wakeful and painful nights. I can do no better than give the short account of one of his daughters, who was present at that triumphant death-bed. She wrote:
“My father’s confidence in God became so perfect at the last. He said: ‘I have full confidence. I have washed my robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’ It was on Saturday afternoon that the summons came. He had such a desire to be lifted up high in bed, and when we had done so, he kept saying, Higher, still higher,’ his soul seeming to soar upwards, and to struggle against being imprisoned in that body of suffering. His doctor came in to see him, but did not alarm us, yet we felt there was a change. After the doctor left, my dear father desired us to send for some men to lift him, which we did. But neither they nor we thought it would be a death scene. His last words before getting up were: ‘Thy grace is sufficient for me; Christ only!’ Dr. W. arrived again, and our dear father, whose head had not been lifted from the pillow for over a week, became filled with a supernatural strength, for to our utter amazement he actually stood upright on his dear feet in the room a few minutes before he passed away. I shall never forget it; our beloved one standing the center object in that group in all the majesty of death, with a look in his eyes that gazed into eternity ... .They lifted him forward, and he fell on the pillow, his Whole countenance changing, his spirit passed into the presence of God.... While his freed spirit was with the One who loved him and gave Himself for him, we were in the vale of tears: but Jesus wept.”
Reader, if the summons should go forth to you, “This night thy soul shall be required of thee,” would you be able to say in the face of death and eternity: “I have full confidence? I have washed my robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb?” Could you say: “Thy grace, Lord Jesus, is sufficient for me? Nothing counts but Christ?”
God grant it! “Behold now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” Tomorrow it may be too late — too late for an eternity!
J. A. E. W.