IT was with sad yet thankful hearts that about two hundred Christians and friends gathered recently around the grave of a beloved young Christian lady. Only twenty-five years of age, full of promise, the light of her home, an active Christian worker; she had, after a brief illness, been “put to sleep by Jesus.”
As we thought of the blank at home, the vacancy in the ranks of those who seek to serve the Lord, we could not but sorrow; yet when we thought of her as being “with the Lord” we rejoiced, and expressed our triumph even in the presence of death in the closing words of 1 Corinthians 15―part of which was read at the funeral― “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 57).
In that chapter we learn the grand secret of Christian victory. The gospel in all its majestic grandeur and divine simplicity is outlined, and presents three great facts―
JESUS DIED! JESUS ROSE! JESUS LIVES!
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (vs. 3). Here we are confronted at once with “our sins.” Reader, what about YOUR sins? You have committed sufficient to sink a multitude in perdition, and you cannot by your own effort blot out a single one; but, praise be to God, “Christ died for our sins.” Faith says, “Christ died for MY sins.” Will you put yourself in just there? Then you shall know that your sins have been atoned for in the death of the sinless Substitute―the Lord Jesus Christ.
Further, “He was buried” (vs. 4). So complete is the work of salvation, that, in the death of Christ, not only have our sins been dealt with, but God has once and forever ended the history of man after the flesh, who could do nothing but sin, in order that, in the risen Christ, He might bring in a new creation: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” [or there is a new creation] (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)).
This brings us to the next great fact― “He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (vs. 4). The resurrection is the glorious proof of God’s satisfaction with, His acceptance of, and His delight in the mighty work of redemption. Seen on earth after His resurrection by an army of “witnesses chosen before of God,” He was seen later in glory by Saul of Tarsus. The triumph of Christ is complete, and the tidings of salvation have been carried down by the Holy Spirit of God, and ring throughout the world today. There is, thank God, a living Saviour for dying sinners.
God’s glory has been maintained, His righteousness has been established, His claims have been met, Satan has been defeated, death has been annulled, sin has been put away, and the way has been cleared, so that it can be said of every believer, as was said of the Corinthians, “Ye ARE saved” (vs. 2)— not hope to be saved, not may be saved, not trying to be saved; but “Ye ARE saved.” Let us ask you just here, dear reader, Are You saved?
Nor does the gospel stop here. The inspired apostle in combating the error of that day―and of this day too—enlarges on this magnificent gospel, and shows that the triumph of Christ is the triumph of all who are His. He is coming back for those who belong to Him, and when He comes, the sleeping saints will be raised, and the living saints will be changed. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (vs. 52), all will be transformed into His own glorious likeness, and as they rise to meet Him, they will be able to challenge death, and say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” What a splendid gospel! Thrice happy indeed are those who have heard its joyful sound, and will] have been brought under its saving power.
The subject of our paper lived in the joy of it, and died in the triumph of it. During her last illness, it her delirium, she was either presenting the gospel tc someone, or praying God to save sinners, or expressing her joy in songs of praise. In view of all this, what could we do but rejoice? At the grave we sang: ―
“The Lord Himself shall come,
And shout a quickening word;
Thousands shall answer from the tomb:
‘Forever with the Lord!’
“Then, as we upward fly,
That resurrection-word
Shall be our shout of victory:
‘Forever with the Lord!’”
“There with unwearied gaze
Our eyes on Him we’ll rest,
And satisfy with endless praise
Our hearts supremely blest.”
“‘Knowing as we are known!’
How shall we love that word,
How oft repeat before the throne:
‘Forever with the Lord!’”
“That resurrection-word,
That shout of victory―
Once more: ― ‘Forever with the Lord!’
Amen! so let it be.”
We looked for an instant into the grave, and saw the coffin which contained the precious dust; then we looked up, and delighted to think that SHE was “with the Lord.” That is heaven. Some may speak of pearly gates and golden streets, others may tell us of happy angels and harps of minstrelsy, but our joy is that those who have died in Christ are “absent from the body―present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)), and that soon the whole ransomed company will be― “Forever with the Lord.”
This very hour He may come, then the night of sorrow will end, and the resurrection morn will break, we shall see His face, we shall hear His voice, we shall walk with Him, together we shall talk of all His love, and forever and ever we shall praise and extol His glorious name.
Sorrowing Christians, dry your tears; your loved ones, who trusted Him, have gone into His presence just a little time before, and are now where you soon will be― “with the Lord.” Hallelujah!
We turn again to you, dear unsaved reader. What’ a positive heart-break it would be to your Christian friends if you died as you are, what a dismal funeral yours would be, and what a black eternity!
“Without God”― “without Christ”― “without hope.” Then why not come to Christ JUST NOW? Wait not for a deathbed. The father of our departed friend said to the writer, “If she had not been saved, there would have been no opportunity during her illness, racked with pain, tossed about in delirium, she could not have thought of the need of her soul.”
Reader! Let us beseech you, be you young, middle-aged, or old, believe the gospel, accept the Saviour, rest your soul upon His finished work, then stake your eternity on the fact that He “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:26-5:1).
Then, while left here you will live for the Lord; as the ranks may be thinned by one and another being called home, you will be ready to step into the breach, and, as exhorted in the last verse of our chapter, “Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord;” and whether called hence ere He come, or left here “till He come,” yours―in common with every sinner saved by grace―will be the glorious prospect of being “Forever with the Lord.” Can any prospect be more glorious?
W. B. D.