The Dirty Lane
Death is not an end, but a gain, leading to incomparable rewards and a glorious kingdom with Christ.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound gain that comes through death for a Christian, as expressed in Philippians 1:21. He argues that while life in Christ is valuable, being with Christ after death is the ultimate blessing, as highlighted in Philippians 1:23. Brooks encourages believers to view death as a necessary passage to receive eternal crowns and a glorious kingdom, portraying it as the 'dirty lane' that leads to everlasting joy and peace. He reassures that through death, Christians transition from mortality to immortality, ultimately joining the marriage-supper of the Lamb.
Text
"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phil. 1:21
Look upon your dying day as a gainful day. There is
no gain compared to that which comes in by death.
A Christian gets more by death, than he does by life.
To be in Christ is very good--but to be with Christ
is best of all, "I desire to depart and be with Christ,
which is better by far!" Phil. 1:23. It was a mighty
blessing for Christ to be with Paul on earth--but it
was the top of blessings for Paul to be with Christ
in heaven! Seriously consider these things--
By death you shall gain incomparable crowns!
A crown of life, Rev. 2:10; James 1:12;
A crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. 4:8;
An incorruptible crown, 1 Cor. 9:24-25;
A crown of glory, 1 Pet. 5:4.
There are no crowns compared to these crowns!
By death you shall gain a glorious kingdom!
"It is your Father's pleasure to give you a kingdom!"
We must put off our rags of mortality--that we may
put on our robes of glory. There is no entering into
paradise--but under the flaming sword of this angel,
death--who stands at the gate. Death is the dirty
lane through which the saint passes . . .
to a kingdom,
to a great kingdom,
to a glorious kingdom,
to a peaceful kingdom,
to an unshaken kingdom,
to a durable kingdom,
to a lasting kingdom, yes,
to an everlasting kingdom!
Death is the dark, short way, through which the
saints pass to the marriage-supper of the Lamb!
Sermon Outline
- The Gain of Death
- The Rewards of Death
- The Kingdom of Heaven
- The Passage to Glory
- The Dark, Short Way
- To the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb
Key Quotes
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — Thomas Brooks
“To be in Christ is very good--but to be with Christ is best of all” — Thomas Brooks
“It is your Father's pleasure to give you a kingdom!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Consider your mortality and the glory that awaits you in heaven.
- Put off your rags of mortality and put on your robes of glory.
- Trust in the Father's pleasure to give you a kingdom and look forward to the marriage-supper of the Lamb.