To Live Is Christ ... To Die Is Gain

I have seen visions, my friends, of a coming nightmare with death on a scale that is unimaginable and it will be directed at us; the redeemed lambs of Almighty God; and it is even now at the door ..... now do the ravens sing, my friends; for they will come upon us; grim and growling as the gray wolf ....... stand and prevail, that thy heart may be found faithful ....... know ye not; that this is the hour for which we were born ....... seek not the life of this world, but stand upon the promise of life given by God to all who love Him and seek His ways; for what they see as an end, we know to be but a glorious beginning.

Psa 42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Psa 42:3  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Php 1:21  for to me to live is Christ, and to die gain.
Php 1:22  And if to live in the flesh is to me a fruit of work, then what shall I choose? I know not;
Php 1:23  for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,
Php 1:24  and to remain in the flesh is more necessary

What horrors and fears come upon the worlders, and the carnally-minded, when they think of their death! Yet no prospect affords me such comfort as that of my death and final transformation. I have exceeding great cause to rejoice, when I compare what I now am and suffer — with what I shall then enjoy and be.

Now my joys are fleeting; and often fail to live up to expectations — then, they shall be perfectly present, and fulfilling eternally.

Now I walk by faith, and live on hope.  —  Then I shall know, for I shall see Him face to face, as I shall then dwell in His light, and feed at His table.

Now I am daily struggling with death and sin — but then I shall eternally triumph over both.

Now I toil along a wearisome road — but then I shall walk above these skies along the wondrous highways of heaven.

Now my eyes rove from vanity to vanity — but then they shall see, even fix upon our Risen Lord in His highest glory.

Now I live among stalkers, vampires, and beasts whose daily aim is to create strife, turmoil, fear, and pain — but then I shall dwell among the multitudes of the redeemed, with angels and archangels — in the glorious presence of the Living God.

Now I often bemoan myself as the frail inhabitant of a feeble body — but then I shall be possessed of all the vigor of immortality — of all the briskness of eternal life.

Now I have foes without, and foes within, to grapple with on a  daily basis --- the sin within my nature, and the follies of my heart; in addition to enemies from this dark and forboding world, both seen, and unseen.

Now, imperfection is stamped . . .
upon all that I feel ....... upon all I desire ....... upon all my joys and sorrows ....... and, truth be told, upon all I do.

What says the sigh, which daily escapes from my heavy heart?
Imperfect

What says the groan, which ascends from my troubled soul?
Imperfect

What says the tear, which so often  rolls down my cheek?
Imperfect

But there is perfection in Christ! In Him . . . our full and eternal perfection is decreed, promised, provided for. It will be realized in heaven, when we see Him as He really is—and shall be made like Him!— but then, triumphing over every foe, I shall sing of the glories of our Lord, and never cease from this matchless, this inexhaustible theme.

Now I often stagger my way along the road of life  — but then, renewed into His His divine likeness, I shall dwell with the Ancient of days, and enjoy the dearest and most intimate communion with Jehovah and the Lamb forever ....... then an endless eternity shall be ours, and our joy shall be as durable as it is desirable; and as permanent as it is pleasant .......then in the light of His countenance, in the brightness of His glory, shall we walk on forever.

Now, my friends, this raging midnight through which we pass, has spread its shadow over all we see and touch ....... yet amidst the blackest gloom that dwells within this darkness,  blinding the natural man, the soul of the lamb is at no loss to view the realities surrounding him -- both visible and invisible -- through the light of his faith ....... and this light, His light will guide us safely home through even the most dense darkness that envelopes and hinders us.

What is, for the world, a bitter end; is for the lamb of God, a whole new beginning beyond our wildest dreams ....... as Paul himself said: 1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

So, I tell you, as this darkness begins to collapse and feed upon itself, and death is on every doorstep, take courage in His promise and His truth ....... stand without fear against the coming onslaught ....... for if you are hid in Him, there is nothing they can do to separate you out ....... and when they have done all they are able, our life will be transformed, in the twinkling of an eye, into the freedom of His image, crowned with His glory ....... for all eternity. We shall then be gloriously free ....... our whole person, body, soul, and spirit — will be in perfect liberty: free from the curse ....... free from every foe — and all fears .......free from every fault — and all our failings ....... free from frailty — and, at last, free from all internal, external, and eternal evil.

For it was this very vision that prompted both the psalmist, and Paul to exclaim ....... My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? ....... for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.