88. Future Recognition
Future Recognition
SCRIPTURE BASIS OF RECOGNITION. —That identity of person and recognition after death are facts, may be comprehended from the position of man in the sight of God. “Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name.”—Isaiah 43:1. “I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.”—Revelation 3:5. Paul speaks of those whose names are in the book of life; and James of those whose names are not in the book of life. The deduction is obvious; where individuality exists, recognition is a necessary consequence.
OH, JESUS, I HAVE POUND YOU AT LAST!—A dying mother’s last words to her little girl were: “Jessie, find Jesus.” After the mother had been buried she started out to find Jesus. In answer to her request, “Please tell me where Jesus Christ is,” a young man, coming out of a saloon, and almost stumbling over her, replied: “I don’t know, child.” At length in her wandering’s she met a Jewess, whom she asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” The woman turned fiercely upon her, and exclaimed: “Jesus Christ is dead.” A rude boy snatched her little basket and threw it into the street. While endeavoring to regain it, the horses of a passing car trampled her under foot, and she knew no more till she found herself upon a hospital cot. The doctors knew she could not live till morning. During the night she suddenly opened her eyes, and with a glad smile, said before her lips were hushed in death: “Oh, Jesus, I have found you at last!”
AH, THERE THOU ART, AT LAST!—In the death of Carnaval was an affecting instance of spiritual recognition. His reason had been unsettled by the early death of the object of his tender and devoted affection. For a long time he wandered about the streets of Paris, not fully comprehending that she was dead, and spent his life in the vain search for her. When the ebbing tide of life was almost out he started as from a long reverie, his countenance illuminated with sudden joy, and, reaching out his arms as if clasping some object, he uttered the name of his long lost love, and with his last breath exclaimed: “Ah, there thou art, at last!”
THEY ARE NOT STRANGERS.—A little girl lay dying. She had always dreaded death and now in the face of it she cried out: “Don’t let me die, don’t let me die. Hold me fast! Oh, I can’t go.” “Jennie,” said a dear one at her side, “you have two little brothers in the other world, and there are thousands of tender-hearted people over there who will love you and take care of you.” But she would not be reconciled, and again cried: “Hold me fast! Don’t let me go!” But even as she said this, the little hands eagerly went up, the blue eyes gazed upward and grew brighter and brighter as they filled with the light of recognition, and then she exclaimed: “Mamma, mamma, they are not strangers. I am not afraid,” and then sank down among the pillows and the spirit was gone.
MOTHER.—A little girl of ethereal spirit, who lost her mother before she could remember, would say to her devoted friend. “Now tell me about my mamma.” She listened with delight to the oft-told story. Then her request would be to be taken where she could see her mother’s portrait, upon which she would gaze for hours. As she was dying, her attentive friend whispered, “So you know me, darling?” but awoke no response. Just at the last, while gazing upward, she cried, with transport in her tone, “Mother!” and passed to her mother’s embrace.