ENCOURAGEMENT IN PRESSURE
G. Hesterman
There is much pressure, beloved brethren, in this world of one kind and another and there is much pressure amongst the saints—a variety of pressures; the Lord knows. So this is a time when we need to be encouraged, especially those who are bereaved. These are the last days; the coming of the Lord is drawing nigh.
We think of our beloved sister; she is with the Lord. We surely miss her and the happy spirit that she manifested. Paul says, “Thus we shall be always with the Lord. So encourage one another with these words”. Let us think about that, and feed on it. The apostle Paul could say, “The Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me”, Galatians 2: 20. Yes, He gave Himself for me, this glorious Saviour, who shed His precious blood. Think of the love of that glorious One, the Son of God. And what a prospect, beloved brethren, that we are going to be with Him; we are going to see Him, the Lord of glory; and so “we shall be always with the Lord”. Feed on it, think about it, dwell on it, contemplate it—“we shall be always with the Lord”. We have never actually seen Him, but we shall be caught up together to meet Him in the air. I just love to read this and feed on it and think about the wonderful, glorious things that are ahead. that we are going to be with the Lord Jesus for ever, never to part. What a prospect, what a time!
So I just want to say these words by way of encouragement, because we surely need encouragement in these days. So Paul ends this section with this exhortation, “So encourage one another with these words”.
If there should be any one here who does not know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour I would take this opportunity to appeal to you to come to the Saviour who shed His precious blood for you. He accomplished the wonderful work of redemption and we earnestly appeal to you to put your faith and trust in that glorious One and experience real, true joy and satisfaction and happiness, so that you can be included in this “we”, “and thus we shall be always with the Lord”. So I just leave that word with us, “So encourage one another with these words”.
Words at the burial of Mrs A.Pilgrim, Brooklyn, N.Y.
3 July 1985