Dying in Christ! (by William Purton, 1868)

Philippians 1:21

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

Though our outward man perishes — yet the inward man is renewed day by day. When this frail tabernacle of mortality is dissolved — we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord — whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

When the appointed hour is come, the believer's body falls asleep, but the soul departs to be forever with the Lord. Then shall be sung that hymn of triumph, which in its fullness shall be sung on the resurrection morning: "Death is swallowed up in victory!"

My Lord and Savior is the life — joined to Him by living faith, I shall never die — never see death. That which we call death will have no power over my immortal spirit. Departing I shall hear the voice of Jesus: "Today shall you be with Me in Paradise!"

When I am dead, and silent lying,
Should you, in your hour of awe
Gaze upon me — softly sighing,
Back the solemn curtain draw.

But the frame of clay you'll see,
O beloved, will not be me!
I shall be with Christ, my treasure,
Drinking in eternal pleasure!

Yes, then shall I be at Home — joyous and holy, forever and ever!
"Happy and blessed death — that golden bridge between Time's clay banks — and Heaven's shore!"

2 Corinthians 5:8

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”