450 Sermon Illustrations on Death

450 illustrations Page 5 of 9

Physical death marks the transition from earthly life to eternal existence, freeing the soul to be with Christ and bringing rest akin to peaceful sleep (John 11:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Christian preaching often uses imagery of crossing rivers, sleeping in Jesus' arms, and shadows to depict death as a passage rather than an end, highlighting hope, resurrection, and the believer’s victory over fear through faith.

Qualified To Give A

These are from a book called Disorder in the Court. These are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters - who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

Q: What is your date of birth?

A: July fifteenth.

Q: What year?

A: Every year.

Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?

A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?

A: Yes.

Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?

A: I forget.

Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?

Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?

A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.

Q: How long has he lived with you?

A: Forty-five years.

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up

that morning?

A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

Q: And why did that upset you?

A: My name is Susan.

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or

the occult?

A: We both do.

Q: Voodoo?

A: We do.

Q: You do?

A: Yes, voodoo.

Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he

doesn't know about it until the next morning?

Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year old, how old is he?

Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?

Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?

A: Yes.

Q: And what were you doing at that time?

Q: She had three children, right?

A: Yes.

Q: How many were boys?

A: None.

Q: Were there any girls?

Q: How was your first marriage terminated?

A: By death.

Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

Q: Can you describe the individual?

A: He was about medium height and had a beard.

Q: Was this a male, or a female?

Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice

which I sent to your attorney?

A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?

A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

Classic!!

Q: All your responses must be oral, OK? What school did you go to?

A: Oral.

Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.

Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?

A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?

A: No.

Q: Did you check for blood pressure?

A: No.

Q: Did you check for breathing?

A: No.

Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began

the autopsy?

A: No.

Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

Q: But could the patient have still been alive, never the less?

A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing

law somewhere.

The Death Rate Is 100%

Larry King is a tough-minded pragmatist. He has managed. through a long career in a highly competitive field, to be not only a survivor, but also a winner. Some say that through his interview program on CNN and his column in USA Todav, he is capable of electing a president. When the interviewer on 60 Minutes asked King about some possible threat to his career, he answered, “The only thing I worry about is dying” (CBS, Sept. 18, 1992).

With that sentence, Larry King reduced matters to their irreducible elements. Everyone is going to die. When Claude Thompson, a beloved theology professor at Asbury and Candler seminaries, learned that he had an inoperable malignancy, he commented, “The most certain thing about life is death. At last census the death rate was 100 percent. The ratio of deaths per capita is one to one-one death to one person.

Since that’s the case, you may wonder why I include Death in my list of great teachers. Since we expect to die only once, whatever we might learn from the experience seems superfluous: after all, we won’t get a chance to put it to further use!

The issue, of course, is not the experience of dying but death. It’s true that we die only once, and for that reason, we shouldn’t approach it as novices. We ought to learn about death so that when our once-in-a-lifetime occasion comes, we will handle it well.

Actually, all of us are exposed to the death process almost daily. Nature offers unending lessons in the flower that withers in its container and the leaf dropping from a tree. Each day the newspaper carries a page or more of obituaries and death notices. We drive past funeral homes. And as we grow a bit older, we lose friends and acquaintances and family members to death with rather alarming frequency.

Nevertheless, we don’t know death the way our ancestors did. A typical nineteenth-century home had one room with a door wide enough for a casket to pass through because the “viewing” and often the funeral service took place at home. Until well into this century nearly everyone died at home. Ours is the first age in which a majority of people die in institutions, such as hospitals and nursing homes - although the new emphasis on hospice care may change that.

On the whole, we are not as close to the experience of death as were our ancestors. And while most of us are probably glad that we don’t have to encounter death as intimately, it may also be true that we are poorer because of this isolation. One should not be morbid about death, thinking about it unduly, but neither should one be a fool. All of us are going to die, so we should do well to see what Death would teach us, before it’s too late.

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J. Ellsworth Kalas, “If Experience is Such A Good Teacher, Why Do I Keep Repeating The Course?” Dimensions, 1994, p. 131

Oldest Living Things

Hikers in California’s Sierra Mountains are surprised to find 10-foot high fences with barbed wire around the top out in the middle of nowhere. What do they surround? Some vital communication equipment such as a tower? No. Just a few gnarled trees -- maybe just a twisted stump with a few pine needles. A sign reads: “DO NOT ENTER. BRISTLECONE PINE PROTECTION ZONE. PLEASE PROTECT THESE TREES. THEY ARE THE OLDEST LIVING THINGS ON EARTH.”

Pamphlets explain that these trees were flourishing when Jesus walked on the earth. They were seedlings when the Exodus from Egypt took place. However, one day even these trees will die.

Unique epitaphs

In the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Gatlinburg, TN there is a section that contains replicas of unusual epitaphs--sayings on tombstones. For example, there's one near Uniontown, PA that says: "Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake. He stepped on the gas instead of the brake." Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, AZ has this one: "Here lies Lester Moore; Four slugs from a .44; No Les, no Moore." One in New England reads: "Beneath this sod lies Arabella Young, who on the 26th of May began to hold her tongue." One near Wetumpka, AL reads: "Solomon Peas. Peas is not here, only the Pod. Peas shelled out and went home to God."

Need for fathers

Erma Bombeck, in an uncharacteristically serious FD column, wrote about that hunger: "One morning my father didn't get up and go to work. He went to the hospital and died the next day. I hadn't thought that much about him before. He was just someone who left and came home and seemed glad to see everyone at night. He opened the jar of pickles when no one else could. He was the only one in the house who wasn't afraid to go into the basement by himself. He cut himself shaving, but no one kissed it or got excited about it. It was understood that when it rained, he got the car and brought it around to the door. When anyone was sick, he went out to get the prescription filled. He took lots of pictures ... but he was never in them. Whenever I played house, the mother doll had a lot to do. I never knew what to do with the daddy doll, so I had him say, "I'm going off to work now" and threw him under the bed. The funeral was in our living room and a lot of people came and brought all kinds of good food and cakes. We had never had so much company before. I went to my room and felt under the bed for the daddy doll. When I found him I dusted him off and put him on my bed. He never did anything. I didn't know his leaving would hurt so much."

______________

(Erma Bombeck, The Ties that Bind ... And Gag! [NY: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1987], p. 2)

Interpreting Alienation

John 14:2

Bertrand Russell, the devout atheistic thinker, is often remembered as one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century. In his autobiography Russell reflected on his own death, pointedly referring to that moment as the “night of nothingness.” He notes, “There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendor, no vastness anywhere; only triviality for a moment, and then nothing.” [1]

In dramatic contrast are the equally pointed words of another great mind that spoke centuries earlier. As the Apostle Paul looked with anticipation toward his own death, he explained, “To me, to live is Christ, to die is gain... I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” (Philippians 1:21,23)

Indeed, the distinction is striking! And yet, their words seem to express a common and underlying sense of alienation, though clearly interpreted in two different ways. For Russell, alienation is expressed through his grim vision of nothingness as he looks at the fleetingness of life and the finality of death. The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, seems to give voice to a deep, abiding awareness of alienation that comes from sensing himself a stranger in this world, wholly anticipating another.

In fact, across cultures and throughout history this sense of alienation has been expressed by many and interpreted in a myriad of ways. For some a deep sense of isolation and estrangement becomes a thief of meaning and hope. Why am I here? Does my life hold any purpose? The lines of a popular music group give voice to such sentiments as the chorus resonates over and over: “You and I, we live and die. The world's still spinning round and we don't know why. We don't know why. Don't know why...” [2]

Still for others, it is a simple sense that we are not quite at home, an awareness of life as a journey toward something else, a longing to be reunited with something from which we now feel cut off. A walk through the woods, a glimpse of something beautiful, or a haunting melody can trigger a pang of longing, the awareness of something more.

As a Christian, I believe this sense of alienation and pining for more in this world points to the reality that we were made for another. The eloquent reasoning of C.S. Lewis furthers this thought. He writes:

We want something else which can hardly be put into words — to be

united with the beauty we see, to pass into it... to become part

of it... At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong

side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of

morning, but they do no make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle

with the splendors we see. But all the leaves of the New

Testament are rustling with the rumor that it will not always be

so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in. [3]

As many before us have observed, our sense of alienation is a herald of another world, a hint toward an ultimate destiny. And indeed, Christ's words resound in the deep corridors of longing: “I am going to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) That is truly a compelling vision.

____________

1. Bertrand Russell, Autobiography, vol. 2 (London: George Allen and Unwin, 1968), p. 159.

2. Oasis, Champagne Supernova.

3. C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory.

____________

[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #13863

The Most Caring Child

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

Katherine Hepburn On Old Age

Ruth 4:15

Katherine Hepburn on old age:

"I think we're finally at a point where we've learned to see death with a sense of humor. I have to. When you're my age, it's as if you're a car -- first a tire blows and you get that fixed and a headlight goes and you get that fixed. Then one day you drive into the shop and the man says, 'Sorry, Miss, we can't get parts for this model anymore.'"

Golden Gate Bridge Safety Net [4 versions]

The Golden Gate Bridge was built in San Francisco between 1933 and 1937. During the first half of construction over a dozen men fell as far as 700 feet to their death in the water below. Imagine what it must have been like to slip. I wonder what those workers' last thoughts were like. Construction was halted and a huge safety net, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, was stretched underneath. During he second half of construction six people fell and none of them lost their lives. Interestingly, work proceeded at 25% greater efficiency!

==============================

Another version:

During the first part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no safety devices were used, and 23 men fell to their deaths. For the last part of the project, however, a large net which cost $100,000 was employed. At least 10 men fell into it and were saved. But an interesting sidelight is the fact that 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety!

-Dennis J. De Haan, Tan 5252

==============================

Third version:

When the Golden Gate bridge was constructed, it was then the longest, highest, widest, costliest brige in the world. Because of the danger, work proceeded behind schedule. Then someone hit on a brilliant idea. Why not build a net under the construction area? Then, if any workman fell, he would not tumble to his death, but would land in the net and thus be saved. So a giant safety net of stout cord was made and swung under the construction work, the first time in history a major construction that such a net had been used. This safety net reportedly cost around one hundred thousand dollars. Because the workmen knew that if they did slip, they would not fall to their death, the work then proceeded at a much faster rate.

==============================

Fourth version:

In 1937, the great Golden Gate Bridge was completed. It cost $77 million. It was built in two stages: the first slowly, and the second rapidly. In the first stage, twenty-three men fell to their death. And the work ground to a halt because fear paralyzed the workmen as helplessly they watched their companions plummeting from the structure to the water far below. Finally, an ingenious person thought, “There needs to be a security net.” So they put together, for $100,000, the largest net ever built and hung that net beneath the workmen. When phase two began, ten were saved who fell into that net. The work proceeded twenty-five percent faster until the job was done.

As Christian, when we fall or stumble, we can rest assured that Jesus, our security net, will catch us and lift us back. We are secure in the arms of Jesus.

___________

The Tale Of The Tardy Oxcart by Charles R. Swindoll, Word, pp. 509-510.

Dead Ringer (myth and Update)

England being old and small, they started running out of places to bury people. So, they would dig up coffins and would take their bones to a dump and re-use the grave. In reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and soon realized they had been burying some people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on the wrist of the dead person and lead it up through the coffin and then through the ground and tie it to a bell. A watchman would have to sit out in the graveyard all night to listen for the bell to ring. Hence, the first usage of the term, the “graveyard shift”, they would know that someone was then, “saved by the bell”, or either, a “dead ringer”...... It could happen! :-)

________

Holwick: this must be relegated to the "myth" pile. Here is an analysis by Melissa Snell at http://historymedren.about.com/library/weekly/aa042202n.htm

The Facts:

England was not so “old and small” that new cemeteries could not be established, but crowded graveyards did exist, due to the Christian tradition of burying the dead in the consecrated grounds of Church yards. Some towns managed to arrange for cemeteries outside the municipal boundaries, but Church property was not subjected to secular law and the practice continued throughout the Middle Ages.

It wasn't until the 18th century that the nefarious practice of removing the bones from a grave to make room for new coffins took place. Church sextons would quietly dispose of the bones in nearby pits. There were no “bone-houses” in England and the coffins were usually so decayed that if scratch-marks had ever been made inside them they would not be distinguishable in the rotted wood. The gravediggers would often appropriate the hardware (handles, plates, and nails) of decayed coffins to sell for waste metal.1 The matter was resolved in the mid-nineteenth century when London succeeded in passing a law that closed the churchyards and put heavy restrictions on burial within the city limits, and most cities and towns across Great Britain soon followed its lead.

At no time during the Middle Ages was there a prevalent fear that people were getting buried alive, and in no known instance did anyone rig up a bell-pull to notify the living. Most medieval people were smart enough to distinguish a living person from a dead one. Throughout history there has been the occasional case of someone getting buried alive, but by no means was this as frequent as the hoax would have you believe.

The common phrases used in the last portion of the hoax have absolutely nothing to do with premature burial, and each has its origin in a different source.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the phrase “graveyard shift” dates to the early 20th century. It may have its source in the night shift on nautical vessels, which was called “graveyard watch” for its quiet loneliness.

“Saved by the bell” originates from the sport of boxing, in which a fighter is “saved” from further punishment or from a ten-count when the bell signifies that the round is over. (But the next round is another story.)

A “ringer” is slang for an imposter. It was used in cheating at horse races, when an unscrupulous trainer would substitute a fast horse, or ringer, for a nag with a bad racing record. This sporting association continues in the modern use of the term “ringer” for a professional athlete playing in an amateur game. But a human can also be a ringer in the sense of a person who closely resembles someone else, like the professional entertainers who impersonate celebrities such as Dolly Parton and Cher.

A “dead ringer” is simply someone who is extremely close in appearance to another, in the same way as someone who is “dead wrong” is as wrong as he can possibly can be.

[see also HolwickID #29231]

(untitled)

"My faith has never been stronger; my hope has never been calmer; my life never purer. I love all. I hate note. My hope for some lifts my soul into the realm of the sublime. I am willing to die today; I am willing to live a thousand years to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love. My friends are dearer to me; association with them is sweeter to me; my sympathy for suffering souls is stronger; my love for all the pure, the true, the beautiful, the good and sublime, for the bud, the blossom, the babe, up to Him from which all blessings flow is truer, tenderer, sweeter than ever before. I sleep soundly, dream sweetly and rejoice evermore. O, it is delightful to love and be loved, and to do whatsoever duty demands. My vanity is gone. What people say does not bother me." (T.B. Larimore, 1843-1929, via Palm Beach Lakes, FL)

Quotes On Death & Resurrection

Job 14:2

“If we don't know WHAT is beyond the grave, we do know WHO is beyond the grave.”

-- William Sloane Coffin

"I don't mind dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens."

-- Woody Allen

"When death, the great reconciler, has come, it is never our tenderness that we repent of, but our severity."

-- T. S. Eliot

"Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."

-- Joe Louis

“Christ has made of death a narrow starlit strip between the companionships of yesterday and the reunions of tomorrow.”

-- William Jennings Bryan

Who Wants To Live To Be 100?

Ruth 4:15

Someone (unknown to me) relates this story:

When my grandmother was in her eighties, she decided to move to Israel. As part of the preparations, she went to see her doctor and get all her charts. The doctor asked her how she was doing, so she gave him the litany of complaints -- this hurts, that’s stiff, I’m tireder and slower, etc., etc., etc.

He responded with, “Mrs. Weiss, you have to expect things to start deteriorating. After all, who wants to live to 100?”

My grandmother looked him straight in the eye and replied, “Anyone who’s 99.”

It’s so true. No matter how old we are, there is the desire to live at least one more year. Even Christians who look forward to being with their heavenly Father sometimes have a hard time letting go of life in this world. But Jesus’ death (and resurrection) truly makes all the difference in the world.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death -- that is, the devil -- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Heb. 2:14-15, NIV)

Satan holds the “power of death”, but praise be to the One who gives us hope because He holds the “power of life”!

Bizarre Last Words

Ludwig Van Beethoven, 1827: “I shall hear in heaven.” By the time of his death, Beethoven was completely deaf.

Andrew Bradford, the publisher of Philadelphia's first newspaper, 1742: “Oh Lord, forgive the errata!”

W.C. Fields, who had been flipping through the Bible on his deathbed, 1946: “I'm looking for a loophole.”

Neville Heath, a murderer who requested a glass of whiskey as his last wish before being hanged, 1946: “You might make that a double.”

Karl Marx, after his housekeeper had asked whether he had a final message for the world, 1883: “Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven't said enough.”

What the Odds Are…

What The Odds Are...

--The Chances you will eventually die in a car crash: 1 in 125

--Develop a brain tumor: 1 in 25,000

--Die in a fire this year: 1 in 4,000,000

--Win a state lottery jackpot: 1 in 4,000,000 (from Harper Perennial, 1992)

--Chances of your being killed by terrorists overseas: 1 in 650,000

--Chances of your being aborted if you are in the womb of an American woman: 1 in 3.3

(From WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? By Bernard Siskin, Crown, 1989)

WAS the OPERATION A SUCCESS?

WAS THE OPERATION A SUCCESS?

A man opened his eyes after an operation, and said, "Well, was the operation a success, doctor?"

"I beg your pardon," came the reply. "I'm not the doctor. My name is PETER."

HIS LAST SONG

A nurse in a Glasgow hospital is responsible for the following

pathetic story. A man came into the institution for an operation upon

his tongue. In reply to his inquiries concerning the future, the

surgeon told him that he would probably be able to speak with

sufficient plainness to make himself understood, but that he would

never sing again. Whereupon the sufferer said that if that were the

case, he must have one more song before his tongue was touched. In the

presence of the doctors and nurses he burst forth with Cowper's

well-known hymn:

There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains.

The man concluded thus:

Soon in a nobler, sweeter song

I'll sing Thy power to save,

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue

Lies silent in the grave.

The chloroform was administered, and the operation was performed,

but the man never recovered from the ordeal. His last song proved to

be his last utterance upon this earth.

If you were placed in like critical circumstances, could you sing

with equal delight of the Saviour and of His precious blood? Would the

possibility of death fill you with terror, or could you contemplate it

with perfect peace?

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

SAVED WHAT HE GAVE

The Lord raised us up many good friends here in Chattanooga. Among

them was Mr. Harry E. Chapman. He was a good sanctified Methodist.

When our work here was a mission Mr. Chapman was a member of the

board. Of course, we never asked him for a penny, as we never did

anyone, but he was a very liberal contributor. He sent a most liberal

check for years. We held about fifty-five tent meetings in the city,

each one lasting more than a month. Many tents were worn out. Often

Brother Chapman would ask if a new tent was needed. If so, he would

ask the amount necessary to buy, and without further word, would write

a check for the amount. Brother Chapman was quite well-to-do. But the

depression came and everything was swept away. Why God permits His

children to thus suffer will all be clear "When we shall know as we

are known."

Just a few weeks before Brother Chapman went to his reward he sent

for me. He was very happy, but said, "Brother Tidwell, I just wanted

to tell you that all my earthly possessions are gone. I do not have

one dollar. I live with my daughter who supplies all my needs, but I

just wished to tell you that all I kept is now gone and all that I now

have is what I gave to the work of the Lord." Brother Chapman gave me

money till at times I was a little embarrassed to receive it; but then

I was glad. Thank God, we can lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven

where moth and rust doth not corrupt and where thieves do not break

through and steal.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

GRATITUDE

It was Dr. R. T. Williams who related the following beautiful

incident A ship was wrecked. There were only half enough lifeboats for

the passengers. What could be done! The captain fell on this plan: A

hat was placed. The passengers were informed of the situation. Said

the captain, "We have just enough lifeboats for half of the

passengers. this hat there are just as many cards as there are

passengers. Babies not counted. On half of these cards is a cross.

Half of them are blank. We want all to pass by and draw a card. Those

who get a card with a cross on it will be permitted to enter the

lifeboat. That is your ticket. Those who draw a blank must remain on

the sinking ship." The passengers said, "It is fair." Thus they filed

by. The hat was covered. Were they drawing life or death? It was a

solemn hour. Among those who passed was a father, mother and child.

They solemnly drew their cards and passed. Almost afraid to look.

Finally the husband looked and he was happy. He had drawn a cross. The

wife looked a nd she had drawn a blank. One ticket to life. The other

a ticket to death. The husband exchanged his ticket with her. She

hesitated. He said, "Yes, you must I have just one request. Be true

and meet me in heaven. Take care of our baby and the day she is twelve

years of age tell her of this tragic incident." There was no time to

lose. The ship was listing. The man kissed his wife and baby good-bye

and tenderly helped them into the boat Soon the old ship sank and he

with it. The years sped by, and the day the little girl was twelve

years old arrived. True to her promise, the mother took her into the

living room and related the sad experience to her. Told her how her

father took their place. The father's picture was near by. As the

mother talked, the little girl wept bitterly. She took the picture up

and kissed it and pressed it against her cheek and said, "Oh, Daddy,

dear Daddy. You were a good daddy. You died for us and I love you so."

That was gratitude. But think of the sacrificial love of Jesus; He did

not die for His friends but for his enemies. "While we were yet

sinners Christ died for us." It is base ingratitude to refuse to love

and serve Him.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

A STRANGE OCCURRENCE

It was at an eleven o'clock service. The congregation was singing

the old song, "I Am Free From Condemnation." Suddenly the Holy Ghost

came. Folks laughed, cried and shouted. It was nearly unanimous. In

the congregation there was a very devout lady, Mrs. Paterson, about

thirty-five years of age. She was unusually strong and healthy. She

had been gloriously saved from a life of worldliness and sin. The

power of the Lord seemed the rest upon her in a most unusual way. Her

face shone with a radiance not from this world. She went up and down

the aisles praising God. Then a strange thing happened. She suddenly

lost her ability to walk. The folks helped her to the front seat where

she sat, laughed, shouted and praised God. Soon she began to tell us

that the Lord had shown her that He was going to take her to heaven in

a very few days. She could not be convinced otherwise. When the

service was over she was taken home in the car. She never walked

another step. Her husband got the best doctors to be found. They

examined her carefully, but could find nothing wrong with her. Only

she could not walk. She lay on her bed and praised the Lord that He

had seen fit to reveal Himself to her in such an unusual manner. She

lingered for almost a week. She gradually grew weaker physically but

stronger mentally and spiritually. Friends by the score visited her.

We saw her about every day. A strange heavenly atmosphere pervaded the

place. Toward the close of the week she insisted that the time for her

going was at hand. Finally she said, "It has come. I am going." And

she fell asleep in Jesus. It was a triumphant departure

The OTHER SIDE OF the DOOR

A very sick man turned to his Christian physician, as he was

leaving the room, and said to him, "Doctor, I want to ask you a

question."

"Yes," he said, "What is it?"

"Am I going to get well? Don't treat me as a child. I have a right

to know. Tell me."

"Yes," said the doctor, "I will tell you. I have no reason to doubt

that you will recover. The treatment I am giving you ought to restore

you."

"Well, doctor," he said, "another question. Will this attack

return?"

"Yes," said the doctor, "it will."

"What then?"

"Well," he said, "you may recover again, but the second or third

attack is pretty sure to prove fatal."

The man caught the doctor's coat and said to him, "Doctor, I am

afraid to die. I tell you honestly I am afraid to die. Tell me what

lies on the other side."

Very quietly the doctor said, "I do not know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, and do not know what is on

the other side?"

The doctor, gave no answer for a moment but held the door open. On

the other side they had heard a scratching and a whining. As the

doctor held the door open his dog sprang into the room and leaped upon

him with every show of gladness. The doctor turned to the patient and

said, "Did you notice that dog? He had never been in this room. He did

not know one thing that was here. He knew nothing about it, absolutely

nothing, except just this one thing: he knew his master was on the

other side of that door. And so the moment I opened it he sprang in.

"I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know

one thing: My master stands there, and that is enough, so when the

door opens I shall pass through with no fear, only with gladness." --

SELECTED

IT'S DARK AND COLD, PAPA

A proud, haughty young woman lay dying. She had had room in her

life for pleasure, fun and sin, but no room for Jesus. As the shadows

deepened she called to her father, "Papa, won't you go with me? It's

so dark and cold."

The father replied, "Daughter, I can't go with you."

Again she moaned, "It's dark and cold." Those were her last words.

Yes, it will be dark and cold if we come to the end of this life

without Christ. We may desire the cards, the dance, the booze, the

cigarettes and the world while we live; but we will want Christ at the

last. It will be dark at the crossing without Him. Personally, I am

afraid to make the crossing without Him.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

QUICK JUDGMENT

The storm was on. The lightnings were flashing and the thunders

rolling. The infidel stood in the door and bared his breast and defied

God. Said he, "God, if there is a God, I dare you to strike me." And

thus he raved and blasphemed God. You say, "Did God strike him?" Oh,

no, certainly not. Finally he ceased his blasphemous ravings and as he

turned to go into the house he sucked a gnat down his windpipe. He

began strangling and soon choked to death. No, God did not waste His

lightning on a creature like that. Just a small gnat would take care

of him. God does not usually mete out His judgments so quickly, but

the day of settlement will come.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

SO NEAR HOME, AND LOST

The Royal Charter had been round the world, and was at last

homeward bound. She had reached Queenstown and then sailed for

Liverpool. The message was telegraphed to Liverpool that she was

almost home. Dr. Taylor was then pastor in that city, and the wife of

the first mate was a member of his church. The Royal Charter never

came to Liverpool. The men waited all night on the dock straining

their eyes to get a sight of the vessel The Lord Mayor was there,

music bands were there, and thousands of people were there to give her

a welcome. But the Royal Charter never came in. She went down in the

night with almost all on board. They came to Dr. Taylor and asked him,

"Will you go and tell the wife of the first mate?" So he started off

to tell her. As he laid his hand on the door bell, the door flew open

wide, and a little girl sprang out, saying, "Oh, Dr. Taylor, my papa

is coming home today!" The preacher said he felt like an executioner

as he walked into the house. He found the table laid for breakfast,

and the wife of the mate said to him, as she stepped forward, "Oh, Dr.

Taylor, this is in deed a privilege, and if you wait a little while

you may sit at the table with us, for the Royal Charter comes in this

morning, and my husband is coming home!" Dr. Taylor looked at her a

moment, while he steadied himself holding on to a nearby chair, and

then said, "Poor woman, your husband will never come home! The Royal

Charter went down last night, and your husband is lost!" She threw up

her hands, staggered for a moment, then fell, and as she fell she

cried, "O my God, so near home and lost!" -- SELECTED

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

LOST IN SIGHT OF HOME

A few years ago, during one of the severe storms that visited

Colorado, a young man perished in sight of home. In his bewilderment

he passed and repassed his own cottage, to lie down and die almost in

range with the "light in the window" which his young wife had placed

there to guide him home. All alone she watched the long night through,

listening in vain for the footsteps that would come no more; for long

before the morning dawned the icy touch of death had forever stilled

that warm, loving heart. The sad death was made still sadder by the

fact that he was lost in sight of home. How many wanderers from the

Father's house are lost in sight of home; in the full glare of the

gospel light! They have the open Bible, overflowing with calls and

promises, the faithful warnings from the sacred desk, the

manifestations of God's providences, all tending to direct their

footsteps heavenward, and yet from all these they turn away, waiting

for the more convenient season, and are lost at last in sight of the

many mansions.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

Waters of Death

A vessel on which the sailors and passengers were dying of thirst, landed at an island out of which was flowing a small river. The people on the vessel, dying of thirst, at once began to drink the water. There were a number of natives on the island, who, when seeing them partaking of the water, began to make all kinds of signs, seemingly greatly alarmed, and sought to prevent them from drinking the water. Soon there appeared on the scene one man who could speak the language of the passengers and immediately he called out to them and said, “Do not drink that water, for just around the mountain there is a colony of lepers who live on the banks of that river. They wash their clothes and bathe themselves in the river. Those waters are the waters of death.”

(untitled)

Three children playing in

the drought lowered Mississippi River (Summer of

1988) caught by powerful undercurrent and sucked under. The two

fathers

watching their children play jumped in to rescue them. They were both

sucked

under. Only one father was able to break away from the current to

safety. . .

the rest died suddenly and unexpectedly.

(untitled)

Henry Atkins brother came

home (July 1988) and gave his wallet to his wife.

He said, "Here I won't be needing this any longer." He picked up a

yardstick

and started to go outside. His wife asked him where he was going. He

told he

was just going out for awhile. He went out to his pickup to get his

shotgun.

. . .walked down into the field a ways. . . placed his shotgun stock

on the

ground and leaned his chest down against the upturned barrel. . .

place the

end of the yardstick against the trigger and pushed it. The gun

discharged

blowing a hole into his chest rushing him into eternity to meet a God

judgment.

(untitled)

Andy Billings was just a

young man but had been given to a wild life since he

was a small boy. A couple of years ago (1986?) he was running with

two

doctors and a professional gambler. They often met together to gamble

and do

other things of common sinful interest. This particular day he stopped

at his

uncles house on the way to Memphis. He told his uncle that he had

$21,000 and

was going to Memphis to do some business. He actually was going to a

gambling

party with his friends. The report came early the next morning that

during the

wee hours of the morning he had a heart attack and died. The

professional

gambler came to his uncle after the funeral with $3,000 and said that

this was

all that they found on him when he died. The relatives think that

instead of a

heart attack that he was given a lethal injection by one of his doctor

friends

and that he was robbed by the three. But only eternity will disclose

all the

sordid details. The think we should recognize is that this young man

who was

raised in a holiness home was rushed into eternity suddenly and

unexpectedly.

That was a hard funeral to preach.

(untitled)

Carl Casler. . . wino. .

. .borrowed and sometimes stole his mothers social

security check which was her only source of income to by wine. Died

surrounded

by cases of wine and empty bottles. Raised in a holiness home. That

was a

hard funeral to preach.

(untitled)

Parvin Road. . .

pastoring. . . Jr. Jones brother in law had a tragic

accident. Driving down the highway on his beautiful motorcycle.

Careful,

proud driver. Belonged to cycle club that toured country for sport

and

entertainment. This evening he unexpectedly hit a rock in the road and

the

motor cycle went end over end time and again. He was thrown from the

cycle

and bashed into the earth. . . .never to wake up again. For a month I

visited

with him daily in the hospital. They say that sometimes people in

comas can

hear and understand people talking to them. So I witnessed to him,

instructed

him in how to get saved and prayed with him day after day. I

continually

hoped and prayed that someday he would wake up. But he didn't. I can

only

hope that somehow the message of salvation sunk into a stupefied brain

and

that he by an act of will mixed with faith turned his life over to

God. But I

don't know that this actually happened. In fact to even hope this is

stretch

the realm of possibility a little. That was a hard funeral to preach.

(untitled)

-- A little boy was seen

taking a short cut across a cemetery lot just about

dark. He was later asked, aren't you afraid. He answered, "No, I

only cut

through here to get home." Death is only a short cut to home.

(untitled)

Numbers 1

"Public Enemy

\reference{Number 1}{Numbers 1}" a Rock Group was appearing in

Nashville for a concert.

People camped out all night to get tickets. Among them were two girls

who

managed to get to the front of the line the next morning. They were

in front

of the doors when they opened the next morning. The impatient crowd

surged

forward pushing the girls to the ground. The crowd stampeded through

the

doors trampling the girls to death.

(untitled)

Martin Luther was born in a little German town in 1483. Sixty-three years later, after a life of serving God and bringing faith to people, he returned to the little village on a preaching mission. One night he was stricken with an illness. In great pain he cried, "O God, how I suffer!" Then he lapsed into semi-consciousness. It was while Luther was in this condition that a friend came to him and whispered in his ear, "Reverend Father, do you still hold to Christ and the doctrine you have preached?" With great effort, Luther whispered, "Yes!" Then, his eyes closed, and Martin Luther went home to be with God.

If I Should Wake Before I Die

A father knelt down beside his little boy's bed. It was time for prayers, hugs and kisses, and tucking in. The little boy began the childhood prayer he had repeated so many times before: Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake Pray the Lord, my soul to take.

This time the words got mixed up. Unwittingly, the child spoke words of the greatest wisdom. He prayed, “If I should wake before I die.” Embarrassed, he stopped. “Oh Daddy, I got all mixed up.”

Wisely, his dad responded tenderly, “Not at all, Son, that's the first time the prayer was properly prayed. My deepest longing for you is that you make wake up before you die.”

The child drifted to sleep, but the father turned the prophetic words about in his mind. “If I should wake before I die. That's it!” he exclaimed. “That's the promise and hope of Easter. This is the time to come alive and live forever!

(untitled)

From the dying lips of

Mrs. Scofield, came a prayer. Her husband bent low and listened carefully to every word. Other members of the family there

heard the prayer as well. The child was delivered safely, but the new mother

died...

Her dying request was kept secret, and only after Cyrus Scofield, had

become a true Christian and had received a definite call to devote his life to

the ministry was he told of this touching prayer which God so graciously

answered. You probably remember Dr. Scofield most because of his annotated

Scofield's Reference Bible.

(untitled)

From a book in my library comes the following incident: "A marshal in

Napoleon's army -- a man who was devotedly and enthusiastically

attached to him -- was mortally wounded in battle. As the last

struggle drew near and he lay dying in his tent, he sent for his

chief. Napoleon came. The poor man thought his emperor could do

anything. Perhaps he even sought to put him in the place of God. So

he earnestly pleaded with his leader to save his life. The emperor

sadly shook his head and turned away. But as the dying man felt the

cold, merciless hand of death drawing him irresistibly behind the

curtain of the unseen world, he was still heard to shriek out, 'Save

me, Napoleon! Save me!'" In the hour of death, that soldier discovered

than even the powerful Napoleon could not give him physical life. Our

Daily Bread

Quote

"We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken

from us by death; but an early grave may be the shortest way to

heaven."

- Tryon Edwards

- _Instant Quotation Dictionary_, p. 149.

Joke

I heard of a preacher who was trying to make a point during a

funeral service for a faithful church member. He drew the analogy

that the body of a Christian is like a pecan. He pointed to the

casket and explained, "This body is only the shell. The nut has

already gone ... . Oh No!"

- Mike Minnix

Which Death?

I was called to see a young lady die who was all ready to go, and

what a privilege it was to witness such a scene! She had disposed of

the various articles that she called her own, and with a clear, bright

evidence that she was Christ's child, she waited the time of her

departure.

As I entered the room, she looked up, her face radiant with the

love of God, and said:

"If any one had told me a month ago I would be as happy as this in

death, I could not have believed it. I would not change places with a

king."

As the supreme moment arrived (her father, a physician, bending

over her), she asked:

"How long before I can go?"

"About three minutes, my daughter, and you will be gone," was the

answer.

She extended her limbs, placed her hands across her breast, as she

wished them to remain when cold and stiff; a heavenly smile covered

her face, as if, like Stephen, she saw heaven open, and the bright

ones waiting to welcome her. In this way she passed away. We all could

say, as never before:

"Ah, lovely appearance of death,

No sight upon earth is so fair."

About this time another young lady sent for a minister with whom I

was holding meetings. He went in great haste to her home. As he went

into her room, he found the young lady's mother wringing her hands in

great distress. She cried out:

"Do, Mr. Purintan, pray for Jerusha; she is dying.

He kneeled near her bed, and tried and tried again to utter words

in prayer, and could not. After struggling for awhile with this

strange feeling, he rose from his knees. God has said, "There is a sin

unto death; I do not say you shall pray for it." He could not pray for

her.

Said the young lady:

"Mr. Purintan, I knew you could not pray for me. It is too late. I

did not send for you to pray for me, but that I might send a message

of solemn warning to certain friends, whom she named.

After delivering this terrible message, she turned her face toward

the wall, and continued to repeat the words, "Too late! Too late!"

until she was dead.

I mention these two cases to ask you, dear friends, for a candid

answer to the question:

"Which of these two deaths would you prefer to die?"

Can you not honestly say, with one of old, "Let me die the death of

the righteous, and let my last end be like his?"

If so, why not begin today, if you have not already, to live the

life of a true Christian? If you live the faithful Christian's life,

you surely will die his death. -- A. B. Earle, From: "Incidents Used

... In His Meetings," published in 1888

I've No Hope

I was just sitting down at my own table, at twelve o’clock, one day, when one of my neighbors came in greatly excited, and said to me:

“I wish you would go over to my house as soon as you can. I fear my son Charles is dying, and I desire very much to know how he feels.”

I did not stay to dine, but hurried to the house, and it was well I did for the young man was dead in thirty minutes after I reached the house.

I found him sitting in a large arm rocking chair, dying with a putrid sore throat. He could breathe easier in that position. I saw that death was upon him, and if I said anything to him I must do it at once. I very mildly asked him this question:

“Charley, if it should please your Heavenly Father to call you away pretty soon, do you think you have a good hope?”

He struggled with this terrible disease (the putrid sore throat) for a moment, determined to let me know how he felt, and finally got out these words:

“Won’t you pray that God will have mercy on my soul?”

I said, “I will Charles.”

After a few words pointing out the way to Christ (for I had to be very brief, death was doing his work so rapidly) I said to the neighbors in the room:

“Will you all kneel down with me whether you are Christians or not, and help me pray for this dear young man.”

They did kneel down with me, and oh, how we begged of God for Christ’s sake to save Charles if possible, even in this extremity; to pluck him as a brand from the burning. We could hear his strange voice during the prayer:

“O God, have mercy on my soul.”

When we rose from our knees, his sobbing mother put her arms around his neck and her wet face upon his, bathing it with her tears, as if to get the comforting words, said:

“Charles, don’t you think you will meet us in heaven?”

His reply was, “No, mother, I’ve no hope.”

Turning his dying eyes on me, he said: “Won’t you pray that God will have mercy on my soul.”

Although I had just risen from my knees, I said: “I will Charley. Come neighbors, kneel down with me again and help me pray.”

Oh, what a moment it was, while we plead once more that if possible, God would save Charley.

When we arose from our knees the second time, death was so near that I assisted in laying him upon the bed. While we stood over him in his death struggles, his poor mother, said:

“Let me come, I must speak to him once more.” She spread her arms over him, putting her wet face upon his again as if determined to get the comforting words, and said: “Charles, don’t you think you will meet us in heaven?”

“No, mother, no, I’ve no hope.”

These were the last words that dropped from his lips. He gasped a few times, and was gone. May God save any of you from witnessing such a scene.

The family threw their arms around each other and sobbed aloud. When I tried to speak a word of comfort to them, they cried: “No sir, we can’t have it so.”

But it was so. I think they continued this sobbing for a full half hour.

When they became calm enough so that I could, I kneeled and prayed with them, and for them, that God would sustain and comfort them.

As I left that house, and went towards my home, and looked up into the open heavens, I said: “Jesus, I will be a better minister; wherever I go I will plead with young men, to seek thee while they may.”

I do entreat every one who may read this incident, if you have not already done it, not to delay one hour in securing the salvation of your soul.

“The Spirit calls today,

Yield to his power,

Oh, grieve him not away,

Tis mercy’s hour.”

• A. B. Earle, From: “Incidents Used ... In His Meetings,” published in 1888

No Desire

In Maine I was sent for to visit a young lady who was dying, and

thought she had no desire to become a Christian. She was educated for

the medical practice, and when about ready to enter upon her chosen

profession, her lungs failed, and she died. She could only whisper

when I visited her. One of the pastors had just called, but she did

not wish to see him, as she had no desire, as she thought, to become a

Christian.

Although she knew she must die, yet her heart was so hard she said

she did not wish to converse on the subject of religion. In this state

she was passing into eternity.

The result, however, showed that she had a real desire to become a

Christian. As the Spirit convicts the world, I suppose there is more

or less conviction for sin and desire for religion in every heart.

I sat down near her bed, and after a few words of inquiry, taking

out of my pocket a pencil and paper, I said:

"Julia, if an angel out of heaven sat where I do, with a deed

written with the blood of Christ, leaving only a blank with room for

your name, and the seal of blood opposite the blank, holding a pen in

his hand dipped in Christ's blood, should say, 'Miss _____ if you will

write your full name in this blank, with this pen, you shall belong to

Christ forever,' would you write your name there? Do you think you

would hesitate?"

(I wish you all could have seen that pale, death-stricken face at

that moment.) She saw the point. She saw, in the light of the figure,

that she did desire to become a Christian. This satisfied her that the

desire was in her heart. She whispered, with what little strength she

had:

"I would."

I said:

"Julia, are you satisfied that you have some desire to become a

Christian?"

"I am," she replied.

I then asked her if she would like to have me kneel down and offer

a short prayer for her. She said:

"I would."

"Will you give yourself to Christ as far as you know, as far as you

understand yourself, while I am praying? You say, if by signing that

deed you could belong to Christ forever, you would do it. Now, will

you, instead of signing the deed, silently say, "Here, Lord, I do give

myself to thee; 'tis all that I can do?' "

"I will," she said.

I kneeled down, and while praying I felt the evidence of an answer.

The whole room seemed filled with the Divine Spirit.

After prayer I asked:

"Did you give yourself to Christ while I was praying, as far as you

know?"

She replied:

"I did."

Her answer was, with great firmness.

"Will you ever take it back?"

"Never."

When I left that room, I said to her:

"If you never take that back, I shall walk the golden streets with

you."

The young lady lingered for a few days, and continued to whisper

till the last minute of her life:

"Peace, peace, peace."

What she needed was to know how to give herself up as far as she had

light, and be persuaded to do it.

Let me ask the reader of this incident, if an angel held such a

deed and pen as I have just described to you, assuring you, if you

would sign your full name to it, you should belong to Christ forever,

would you sign it? Do you think you would? Is this not desire and

feeling enough to warrant an immediate action? Will you not do as this

young lady did, and be Christ's forever, and kneeling alone, say:

"Here, Lord, I do give myself to thee,

'Tis; all that I can do"

And never take this gift of yourself to the Saviour back. Pray

differently after this, "Jesus, let me know that I am accepted." Press

your suit for an answer to the prayer for this evidence. -- A. B.

Earle, From: "Incidents Used ... In His Meetings," published in 1888

Lift Your Thumb

This incident I used at the close of a sermon in "Union Hall," in

San Francisco, California. About four thousand were present, and it

was believed five hundred men and women asked us to pray for them that

they might be saved.

I think I feel as the nurse did, in the hospital, with his thumb on

the great artery, while a wounded soldier arranged his matters to die.

After a severe battle, a soldier had his arm amputated very near

his body. The veins had been taken up, and he seemed to be doing well;

but on one occasion, as the nurse was dressing his wounds, the blood

began to flow freely. The nurse held the vein with his thumb, and sent

for a physician, who, on entering the room, said, "It is well, my

brave fellow, that it was not the large artery--I can take this up." A

short time after, the blood flowed more freely than before, and the

skilful nurse, placing his thumb this time on the large artery, which

had broken open, sent again for the physician.

After a careful examination of the whole matter, it was decided

that the artery could not be taken up without removing the thumb of

the nurse; and if his thumb was removed, the soldier must die

immediately.

It only remained for the brave man to make immediate arrangements

for death. About three hours were employed in sending messages to

loved ones, and in arranging his effects before he left the world.

When this was done--the nurse still holding the vein, and knowing that

death would follow in three minutes after lifting his thumb--the brave

but dying soldier said, "Now, kind nurse, you can take off your thumb:

I must go. Farewell to all."

Now came the severe trial to the nurse--how could he lift his thumb

under such circumstances! The accumulated blood already rendered it

difficult to hold the artery; so, turning his eye from the soldier, he

lifted his thumb, and in three minutes death had done its work.

I think I feel very much as this nurse did--fearing, as I do, that

with many in this congregation the crisis has come when you are to

decide where you will spend eternity. I fear this is for some of you

the line

"That marks the destiny of men

For glory or despair."

As the nurse felt that he could not lift his thumb, and yet must,

so with me now--How can I close this sermon, and end this entreaty,

without knowing that you will not grieve the Spirit away this time?

Let me ask the Recording Angel to hold his pen, while each one of

you in this hall decides the question--whether you will cherish what

little desire you have to become Christ's, what little of the Holy

Spirit's influence still lingers about your heart, or say, "Go thy way

for this time," which may be forever!

But I must not linger. Let me request every person in the

hall--whether professor of religion or not--who intends to cherish

what desire he has to serve God, to rise on his feet.

Thank God, nearly every one present has risen! May God help us all

to keep our resolution, for Jesus' sake. Amen. -- A. B. Earle, From:

"Incidents Used ... In His Meetings," published in 1888

YES, I KNOW JESUS

A devout Christian girl was dying. She had just about passed the

realm of consciousness. Her brothers and sisters who had gathered at

her bedside one after another said, "Sister, do you not know me? I am

your brother," or "I am your sister." But, with eyes set and glassy,

staring as into empty space, she replied, "No, I don't know you." Her

father and mother spoke to her with the same result. The young husband

spoke kindly and kissed her affectionately, saying, "I am your

husband. Don't you know me?" With the sad, far away look she replied,

"No, I don't know you. I have no husband!" The minister drew near to

her and asked, "Do you know Jesus?" Then, seeming to come back with

regained consciousness, she smiled and said, "Oh, yes, I know Jesus.

He saved me years ago. He is with me now." The poet was right when he

said, "Take the world but give me Jesus."

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

I Am in A Deep River

In Scotland, during the time of the bloody persecution, when

Claverhouse was marching about the country, driving people from their

homes, burning their houses, and putting many godly people to death, a

pious father told his family that there were soldiers near, and that

they must hasten to the next village where there was a strong old

church the fugitives could use as a fort. So he told Jeanie to take

the big Bible for her load, and to be very careful not to let it get

wet or lose it by the way: "for we could not live," said he, "Without

the good Book." So she wrapped a gown around the Bible, and started

with her father and mother, each of whom carried a child. They had to

cross a brook; but they did not dare to go by the bridge lest they

should be captured by the enemy. There was a place where they thought

they could cross on some stepping-stones; but on reaching the place,

it had become quite dark. So Jeanie's father waded across, and carried

the others one by one, until she was left quite alone. Jeanie was much

afraid to be left there by herself, so she started to cross after her

father, stepping carefully from stone to stone. Presently her foot

slipped, and down she went to the bottom. At the same time up went her

arms, holding the precious burden over her head. The water came up to

her waist, but bracing herself firmly against the rapid current she

walked bravely on across the stream, and had nearly reached the shore,

with the dear old Book lifted as high as she could raise it, when she

met her father returning to bring her. "Father," she cried, "you told

me to take care of the dear old Bible, and I have done so." Just as

she said this they heard several pistol shots and the sound of

approaching horsemen. They soon hid themselves in a little cleft of

the rocks, and were not discovered. Jeanie married, in after years,

and now has great-great-grandchildren living in this country. The old

Bible became hers after her father's death, and in it were written the

names of her seven children. It is still in very good condition, in

the possession of her descendants. Jeanie never forgot that dreadful

night when she carried the old Bible through the deep waters; when she

was dying she seemed to be dreaming of it, and said -- "I am in the

deep river -- in the deep river; but I'll hold up the dear old Bible!

There, take the Book! Take the Book!" And soon she ceased to breathe.

That brave girl, wading through the waters and holding up the Bible,

is like the Christian Church, marching through rivers of persecution

and streams of blood, ever holding up the Word of God that it might be

safely kept and handed down to the generations following.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

I'M SO GLAD! I'M SO GLAD!

At Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga we visited one of our most

faithful members, Brother Frank Harris. Brother Harris, a railroad man

for many years, had been a most faithful member of the church. He

rarely missed a service. When he had to be absent, he would send or

bring his tithe money and say, "Brother Tidwell, put this in the

offering for me as I do not want to miss putting it in on Sunday."

As we sat by his dying bed, his wife on the opposite side of the

bed from me, Brother Harris lifted his hand and voice and said, "I'm

so glad! I'm so glad! I'm so glad!" Sister Harris said, "Dear, what

are you so glad about?"

He joyously said, "I am so glad God is here." Those were among his

last words. He went triumphantly to meet his Saviour. It pays to be

true. An experience like that is worth more than all the world.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

He Barely Got In

During a revival meeting the Holy Spirit was striving with a young

man who was inclined not to yield. But finally, under the influence of

friends, he did yield and was gloriously saved. The next day as he was

working in the mines an avalanche of slate and rock fell and almost

crushed out his life. He was placed on a stretcher and borne from the

mines. Just as they came out from the mines and the sunlight fell upon

his pale face, he smiled and said, "Thank God. r settled it last

night," and died. He will be glad through all eternity, though he just

did get in, that he settled it.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

MISTAKEN

A wicked man was near the end of life. He had lived in awful sin

and had blasphemed God. He was in terrible agony. He lived near some

lonely peaks of a high mountain. Just before the end he said, "When I

am gone bury me on one of those lonely peaks. Maybe God will overlook

me in the last day." No, he was mistaken. God will not forget. John

said, "I saw the dead, the small and the great stand before God."

BREAKING VOWS

At one time we were called to see a man who was very low with

typhoid fever. His wife was a Christian and attended church, but he

was uninterested and would not come. Now he seemed penitent and was

going to do better if the Lord spared him. He asked us to pray and

promised definitely that he would seek the Lord and be faithful. We

did pray. The Lord undertook and the man improved rapidly and was soon

well. But, as usual, he forgot his vows to God and went on. A couple

of months went by, and he cut his finger while shaving a man. He was a

barber. Nothing serious, but after a day or so it began to give him

some pain. It grew worse. The doctor was sent for and said, "Slight

blood poison, not serious. He will soon be all right." But he was not

all right. The doctor did his best but the man rapidly grew worse. He

sent for us to come and pray. When we arrived he said, "Brother

Tidwell, I have lied to God. I promised Him that I would do better,

become a Christian and go to church. He was good to me when I had

fever and raised me up, but I lied to Him. I am sorry, but pray again

and tell Him if He will raise me up this time I will surely keep my

word." We prayed as earnestly as we knew how. However, it was

difficult to pray. He grew worse and worse. Soon his whole arm, and

much of his body, was swollen. He died in agony. Died, so far as we

know, without God. Multitudes are living under promise now. They have

made promises to God, but have broken them. They have forgotten, but

God has not. It is a dangerous thing to trifle with God.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

The BURNING BARN

There was difficulty between two neighbor farmers relative to the boundary between lands. The one who held a terrible grudge. against the other, upon leaving home for some days, gave instructions to his small son to burn the neighbor's barn while he was away. He told the boy to slip up to the barn late at night, fire it, and then run back home quickly and no one would ever know, and he would get even with his enemy. The father left and the boy carried out the instructions, The barn was burned. No one could imagine how. Soon the man returned, terribly surprised! Oh, the deceitfulness of the human heart. Soon the boy, who burned the barn, was taken ill. He was very nervous. He could not eat nor sleep. Finally he said, “Father, all I can see is the burning barn.” The father assured him that he had done right; that they had gotten even with their neighbor. But the boy grew worse and worse. Finally he was dying, and the neighbors were there. In a delirious condition, he told of burning the barn. His sin had “found him out.”

Prepare to Die 36:46

by Aaron Hurst

Preparing to die means being mindful of our mortality and making sure our spiritual house is in order, so we can meet God with confidence and joy.

Why Will You Die? 55:43

by Achille Blaize

The sermon emphasizes God's urgent call for sinners to repent and choose life over death through faith in Jesus Christ.

Our Last Enemy Death 18:25

by Bill McLeod

Bill McLeod's sermon emphasizes the Christian perspective on death, highlighting Christ's victory over it and the hope of eternal life for believers.

Death Is Only a Shadow 59:17

by Carter Conlon

Psalm 23 chronicles the Christian life, from the knowledge of God's love to walking through the valley of the shadow of death, where Christians must trust in God's presence and pro

When Death Seems Like a Better Option 35:18

by Carter Conlon

Carter Conlon's sermon addresses the struggles of despair and the hope found in trusting God for deliverance from life's darkest moments.

Arise, and Depart

by C.H. Spurgeon

The sermon encourages listeners to look forward to their eternal home in heaven and to persevere in their faith despite the challenges of this life.

Memento Mori

by C.H. Spurgeon

The sermon 'Memento Mori' by C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of considering one's latter end, and how it can lead to a deeper understanding of the reality of death and the

Life Beyond the Comma 45:19

by Charles Anderson

The sermon emphasizes the importance of living an abundant life, marked by peace, purpose, and abundance, which is available to all who put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Death 52:04

by Charles E. Fuller

Death is a natural part of life, but spiritual death is separation from God, and eternal death is banishment from God, where those who reject Christ will face eternal destruction.

Death Comes to All 25:04

by Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith's sermon explores the inevitability of death, the distinction between physical and spiritual death, and the importance of living a life devoted to God for eternal fulfi

Ii Kings 20:1

by Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith reminds us that death is inevitable and that we must prepare for it by setting our house in order and seeking God's guidance.

Is There Life After Death 34:02

by Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith's sermon explores the Christian hope of life after death through the teachings of Jesus and the experiences of biblical figures.

2000+ Bible IllustrationsVarious
Moody's Anecdotes and Illustrations: Related in his Revival WorkDwight Lyman Moody
Illustrations and MeditationsF.B. Meyer
New Cyclopaedia of Prose IllustrationsElon Foster
Cyclopaedia of Moral and Religious AnecdotesKazlitt Arvine
625 New Bible Stories and IllustrationsGeorge Noble
Touching Incidents And Remarkable Answers To PrayerS.B. Shaw
Feathers for ArrowsC.H. Spurgeon
Gleanings Among the SheavesC.H. Spurgeon
Cyclopedia of Illustrations for Public SpeakersRobert Scott and William C. Stiles
Kerux Sermon and Illustration Databasecompiled by Rev. David Holwick

These illustrations have been gathered from many sources over many years and are offered to preachers as a study aid. Each is credited wherever the source is known, and we have made every effort to respect the rights of authors and publishers.

If you hold the rights to anything here and would like it credited differently or removed, please write to us and we will act promptly.