DEATH:
ENEMY; DEATH: TRIUMPH IN; HEAVEN: CERTAINTY OF

There is nothing heroic about our passing, leaving families and friends, but then, death is never heroic and it is never kind. Death is never artistic, always much more likely to be crude and messy and humiliating.

The preacher who once stood with strength and keenness to preach the living Word of God to dying men is now in his bed, his cheeks hollow and his eyes staring, for death is slipping its chilly hand over that earthly tabernacle.

The singer whose gifts have been used to glorify God and to remind men and women of the beauty of heaven above is now hoarse, dry-lipped, whispering only a half-spoken word before death comes.

But this is not the end. I thank God that I know that this is not all there is. My whole everlasting being, my entire personality—all that I have and all that I am are cast out on the promises of God that there is another chapter!

At the close of every obituary of His believing children, God adds the word henceforth! After every biography, God adds the word henceforth! There will be a tomorrow and this is a reason for Christian joy.

1 Corinthians 15:25–26; 2 Timothy 4:6–8; 1 Peter 1:3–5

Who Put Jesus on the Cross?, 94.