Over the River
D.L. Moody encourages listeners to set their hearts on the other side of the river, focusing on heaven and the life to come through faith in Christ.
D.L. Moody shares a poignant message about the deepening concern for others that arises from personal loss, illustrated by a minister who, after his daughter moved to the other side of a river, began to care deeply for the people there. He draws a parallel to the Christian journey, suggesting that as we lose loved ones to death, our longing for heaven and the afterlife should grow stronger. Moody encourages the congregation to set their hearts on the eternal, reminding them that crossing over to the other side is merely a step, and that heaven will become more precious as we think of those who have gone before us.
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A minister who had lost his child asked another minister to come and preach for him. He came and he told how he lived on one side of a river, and felt very little interest in the people on the other side, until his daughter was married and went over there to live, and then every morning he went to the window and looked over the river, and felt very much concerned about that town and all the people there. "Now," said he, "I think that as this child has crossed another river, heaven will be dearer to him than ever it has been before." Shall we not just let our hearts and affections be set on the other side of the river? It is but a step; it is but a vail; we shall soon be in the other world.
Sermon Outline
- The River of Life
- A river separates us from our loved ones in heaven
- But we can cross the river through faith in Christ
Key Quotes
“Shall we not just let our hearts and affections be set on the other side of the river?” — D.L. Moody
“It is but a step; it is but a vail; we shall soon be in the other world.” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- We can set our hearts on the other side of the river by focusing on heaven and the life to come through faith in Christ.
- Crossing the river represents the transition from this life to the next, and it is a step closer to being with our loved ones in heaven.
- Faith in Christ gives us the power to overcome the separation between us and our loved ones in heaven.