15 CROSSING THE JORDAN
CROSSING THE JORDAN
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand!" Isaiah 41:10
Canaan was a very faint and imperfect type of Heaven. It was better than the wilderness, yes, better than Egypt. But imperfect as it was, it was the object of desire and anticipation; how passionately Moses longed to go over the Jordan River and see it—but was denied. Jordan rolled between the desert and the promised land; and it must be crossed, before the promised land could be enjoyed. And death, like the Jordan—lies between us and Heaven!
We must die. To die is unnatural. It is unpleasant. Yet the Christian has no reason to fear death. No Israelite was ever drowned in this Jordan. Jesus crossed it, and, like Joshua, placed twelve stones in the midst of it, on which the feet of his saints may rest. The precious promises are these stones.
Reader, are you afraid of death? As a believer in Jesus, it cannot hurt you. He has taken away its sting. He has deprived it of all power to injure. The waters may be cold, and deep, and broad; but what then? He says, "I will be with you—when you pass through the waters; and when you pass through the rivers—they will not overwhelm you!" Isaiah 43:2 On the other side . . .
the sun always shines,
the plants are always in bloom,
the atmosphere is always pure,
the inhabitants are all happy and holy! Do not fear death, it is a stingless serpent! The substance is gone—and only the shadow is left!
He who believes in Jesus—shall never die! Are you afraid of dying? What! Afraid of falling asleep—after the toils, troubles, and sorrows of life’s long day!
Afraid of dying! What! When Jesus will stand by your dying pillow, and his angels are waiting to conduct you to glory!
Place the hand of your faith—on the shoulder of the faithful Jesus, and hang your whole weight on him! Go across the Jordan, as the spouse out of the wilderness, leaning on your beloved!
"If we live—we live to the Lord; and if we die—we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die—we belong to the Lord!" Romans 14:8