A GLORIOUS OUTLOOK
J. Slater
As our brother was praying these scriptures came distinctly to one’s mind and the thought of comfort. This is a wonderful occasion. It is recorded in Psalm 116: 15, “Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints”. It is a precious occasion, beloved, for all heaven is interested in what we are about to do in the burial of our sister, one well known to most, if not all, of us here. She died in the Lord, she was fully in the testimony, but the Lord came and took her. I have been impressed with the way Peter speaks of “the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit”, 1 Peter 3: 4. This is something those of us cherish who visited our sister from time to time, “a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price”.
What a wonderful encouragement it is to us all, what a comfort, to be in an area in which all heaven is interested. Things are transpiring around us in the scene through which we are passing, but this occasion is outstanding, all heaven being interested in the burial of a saint. I believe that scripture in Psalm 116, “Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints”, shows that every saint who dies in the Lord and falls asleep through Jesus reminds God of the death of His beloved Son. There is an affinity between the death of a believer and the death of His Son, our Lord Jesus, the One who died for us, the One who lives for us, the One who is going to come soon to take us all to be with Himself. What a glorious, triumphant outlook we have, dear brethren!—and what encouragement it gives us to be in the light and joy of these precious thoughts.
It is wonderful to see how the Spirit of God is operating; we have seen it in our sister, a meek and quiet spirit, an adornment, and we can speak of her as an assembly person. The assembly is composed of persons like ourselves, who believe on the Lord Jesus and have the Spirit. The Lord Jesus loved the assembly and delivered Himself up for it, and He is going to present it to Himself glorious, without spot or wrinkle, and that day is coming soon. But now we are about to commit the body of our beloved sister to the Lord in anticipation of His coming to transform it into conformity to His body of glory (Philippians 3: 21). What joy marks the outlook of the believer, the joy of the first resurrection, “Blessed and holy he who has part in the first resurrection” (Revelation 20: 6), and that is the outlook of every true believer. As we are about to commit the body of our beloved sister, the last service of love, let us take courage as we think of what she suffered and what she took on through it, a meek and quiet spirit, subjection to the Lord, obedience to His word.
I believe she was a subject of Paul’s ministry and she continued to the end having that glorious moment always in her heart, the coming of the Lord. The last words she uttered in our presence were, ‘The Lord is coming and His reward is with Him’ (Revelation 22: 12). Think of one just going to be with the Lord and thinking of His reward, and that is the normal hope of every believer. It is a comfort to every one of us, the prospect of being with that glorious Man where He is and as He is, in that scene where He is supreme. O, beloved brethren, let the value of this moment affect us all for I believe it is intended to bring about sobriety and lowliness of mind in view of our being more and more intimate with the Persons of the Godhead.
In the scripture I read in John 14 the Lord Jesus was speaking to His disciples, just as He would speak to us now by the Spirit, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me. In my Father’s house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you—for I go to prepare you a place; and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be”. Many say they believe on God, but when you speak to them of the Lord Jesus it is a different matter. Jesus is the One who was despised and left alone of men, but the true believer who owns His authority as Lord and recognises His headship comes in for the fulness of the blessing, and God has nothing but blessing in mind for all. He has provided everything for us in that glorious Man, the Man Christ Jesus. The scripture in chapter 16 relates to something our sister possessed—joy. The Lord says, “Your joy no one takes from you”. That is something we all need to cherish, His joy in our souls as having a link with Christ where He is and as He is. May the Lord add His blessing to what has been said, for His name’s sake.