A sweet recompense

Charles Spurgeon, "Heart Disease Curable"

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Isaiah 61:1, "He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted."

Some are broken-hearted through bereavement.

One laments, "I have lost my wife!"

Another bemoans herself, "I have lost my husband!"

A third cries, "My mother is gone!"

"Alas," cries each one, "I can never survive the stroke!"

We have all endured sorrow, but bereavements are an especially sharp sword. Friends can do little to fill up the great gap which death has made. Ah, it is indeed an aching void which is left in an affectionate heart, when the dear object of love is torn away. The best of people in this respect suffer most. It is hard to part with those we love, but it is blessed to know that when a Christian dies, they are with Jesus, which is far better.

The blessed doctrine of the resurrection, cheers the darkness of the sepulcher. Jesus says, "Your brother shall rise again!" The blessed thought of the eternal felicity of those that we gladly would have detained here below, is a sweet recompense for their loss. So we do not sorrow as those without hope. The separation is painful, but it is only temporary. They have gone from us, and gone to Jesus.

We remember our Lord's prayer, "Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory." (John 17:24) But sometimes in prospect of losing our beloved ones, we pull very hard earthward, and cry, "Father, I desire that they remain with me, where I am."

Did you ever feel a pull the other way, and look to see who pulls heavenward. You will realize that it is Jesus praying, "I desire those You have given Me, to be with Me where I am." Whenever Jesus and you come to cross purposes, then I know you will yield, for you will gladly own that the dear ones are more the property of Jesus, than yours. Let them go. It is no parting, when we know that our beloved are with Jesus.

The Christian has no reason to dread death. It is the gate of endless joy.

"Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus, those who have fallen asleep in Him." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

   . . .

Today's choice AI resource: Remaining Sin in the Believer #2