They always leave a sting!

(William Nicholson, "Death, the Believer's Gain!" 1862)

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21

At death, the Christian gains pleasure without pain. "You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!" Psalm 16:11. Hence pain will never follow pleasure - it will never be experienced at all. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away!" Revelation 21:4

In this sinful world, there is no perfect enjoyment. The sweetest cup of earthly bliss, has always more or less of the drops of the ocean of bitterness mingled with it. The brightest day of joy, is invariably followed by the dark night of sorrow. This world is a barren wilderness, and contains neither the fruit of the garden of Eden, nor the milk and honey of the land of promise. Here the pleasures of sin are but for a season - and they always leave a sting!

But in Heaven, pleasures will be pure, holy, exquisite, and eternal - ever yielding satisfaction and joy. To die and enter Heaven, will be gain indeed!