THE BRIGHT SIDE OF DEATH
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Who can count the dust of Jacob,
And the number of the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,
And let my last end be like his!
Balaam revealed the insight that God had given him: here were good people, not to be cursed but blessed.
Most people look upon death as a dark and gloomy thing without one redeeming quality. But the death of the righteous, like the lowering clouds that shut out the sun at noonday, has a bright side and a silver lining.
With the Christian, as with Pascal, it is only the supposed pain of dying he fears. But the highest authority now declares that there is necessarily no pain in dying itself.
1. DEATH IS SOMETHING WE SHRINK FROM
True to our natural instincts we shrink back from death.
With the Christian, it is only the supposed pain of dying he fears.
But the highest authority now declares that there is necessarily no pain in dying itself.
2. DEATH IS THE START OF ETERNITY
1) With the wicked, death is a final goodbye to all Gospel opportunities and holy companionship's.
With the Christian it is moving out into eternal daylight.
2) Much greater misfortunes than death can befall the Christian.
3. DEATH IS BRIEF AND TEMPORARY
Our intelligent and spiritual parts are essentially imperishable. Death does not destroy the inhabitant.
It only takes down the house in which he lives. The faithful believer never dies.
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
4. DEATH IS PUTTING ON IMMORTALITY
The grave is only an inn. Man was created immortal and he shall rise from the grave and live forever. Death shall be destroyed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
5. DEATH IS OUR ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN
1) It is the soul’s liberation from all bondage, and limitations that mar its larger pleasure and deter its expansion and unfolding.
It is like the worm that bursts its chrysalis and comes forth a thing of larger life, liberty, and beauty.
2) It secures to the believer an immediate increase of all that is good in itself.
It is going from large opportunities to larger ones.
He is like one who moves from the poorhouse into king’s palaces and from plain fare to everlasting banquets.
It is departure from friends “to an innumerable company of angels,” etc.
Death is his last conflict for his crown.
Amidst the shadows of the valley he shouts with Edward Payson,
“The battle is fought and the victory is won.”