It Is No More Death, But A Sweet Departure
Those who have lost a child, or who have lost another loved one, inevitably face the pain of separation and the longing for reunification. In my own sorrows I have often been comforted by some sweet words written by Thomas Smyth, a man who on one day laid two precious children in the very same grave. Though he writes specifically to bereaved parents, his words will resonate with all of those who have loved and lost.
Can we not with David rejoicingly declare, “They cannot come to us, but we can go to them?” Yes, we can go to them. They are not lost, but gone before. There in that world of light, and love, and joy, they await our coming. There do they beckon us to ascend. There do they stand ready to welcome us. There may we meet them, when a few more suns or seasons shall have cast their departing shadows upon our silent grave. Then shall our joy be full and our sorrows ended, and all tears wiped from our eyes.
Death separates, but it can never disunite those who are bound together in Christ Jesus. To them, death in his power of an endless separation, is abolished. It is no more death, but a sweet departure, a journey from earth to heaven. Our children are still ours. We are still their parents. We are yet one family—one in memory, one in hope, one in spirit. Our children are yet with us, and dwell with us in our sweetest, fondest recollections. We too are yet with them in the bright anticipations of our reunion with them, in the glories of the upper sanctuary. We mingle together indeed no more in sorrow and in pain.
Blessed and glorious hope, and blessed and glorious gospel by which it is inspired! I have gloried in thee, but never as I do now. I have found thee precious, but never as precious as now. I have hoped in thy word, and stayed myself on thy promises, and exulted in thy immortal hopes, but never aught as now. When I stood a fond parent, surrounded by my little ones, growing up in their sweet loveliness around me, my future delight, my future helpmates and companions, I rejoiced in the sunshine which this heavenly gospel threw around me.
But when I stood bereft of these loved ones, when I saw them cold in the speechlessness of death—when I put them both together in their clayey bed, there to sleep the sleep that knows no waking—when my heart shuddered to think that there they would lie exposed to winter’s storms and the summer’s torrid heat, then did thy cheerful promise, span as with a bow of hope my dreary darkness, sustain my sinking heart, and enable me, even with death, and its horrid desolations before me, triumphantly to exclaim, “Oh death where is thy sting, oh grave where is thy victory! Thanks be to God who giveth me the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
And here let me commend, especially to bereaved parents, this “balm for wounded spirits.” Clasp it, sorrowing mourner, to your bosom. Receive it into your inmost heart. Treasure it as your pearl of greatest price. Seek it as your first and greatest object of pursuit. Buy it at whatever cost. Sell it—no, not for worlds. Heaven is not only our home, our rest. It is now the home of our children. It is our common inheritance. Let it then be the prize of our high calling. Towards it let us press. To it let us continually ascend. For it let us diligently prepare, that when our earthly house of this tabernacle is taken down, we may have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.
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Weekend A La Carte (June 24)
My sincere gratitude goes to The Good Book Company for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about their excellent new book Reclaiming Masculinity.
Logos is having a “Blue Friday” sale this week and has lots of good material on sale—books, commentaries, series, and so on.
(Yesterday on the blog: How a Zealous Mormon Missionary Discovered the Jesus He Never Knew)
You may notice a theme in today’s articles: All are based around questions and answers.
What Will We Remember in the New Creation?
We have all wondered: what of this world will we remember in the next? John Piper offers a characteristically God-centric answer.
FAQ: When Does God Write Our Names in the Book of Life?
“If you’re a Christian, when was your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? Did it happen when we you were born again or some other time?” Adriel Sanchez answers at Core Christianity.
Why Did Ruth Enter Boaz’s Tent in the Middle of the Night? (Ruth 3)
While we are asking and answering questions, here’s a good one: Why did Ruth enter Boaz’s tent in the middle of the night? I appreciate an answer that protects her virtue rather than accusing her of a scandalous deed.
A Father’s Hands
“A father’s hands. What do they communicate?” Jacob considers how his sons love to hold his hands.
Why Can’t ChatGPT Produce Great Sermons?
I think most of us know intuitively that AI won’t be able to produce good sermons. But it’s worth thinking through why that is, as it will help reinforce what preaching is and how God is pleased to use it.
20 Questions for Your View on the Millennium
Finally, Mitch Chase is asking questions more than answering them. He is asking questions that relate to your understanding of the millennium.
Flashback: The Duty of Reflection
It is our duty to reflect on life’s circumstances and to look for God’s hand in them. It is our duty because God works in and through our circumstances and, by his providence, matures and strengthens us in them.If you and I see ourselves merely as peddlers or purveyors of a spiritual “message”, we rapidly become salesmen for the gospel instead of true ministers of the gospel. —Harold Senkbeil
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A La Carte (May 2)
Good morning, my friends. Grace and peace to you.
There are several interesting Kindle deals today, most of them related to church history.
(Yesterday on the blog: It Is No More Death, But A Sweet Departure)
Pornography and Church Discipline
“Because of pornography’s seriousness, churches are right to take serious steps to eradicate it from the life of a believer.” Garrett Kell tells if and when church discipline may be necessary for those who are deep into pornography.
A Happy Ending without an End
Randy Alcorn tells how he is doing several weeks after the death of his dear wife. “I do indeed sense His closeness. At the same time, grief and sometimes depression come upon me in waves. But they do not drive out Jesus or the Holy Spirit, both of whom indwell me (Romans 8:8-11). Nor can they separate me from God the Father.”
Living the good life
Andrée Seu Peterson reflects on aging (and Elon Musk).
Is the assurance of our salvation found in our faith or in our works?
The Ligonier Teaching Fellows discuss assurance of salvation.
Reflections On Ukraine, From A Survivor Of Sudan’s Civil War
David Fugoyo: “I lived most of my life in war in Sudan. It is one of the longest running civil wars in Africa (from 1983 to 2005). I faced countless trying moments. I was separated from my mother, siblings, and other relatives. I struggled to sit in class, hearing rumours of war every day. The culture of war and violence invaded daily life.”
Am I An Untouchable?
And finally, an interesting dispatch from India: “A few years ago, I was looking for a house to rent within my budget. To find a house within my budget, I thought all I had to do was to negotiate how much rent I could pay. That seemed logical and reasonable to me. Apparently, not in my town! As I went on a search to find a suitable house for my family, I repeatedly found two questions thrown at me by different house owners. To my utter shock and dismay, they would invariably ask me: ‘what caste do you belong to’? and ‘what do you do for a living’?”
Flashback: The Endearing Conceit of Young Men
I wonder if you have ever thought about the kind of courage—but also the kind of conceit—it takes for a young man to ask a father for the hand of his daughter. De Witt Talmage once considered this in a discourse on marriage and, frankly, his thoughts are hilarious.Comfort from the Father cascades down into our lives so that comfort may cascade from our lives into the lives of others who are suffering. Comfort flows downhill. —Mike Emlet
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A La Carte (July 6)
May the Lord be with you and bless you today.
Just a reminder that I’m posting only A La Carte this week. The usual articles will return next week.
How a Steadfast Heart Guards You in Crisis
“On a morning run last summer, after a major thunderstorm swept through, the path was sprinkled with leaves and branches scattered from the intense winds. As I passed by homes, I did a double take when a thick poplar lay across the yard, blocking the front door. The tree looked thick and strong, yet there it was, snapped like a toothpick.”
Here’s Why You CAN Trust the Bible (Video)
Grek Koukl explains why you truly can trust the Bible.
Enter to Win The R.C. Sproul Signature Classics
Ligonier Ministries has recently released The R.C. Sproul Signature Classics, featuring several of Dr. Sproul’s most influential books in an attractive six-volume collection. This summer, Ligonier is giving away 100 free copies of this book collection. Enter the giveaway today for the opportunity to add this resource to your personal library. (Sponsored Link)
CPM: The Christian Productivity Movement
David Kaywood has an interesting article on what he calls “The Christian Productivity Movement.”
How to Graciously Say No
Related to the subject of productivity, Reagan Rose offers some help on saying “no.”
Citizens of the Kingdom; Aliens in the World
Jim Elliff has a timely reminder that, because we are citizens of the kingdom, we are aliens in this world.
The Importance of Corporate Prayer
I enjoyed this brief article by Michael Haykin.
Flashback: The Joy of Walking with God
No Christian will come to the grave regretting that he has prayed too much, been too holy, or walked with God too closely.When I consider my best duties, I sink, I die, I despair; but when I think of Christ, I have enough; he is all and in all. —Simeon Ashe
