- Mar 21, 2003
- 21,118
- 17,842
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
Death, the Believer's Gain!
From Timeless Grace Gems
William Nicholson, 1862
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21From Timeless Grace Gems
William Nicholson, 1862
Though the Christian may sometimes be influenced by the glittering things of earth — yet nothing appears so valuable to his mind, as religion and its ultimate consequences.
The blessedness of the place to which he is journeying — the grand disclosure of light and glory which he is to realize there; to say nothing about the cessation of his conflicts with sin and Satan, and all his trials in this world — make him sometimes say with the Apostle, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" verse 23.
While Paul delighted in the service of Christ on earth, and was willing to continue in it as long as God should permit — he longed to be with Christ, to behold his glory, and to be with the Captain of his salvation.
OBSERVE: "To die is gain."
How can death be gain, when it is styled an enemy, and "the king of terrors"? Do not all wish to avoid death? Is it not the aim of everyone to prolong life to its utmost extent? Would not everyone permanently abide in this world?
No! Those who have the life of God in them, say, "We would not live always!" "To die is gain!"
The black river of death, in which we are to be "unclothed" of our mortal dress, terrifies us; but Christ will bear us through its dark surges, and make us more than conquerors. Standing on the brink of eternity, surveying the King in his beauty, and the glorious realities of the land that is afar off, we hope to triumph: "O Death, where is your sting!" etc.
John Foster beautifully observes: "What a superlatively grand and consoling idea is that of death! Without this radiant idea, this delightful morning-star, indicating that the luminary of eternity is going to rise — life would, to my view, darken into midnight melancholy. Oh! the expectation of living here on earth, and living thus always — would indeed be a prospect of overwhelming despair. But thanks to that decree that dooms us to die — thanks to that Gospel which opens the vision of an endless life — and thanks above all, to that Savior-friend who has promised to conduct all the faithful through the sacred trance of death into scenes of paradise and everlasting delight!"
I. At death, the Christian gains an infinitely superior place of residence. He enters Heaven — the palace of the great King. This world is a desert — a wilderness — a valley of tears — an aceldama, or field of blood — a land of death. But heaven — O that is the New Jerusalem, the better, heavenly country, where God the Mediator, angels pure and bright, saints perfect and glorified, forever dwell.
Pure is its atmosphere,
fragrant are its flowers,
melodious is its music,
ever verdant are its trees,
pellucid are its fountains,
and golden are its streets!
But who can conceive, who can declare its glory? To die and enter Heaven, will be gain indeed! Revelation 21, 22, etc.
II. At death, the Christian gains vision of Christ without obscurity. Christ's residence is in the highest heavens, where God reveals his glory, and manifests himself to all who are around him. As the reward of his sufferings and death, "God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth!" Philippians 2:9-10
It is there that his Divinity shines through the humanity with ineffable brightness, and there he is beheld in all the moral grandeur of the only begotten Son of God. There he is seen as the great Mediator — the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, etc. There, are the riches of his infinite love — the treasures of his grace, etc., etc., are developed.
Believers shall . . .
see him there,
walk with him in white,
sit on his throne,
hear his voice,
and see his glory!
How transporting will be the sight! Isaiah 6:1-6; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 1:13, etc.; 14:1.
They are sure to see it — if children, then heirs, etc., 1 John 3:2. For this the Savior prayed, "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world!" John 17:24. No longer see him dimly by the eye of faith — but clearly, without a veil between. 1 Corinthians 13:9, 10, 12; Revelation 22:4. To die and enter Heaven, will be gain indeed!
III. At death, the Christian gains holiness without sin. The very existence of sin will be destroyed, "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life!" Revelation 21:27
Sin here is the ruin of man — the ruin of his immortal soul. It has blighted and blasted the world, and filled it with impurity, misery, and death.
The Christian has here to struggle with sin in his members — to wrestle with a depraved heart, Romans 7:18 — with sin in his family — in his neighbors — in his business transactions — in society at large. He feels its operations, and laments its effects.
But in Heaven the Christian shall gain purity without sin. All the remains of sin, and the dregs of corruption are left forever behind.
No condemning conscience is found there.
No unhallowed appetites are found there.
No disordered affections exist there.
No appearance or vestige of evil is found there.
Every child of God is as pure as Christ is pure — as perfect as his Father in Heaven is perfect.
Child of mortality, heir of corruption! Look forward to your sinless and perfect home, and learn that to die will be gain.
IV. At death, the Christian gains employment without weariness. The employment there will be adoration and praise, like that of angels, Revelation 5:11, 12; 7:9-12.
It will be the service of love — of holy converse with each other. It will be a service of delight and ever-increasing interest. A service in which there will be no weakness, and no coldness. It will be with the strength and vigor of immortal youth, and performed under the influence of burning love. A service without weariness.
Here on earth, we are soon fatigued and weary in God's service. But the cause of such lassitude will there be forever ended. We will serve him day and night, Revelation 7:15.
The themes of interest will be undying — the study of them will ever be intense. Love will ever burn ardently — the zeal will ever flame. A wearied seraph will never be found there. To die and enter Heaven, will be gain indeed!
V. At death, the Christian gains society without temptation. Society in this present world is not perfect. Everyone possesses a depraved heart — deceitful and desperately wicked. The influence which some exert by their example, their erroneous principles, and their seductive arts, is frequently ruinous. "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Corinthians 15:33.