A NOBLEMAN, surrounded by vast wealth and occupying a very distinguished position, recently expressed himself to a friend thus: “I fear I shall not be here long; my life is of little use to anyone; I have nothing to live for, but I am greatly afraid to die!”
He realizes that neither his great estate nor his high position can secure his present happiness or enable him to evade the “king of terrors”. He dwells in the land of the shadow of death; and must face death all alone.
A few miles from the residence of that nobleman, and about the time that the above utterance was made, there lay upon her death-bed an aged lady in extremely humble circumstances. Her faith, however, was in the Living God. Jesus, God’s beloved Son, was her personal Saviour, Friend and Comforter. So that instead of having to face death all alone, she had the comforting assurance of the presence of the Friend, who, having been into death for her, would go through death with her, making it only a ‘sleep’.
For years she had enjoyed the assurance that her “sins were forgiven, for His name’s sake”.
Her doctor, knowing of her faith in Christ, and seeing that the end was drawing near, had said, “You will not be here long now―it may soon be sudden death and sudden glory for you”.
“Doctor,” she replied, “I do not wish to die suddenly. I am not afraid to die, but I want before I go to leave a clear bright testimony to my Lord, and then just to fall asleep like a tired ‘child.’”
Her desire was granted. In the last spell of consciousness, she said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for THOU art with me.” Then turning to one at her bedside, she said, ―
“I am just longing to see Him, and rest there; but, oh! how I long too, that my dear ones may all seek the Lord while He may be found. I ask it in His precious name.”
Now reader, the question for you is simply this, ‘Which of these two outlooks is to be mine ― to depart supported by this unfailing FRIEND, or be left to face death absolutely alone?’ Oh, do not rest without a satisfactory answer.
It was the ‘chief of sinners’ ― after being brought to know the Son of God ― who spoke of “having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better”. He could say, “for me to live is Christ; to die is gain”. Death had no terror for him, for it had lost its sting.
But the greatest comfort for all that believe is the bright hope of the coming of the Lord; for then “we shall not all sleep”.
The God of all grace desires that you may be saved, dear reader, and be found among those “that are Christ’s at His coming”. May this blessing be yours.
F. S. M