Friday, April 12, 2013

Encouragement: Death Is a Welcome Guest For the Christian


("A Few Sighs From Hell" or "The Groans of the Damned Soul" by that poor and contemptible servant of Jesus Christ, John Bunyan, 1658. Being an exposition of Luke 16:19-31, concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar, wherein is revealed the lamentable state of the Damned--their cries, and their desires in their distresses, with the determined judgment of God upon them. A good warning word to lost sinners, both old and young, to seek salvation by faith in Jesus Christ--lest they come into the same place of torment.)

"Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time--yet surely I know that it will be well with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God!" Ecclesiastes 8:12

Believer,
it will be well with you!
Consider how safe, how sure, how happy are you!
For when others go to Hell--you must go to Heaven!
When others go to the devil--you must go to God!
When as others go to eternal prison--you must be set at liberty, and at ease!
When others must roar for sorrow of heart--you shall sing for the joy of heart!

Consider, you must have . . .
all your well-spent life to follow you--instead of all your sins;
the glorious blessings of the gospel--instead of the dreadful curses and condemnations of the law;
the blessing of the loving Father--instead of a fiery sentence from the righteous Judge.

Let death come when it will, it can do you no harm; for it will be but only a passage . . .
out of a prison--into a palace;
out of a sea of troubles--into a haven of rest;
out of a crowd of enemies--into an innumerable company of true, loving, and faithful friends;
out of shame, reproach, and contempt--into exceeding great and eternal glory!

For death shall not hurt you with his sting, nor bite you with his soul-murdering teeth; but shall be a welcome guest to you--in that it is sent to free you from your troubles which you are in, while here in this poor world.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21
"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23

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