The Pilgrim Path---Second Corinthians 5: 8

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the LORD.

AT HOME…

Mr. Byron was a retired Naval Officer in the second church I served. Quite a distinguished career as a weapons specialist. He had some incredible photos of himself with President Kennedy and other dignitaries. Cancer started to get the best of him. He died around Christmas Day. Fortunately, he was in the community hospital close to our home (five minutes away). Everyone makes the effort to “get away” from the hospital around the holidays---so there is always a lot of parking space. It is rather “odd” going to the hospital on such a “festive” occasion---but people die at all times---even on so-called “special” days. It was good to pray with the family and discuss the chain of events. Funeral Directors have their schedules thrown into some sort of disarray at the end of the year. Poor families just must wait and exercise a little bit of patience---especially if any loved ones need to travel any distance (and this was all before COVID).

The service for Mr. Byron would not occur until just after January 1st. What I remember most is the long drive to northeast Mississippi. This is where Howard grew up. This part of the state has some hills---so the cemetery was very pretty. It was cold and windy that afternoon. Just the family with me---and the Naval Honor Guard---and the funeral director. I finish the committal sentences---and from atop a hill---a Navy man starts to play, “Taps.” If you did not belong to the LORD Jesus Christ, you might be tempted to think, “this is the end of it all…” But because of the Gospel---We know our friend Mr. Howard Byron was more alive than he had ever been. A worn out “tent” was left for the wonders of Glory. A fine exchange---granted us---through the mercy of King Jesus! The privilege of going home.

From Richard Sibbes: To die in faith is to die in the assurance of the forgiveness of sins. Faith looks upon Christ who on his own took the sting of death for us. We are reconciled to God through Christ. To die in faith overcomes the horror of death. Death is a terrible thing, and our faith is most exercised by it. There is the rottenness of the grave, the pain of death, the separation of body and soul, the parting of friends and loved ones with whom we have lived so lovingly and sweetly, the end of all employment in this world and the comforts of this life. But to die in faith is to conquer all of these! For all the enjoyments we have here, we shall have better friends, and we shall go to God and an innumerable company of angels. It is a blessed change for the better in every way. A better place, better company, better employment, better liberty, all better! All is ours! We die to be born to glory and happiness. The LORD will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and this happiness shall never end. So, indeed, faith sees that the day of death is better than the day of birth. By faith we overlook the grave, death, and all, and see the conquering Christ, and ourselves already with him!

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to Him. Bring yourself, by the power of the Spirit, into union with Christ’s desires, and motives, and plans of action, and you are likely to be favored with His company. Remember His presence may be had. His promise is true as ever. He delights to be with us. If He doth not come to us, it is because we hinder Him by our indifference. He will reveal Himself to our earnest prayers, and graciously suffer Himself to be detained by our entreaties, and by our tears, for these are the golden chains which bind Jesus to His people.

From John Duncan: We die not to death; we die to the LORD, to whom we live.

HYMN

Jesus, I live to thee, the loveliest and best;

My life in thee, thy life in me, in thy blest love I rest.

Jesus, I die to thee, whenever death shall come;

To die in thee is life to me in my eternal home.

Henry Harbaugh, 1850

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason