The twice=a=week herald. (Amarillo, Tex.) 1887-1906, 1905-05-12
A SHUT-IN SERMON
An Invalid Gives a Lesson in
Christian Faith to Strengthen
the Strong.

hOIle OF Cne righteous, heaven is Wner
Jesus dwells. Those that are redeeme
by the blood Of the Lamb and God tn
Father are there. When Stephen wa
stoned to death, he had a glimpse int
. the eternal City, He looked steadfasth
into Heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing on the right hand o.
God When our loved ones are taker
from US, the first thought that naturally
arises in our mind is: Where have they
gone? Shall we meet again9 If they
like Stephen the first Christian martyr,
have fallen asleep in Jesus, faith hope
and love, will answer Y S! in heaven. 1t
is very consoling belief that in those
bright realms. there are friends that are
waiting and watching fof our coming with
outstretched arms to welcome US home.
Heaven seems nearer and dearer to us
than ever before, because they are there.
It is the presence of the loved ones that
have gone on before us that will make
heaven our home. There is nothing more
universally dreaded than death. Chris
tan friends, if we could only tear away
the veil that obscured it, we could find it
TO be an open door to newer and more
beautiful life. Death will only hasten you
or to heaven, for your names are already
there, written in the Lambs Book of Life
Death is the gate that opens from earth
TO the home eternal in the heavens. If we
loose our loved Ones who are asleep in
Jesus, heaven gains them; if we mourn
the angels rejoice that one more is added
to the celestial choir Death to Gods
children is the entrance to a paradise of
love, to heaven OF rest. it is a going to
heaven our home, deverance from the
bondage of sin, the beginning of a better
life, of an eternal day with Christ, where
we shall triumph over every enemy even
death. Should we dread it? All, no. let
us welcome it. There are thousands that
are searching for glimpse of that home.
Death is constantly robbing us of our
loved ones, and the word of God is the
only source Of comfort and assurance to
tell US where they have gone. In that
heavenly city there will be many man
sions, and Christ said to his disciples. 81
60 to prepare home for you Wonder
ful words When we think Of these things,
what unspeakable JOY should fill our soul,
and oVermaster our emotions. In the
spiritual life there is security, Joy and
peace The heart overfows with graft
tuce and love beyond expression when we
think that each one Of the redeemed will
have home in that celestial city. 1t will
not be the pearly gates the jasper walls,
the streets Of gold, though we all love
the beautiful that will make heaven so at
tractive to Christians, but it will be be-
cause God and our loved ones are there.
1t is that which will make home so sweet.
BLESSED are the dead that die in the
Lord, from henceforth, yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from their la
bors, and their works do follow them"
What can death do to US in this life9 It
may rob US Of our dear ones. 1t NAV de-
prlve US of our wealth. 1t may thwart
our most cherished plans, but it can
never take from US the works that we do
for God, that will live forever. We may
be dead to the world, but the influence
that our lives exert still lives. 1t is in
this life that the privilege is granted US Of
giving cup Of cold water in the name of
Jesus Of wiping tears from the cheeks Of
the fatherless and the widow; Of trying to
raise some fallen one, who has been over
taken by sin. 1t is nowhere told US, that
it shall be done hereafter, Work for Je-
sus and your work will follow you. We
have an example in the life of Martin
Luther; his earthly career was short but
think Of the influence of his life, Of the
hundreds and thousands Of lives that are
rejoicing in the truths that he taught.
Martin Luther's dead dust is seesng at
Whlttenburg, but throughout all the
churches Of Christendom his accents still
sound When Herodus asked for the
head of John the Baptist; Herod thought
his voice is hushed forever" but
the voice of the great forerunner will
never be hushed, it will ring while the
world lasts; it will ring through the eter-
nal ages, he has entered into his rest but
his works do follow him. The steams
OF truths he set in motion will ever flow
on. What lesson for US None Of us
Iiyeth TO himself" We live, we die, and |
word, deed, thought and passion. whether
1t be good or evil live after US. These
things are not buriedin the grave whether
we are all tending the influence Of our
daily life will be felt by future genera
tihns, The lives Of such men as Spur
geon, Wesley, Moody and Talmage and
numbers Of others remain as an enduring
monument Of those who being dead yer
speaketh, These lines Of Longfellow |
have been an inspiration to many SOUL
Lives Of great men all remind US,
We can make our lives sublime;
And departing leave behind us,