I love the writings of J.C. Ryle, a country pastor for 39 years and the Bishop of Liverpool in England for 20 more during the 19th Century. He authored several books, and the one entitled Holiness is my favorite. Here is an excerpt from it in which he reflects upon the reality of what happens to our saved loved ones as they pass from life into eternity. I hope that this is a help to those of you who need some encouragement as to the present existence of those in Christ who have gone before us. They are not lost, but found.
Ryle's thoughts: "Blessed be God, the souls of departed saints are free from the very moment their last breath is drawn. While we are weeping, and the coffin is preparing, and the mourning being provided, and the last painful arrangements being made, the spirits of our beloved ones are enjoying the presence of Christ. They are freed forever from the burden of the flesh. They are 'where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary be at rest' (Job 3:17).
The very moment that believers die they are in paradise. Their battle is fought; their strife is over. They have passed through that gloomy valley we must one day tread; they have gone over that dark river we must one day cross; They have drunk that last bitter cup which sin has mingled for man; they have reached that place where sorrow and sighing are no more. Surely we should not wish them back again! We should not weep for them. but for ourselves.
We are warring still, but they are at peace. We are laboring, but they are at rest. We are watching, but they are sleeping. We are wearing our spiritual armor, but they have forever put it off. We are still at sea, but they are safe in harbor. We have tears, but they have joy. We are strangers and pilgrims, but as for them they are at home. Surely, better are the dead in Christ than the living! Surely the very hour the poor saint dies, he is at once higher and happier than the highest upon earth."
Jesus did say as He was led away to be crucified: "Weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your children." Luke 23:28
ReplyDeleteQuite a thought! To have such hope, and to have His grace to set my mind on those things above untangles so many of the emotions that go with grieving. Besides the vacuum their loss creates, I realize that I most grieve for my lack and inadequacies in my relationship to those who died, as well as to the living. Peace and joy only come to me from resting in the One who is adequate for all these things. Not myself, but only He is the center who continues to hold us together with Himself forever through the cross. "O wretched ( woman) that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:24,25. He is able to deliver us. He has delivered our loved ones who died believing in Him. He is delivering us who believe in Him, and He will finally deliver us safely into our heavenly home.
Love your thoughts, Candy. Please keep blogging.