A funeral is a time to reflect on the issues of life and death. When the deceased is a believer in the one faith, we think of the saying: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
When we think of our own death and subsequent resurrection, a variety of emotions course through us. We feel joy that finally we will see our beloved Master face to face. We know satisfaction as we consider the prospect of settling into the work of the kingdom for which we are now being prepared. We sense relief that this probationary period of trial and weakness will not continue interminably. And we feel fear that, in opening the book on our lives, the Lord may decide to cast us aside with the wicked.
I know thy works
If we are worried about Christ scrutinizing our lives, we had best think in current, rather than future, terms. To every one of the seven ecclesias of Asia he began his epistle with the reminder, “I know thy works” (Rev. 2:2,9,13, etc.).
Jesus Christ is our judge now: “The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” He knows everything — the words we speak, the hidden things of darkness, the counsels of our heart. “I know thy works, and charity, and service and faith and thy patience…I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” He is even now weighing our lives. (John 5:22; I Cor. 4:5; Rev. 2:19;3:1).
Thankfully, he is doing so with wonderful grace and tender love. He is ready with forgiveness for our sins and help in our trials. He wants us to be saved! Even his sharp rebuke is to that end: “These things I say, that ye might b
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One