19 THE DEPARTURE

THE DEPARTURE

"The time has come for mydeparture! I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day!" 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Aged believer, the time of your departure will soon come! Do not let your mind be troubled as to . . .
where you shall die,
when you shall die, or
how you shall die!

These are all minor matters—and ought not to affect you.

Simply look at death as Jesus did: "Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world—and go to the Father!"John 13:1

Why should you regret to leave a poor world like this—where sin, sorrow, pain, grief, disappointment, and anxiety meet you at every turn? Why should you be reluctant to go HOME—to go to your Father? Do you not want to see his face? Do you not want to enjoy his company? Do you not want to be perfectly happy in his presence? Did I hear you say, "But what if I should be mistaken?"

Mistaken! How can you be mistaken? Do you not renounce all hope in yourself—and all dependence on your duties? And do you not trust on Christ alone? Have you not sought his face, relied on his Word, trusted in his blood? Mistaken! Why, if you are not right with God—then what else could possibly make you so? Do you say, "But my sins, my follies and my infirmities are so great!"

Don’t you know—that sins confessed, imperfections deplored, infirmities mourned over, if accompanied with faith in Jesus—have never kept a soul out of Heaven yet! And they never will! Do you say, "But my hopes may be all a false presumption!"

What, is it presumption to believe your Savior? Is it presumption to take God at his Word, and give him credit for speaking truth?

"Presumption!" It is presumption to doubt—when God has spoken so plainly! It is presumption to fear—when God has spoken so positively! It is presumption to want something else to assure you—when God has said:

"He who believes HAS everlasting life!"

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ—and you SHALL be saved!"

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised—you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation!" Luke 2:29-30