South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-20
THE DEATH OF A GOOD MAN.


THE DEATH OF A GOOD MAN.
1. Death Completes a Mans Life
Work. God has a plan and purpose
IN the life Of every man, and when
that is accomplished he is taken TO
the better country, nor can il be pos
sible that God permits any good man
10 die until his LIES work is done
Hence IL IS that the death of his
saints is precious in the sight of Jeho-
yah. Moses life, and work. and
death. are believe. examples of the
life, and work, and death OF every true
man God planned for the death of
Moses the same as he had planned
Tor his life, and received him into the
country which is out Of sight. with re-
toicing. 1t is our habit to weep when
a good man dies. but when we know
that God is glad to receive such a
man into the deathless life, and 10 re-
ward him for the work which he has
done, we ought TO cease our weeping
and rejoice with the Heavenly Father.
We all have our place to fill and our
work to do, and when that is accom-
plished we shall be taken TO the better
land None OF US need be afraid that
we shall die before we have COM
pleted our mission, and we may rest
assured that when a saint of the Lord
does die that his life work has been
completed
2. Death Finishes the Battle. 1T is
perhaps more IN harmony with the
literal facts to sum up a mans duty
in the word work, but as a matter of
fact large part of this work is of the
nature Of a battle we have difficult
ties TO overcome, and foes to conquer
from start To finish. The experience
OF the children of Israel travelling
through the wilderness, under the
leadership of Moses. is typical of the
n~fa lit In
our journey through life. They were
beset with difficulties during the en-
tire forty years, from the time they
left Egypt. until they entered into the
possession OF the promised land. They
experienced hunger and thirst, they
were surrounded with enemies who
tried to impede their progress, they
were in continuous battle either
against prOvidential hindrances, or the
enmily of their foes. One may Won
der why God allowed them to wage
this constant battle when he had the
power to have given them peace, but
no doubt he took the best method pos
sible to develop them as a nation, TO
train them in watchfulness. industry.
and fortitude, and to develop their ma
tional spirit Life is also a cOntinu
Gus battle with each Of us; we have
fighting without and foes within, we
wage a constant battle with the world,
the flesh and the devil. In the begin
ming OF life, II is a battle to obtain an
education, to learn a trade, or profess
sion. and all through life. with the
most OF us, IL Is one constant battle
10 make living, hence when good
man dies God rejOiceS because the
battle is ended and the victory won.
3. Death Means Rest. The word
death has come to have a doleful
sound, and 1 wish we could coin
nf Fvh
vey the actual meaning of what we
call death. SO far as Gods saints are
concerned II is the most glorious ex-
periences they have ever passed
through: they have ceased from their
labOrS and their works follow them.
They have left a land of sickness, sin
and sorrow and catered into a country
where there Is nothing but health.
holiness and happiness: they have
been working hard and engaged in
constant battle, but they have now en-
tered into rest, and peace. They have
lived in a country of strife, envy.
jealousy and hatred, they have now
entered into a land where there is
love and happy fellowship The invi-
tatjon OF Jesus TO poor sinners, is.
Come unto me all We that labor and
are heavy laden and l will give you
rest The writer OF the Hebrews
states: There remaineth therefore a
rest to the people OF God" John, in
the Revelations. affirms that he heard
a voice from heaven saying unto him:
blessed are the dead which die in
the Lord 1900. yea. saith the spirit.
that they may rest from their laborS.'
4. Death Ia the Gate to Endless
Life. A saint Of God said when the
end was very near: Il have been
dyinC for years. now I shall begin to
live" A voice from heaven was once
heard saying: "And God STALL wipe
away all tears from their e. IS; and
there shall be no more death"
Heaven to which the good man goes
when he dies Is n state of eternal
day. a blaze of light and life; where
they enjoy the singing OF birds and
the fragrance of flowers, where all
the surroundings are harmonious and
the hearts Of tho inhabitants are eter-
naily thrilled with blissful emotions
TO which they were strangers when
they lived the earthly life. Ii is no
wonder that Gods heart is glad as
he welcomes his saints home one by
one. 20 the glory land. to enter into
possession Of the rich things tina
have been prepared for them by him
through his infinite love in Jesus
Christ. How precious therefore in
the sight OF Jehovah IS the death OF
his saints. how blessed 10 the saints
themselves
Copyright, 1918, by Z. s Davidson.)