January 3

To die is gain. Philippians 1:21.

THE curse to a believer is turned into a blessing, and the enemy into a friend. For “to die is gain.” The traveler then gains his Father’s home; the mariner gains the desired haven; the soldier gains his victory and triumph; the believer, after all his conflicts, gains a complete deliverance from all his sorrows and all his sins and temptations. The whole life of a Christian here is founded upon a hope that can only be accomplished by dying. It will be the completion of bliss to be with Christ, and to behold his glory.

Death to a Christian is not a bar but a bridge, so that he may pass over and take possession of his glorious inheritance. To a believer death comes so changed in its character that it ought not to be called by this name. It is not properly dying, it is “sleeping in Jesus;” it is “departing to be with Christ, which is far better;” it is “going home;” it is “entering into his rest,” and “into the joy of his Lord.” Dr. Gouge often said: “I have two friends in the world, Christ and death; Christ is my best friend, death is my second.” Adams, in his “Private Thoughts,” says, “I bless thee, O God, that I am to die. I bless thee I am capable of dying. I bless thee that I am appointed to die; and I bless thee the execution is drawing so near.” The great John Howe, having been speaking of glory, says: “Oh, how should our hearts leap for joy, that in order to our perfect blessedness nothing is further wanting than to die, and that the certainty of death completes our assurance of heaven. What should now hinder our joyful thanksgivings that we are in no danger of an earthly immortality; that it is not in the power of all the men in the world to detain us in it, and that our greatest enemies can never keep us from dying, and therefore keep us from thee.”

O, my soul, let me die “the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.”