No Reason to be Afraid (Anne Dutton)

Psalms 73:26

“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” 

Dear Brother and Sister,

As to my health, blessed be God, I am no worse. I dwell in a fragile body, which I think sometimes is near its dissolution. But I rejoice in that house, that building of God, eternal in the heavens, which I know, through grace, is prepared for me. I in this tabernacle groan, being burdened by reason of that sinfulness and weakness which attends and renders me incapable either to know or serve the Lord as I would, and as perfect spirits do; and this makes me long for the time when mortality shall be swallowed up of life. We have no reason to be afraid of a separate state, for "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Nor yet should the saints be afraid to die, as if they should be forsaken and left to go through the last trial alone. No, our God will be with us when we come to the river Death; He will divide the water before us, and so marvelously appear in carrying us through it that we shall take thence a memorial of His infinite grace and faithfulness, as the children of Israel did when they passed through the literal Jordan (Josh. 4:7).

We should come up from the wilderness, even to the last step of it, leaning upon our Beloved, who has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5). These words, "never leave you," reach through our whole lives, even unto death, yes, into death, through death, above and beyond death, even to an endless eternity. And unless everlasting arms could become weary, unchangeable love alter, and infinite faithfulness fail, we have no reason to be afraid. No, not in "the valley of the shadow of death". Our God will be "our refuge and strength, a very present help in that time of trouble". And as He will be the strength of our heart when heart and flesh fail us, so our portion forever, or our eternal lot.

And oh! who can count up a thousandth part of those vast treasures of glory we have in His immense Being, as He has made over His great Self to us in Christ! Why should we, then, who are the King's sons, be lean from day to day? The Lord grant us true greatness of mind, that with a princely spirit we may behave as heirs of glory under all our present trials!

Wishing all prosperity, and begging a share in your prayers, I commit you to Israel's Keeper.

(Anne Dutton's Letters on Spiritual Subjects)

Revelation 14:13

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” 

http://www.gracegems.org/

The Lord's Chastening (J.C. Philpot)

2 Corinthians 6:9

“As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;” 

The Lord does not see fit to lay the same chastisements 
upon all His people. He has rods of different sizes and
different descriptions; though all are felt to be rods 
when God brings them upon the back.

The Lord chastises with one hand, and upholds with the 
other. In your spiritual experience, you may have passed
under many chastising strokes. And when they fell upon 
you, they seemed to come as a killing sentence from God's 
lips. You feared your illness might end in death. Under your 
bereavement, you felt as if you could never hold up your
head again. You thought your providential losses might 
prove to be your earthly ruin. Your family afflictions 
seemed to be so heavy, as to be radically incurable. 

All these were killing strokes. But though chastened,
you were not killed. You lost no divine life thereby; 
but you lost much that pleased the flesh; much that 
gratified the creature; much that looked well for 
days of prosperity, but would not abide the storm. 

But you lost nothing that was for your real good. 

If you lost bodily health; you gained spiritual health. 

If you lost a dear husband or child; God filled up the 
void in your heart by making Christ more precious. 

If you had troubles in your family; the Lord made it up 
by giving more manifestations of His love and grace. 

Your very losses in providence were for your good; 
for God either made them up, or what you lost in 
providence He doubled in grace. 

So that though chastened; you are not killed!

Has anything that has happened to you quenched 
or extinguished the life of God in your soul? 

As the dross and tin were more separated; has not 
the gold shone more brightly? Have you not held 
spiritual things with a tighter grasp? When God
chastens His people, it is not to kill them; it is . . .
  to make them partakers of His holiness, 
  to revive their drooping graces,
  to make them more sincere, upright and tender in conscience, 
  to make them more separate from the world,
  to make them seek more His glory,
  to make them have a more single eye to His praise,
  to make them live more a life of faith. 

Here is the blessedness--that when God chastises
His people, it is not for their injury, but for their profit; 
not for their destruction, but for their salvation; not to 
treat them with the unkindness of an enemy, but with 
the love of a friend!

Look at the afflictions, chastenings and grievous sorrows
that you have passed through. Have they been . . .
  friends to you, or enemies?
  instruments of helping you, or hindrances?
  ladders whereby you have climbed up to heaven, 
  or steps whereby you have descended into hell?
  means of taking you nearer to Christ, or means 
  of carrying you more into the world? 

If you know anything of God's chastening, you will 
say, "Every stroke has brought me nearer to God! 
He has flogged me home!" As a father will seize 
his truant boy out of a horde of other children and 
flog him home, so the Lord sometimes flogs His
children home! Every stroke laid upon their back 
brings them a step nearer to their home in the
mansions above!

In your own experience, you know that God's
chastenings have not killed you. But rather they 
have been the means of reviving and keeping 
alive the work of grace upon your heart!

(Pearls from Philpot at www.gracegems.org)

Old Age and Death for the Christian

Psalms 48:14

“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” 

“Death is a fall that came by a fall. To die is to be no more unhappy, if we consider death aright. ‘Oh,’ says one, ‘that I could see death, not as it was—but as you, Lord, have now made it!’ Death is the greatest monarch and the most ancient king of the world. ‘Death reigned from Adam to Moises,’ says Paul. Oh! but the Lord Jesus has, as it were, disarmed death, and triumphed over death. He has taken away its sting, so that it cannot sting us, and we may play with it, and put in into our bosoms, as we may a snake whose sting is pulled out. The apostle, upon this consideration, challenges death, and out-braves death, and bids death do his worst. ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)” ~Thomas Brooks

“When the human hands unclasp, His divine hands will clasp ours the more firmly. When beloved human faces fade out, His lovely countenance will shine above us in all its glorious brightness. When we must creep out of the bosom of human affection, it will be only into the clasp of the everlasting arms, into the bosom of Christ! Death's loneliness, will thus be filled with divine companionship.” ~J.R. Miller

“Human nature always shrinks from death — but faith will look to Jesus as the resurrection and the life, and welcome it! And even when faith is not strong enough to welcome it — it will look to the great Shepherd and expect that his rod will drive away all evil beasts — and that his staff will be lent to the soul to lean upon!” ~James Smith

 “No one can open the 'door of death' to a believer — but Jesus! And he always does it at the best moment, and in the best manner, for 'precious in the sight of the Lord — is the death of his saints!'" ~James Smith

“The valley may be long, and dark, and damp for us! But Jesus has passed through it, and driven everything injurious from it. Besides which, he will be WITH us in the valley of the shadow of death. He said to his servant John, 'Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.' (Revelation 1:17-18) My aged friend, do not be frightened at a mere shadow! Do not be afraid to go where Jesus has gone before you.” ~James Smith

“Even here, at the distance we are from our final resting place—we can see enough to make our hearts leap for joy! There, shining in the light of the Lamb—is the Holy City, the end of our weary pilgrimage. See its streets gleaming with sheen of gold. Count its pearly gates, its buildings, its courts, and its walls with their foundations of all manner of precious gems. Mark its white-robed inhabitants, now passing in joyous procession down the crystal streets. As we stand gazing, do we not hear the musical ripple of the water of life mingled with the distant echoes of the Redemption song? Is it fond fancy? or do we not see forms and faces lost to us for many long years now shining with unearthly beauty, and beckoning us onward—heavenward—homeward?
But a few more days—but a few steps onward, and perhaps we shall be there! Our infirmities will come to an end, this worn-out tabernacle of the flesh will fall off, then will be renewed our youth, our health, our vigor! Then will have passed forever away—pain and suffering, temptation and sin; then shall we once more clasp the beloved ones in our arms. Oh, the joyous welcomes, the happy gatherings, of that distant land! Then shall we see as we are seen, and know as we are known. Then shall be unfolded to us the joy of that tender love which has followed us all the days of our life, and has brought us safe home at last. Then shall we see Jesus face to face, and gaze with our own eyes on His wounded side and pierced hands and feet. Oh, joy of all joys, nothing shall separate us from His love! We shall be in His presence for evermore!” ~Forbes Winslow

 “The evening of life! Have these words a melancholy sound? They tell, it is true, that the bright sunshine of youth and manhood — is past; that the health and the energy which impelled our steps in the path of usefulness and renown — have departed; that the night of death will soon gather round us, when we must close our eyes upon all that is loved and lovely here.
But are these facts unwelcome to the Christian? Nay, they are rather the incentives of his hope and his joy! Long a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth — they assure him that he is now on the borders of that country which he has so earnestly been seeking! The worldling may mourn over the flowers which have withered in his grasp — but the Christian has a treasure laid up in Heaven — and his heart is there also. The orphan spirit may shrink from the prospect of an unknown eternity; but the child of God cannot but rejoice in the thought of soon going home.
The evening of life! Aged Christian, an everlasting morning will soon dawn upon your redeemed and perfected spirit. 'Now is your salvation nearer than when you believed.' Mark with thankfulness the shadows of evening, as they deepen around you, for they are the necessary precursors of the coming eternal day. Calmly and trustingly as an infant that slumbers on its mother's bosom, you will soon 'sleep in Jesus,' to awake in that purer and happier world, which has 'no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God enlightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.' 'Absent from the body,' you will at once be 'present with the Lord;' you will 'behold his face in righteousness;' you will 'be satisfied, when you awake, with his likeness!'" ~Anonymous

“At the resurrection, the soul and body shall be reunited; and the body which shall be raised will have no frailties or susceptibilities of distress. It is comfort for the aged saint, aching with the weariness of a hard pilgrimage, to muse on the day when his body shall be newly fitted for the service of the soul, and when he shall emerge into the balmy springtide of perpetual youth. He knows that he shall exchange the solitude and neglect of a world where he has long felt himself a stranger, for the associations of that communion to which the wise, and holy, and blessed of all nations, churches, and times have been adding themselves for ages. Groaning under the consciousness of imperfection in his best services, he lights up with rapture at the thought of a world where he shall glorify God without weariness, intermission, or defect. Remembering the clouds and darkness of his sad journey, he longs for the perfect light in which he shall see face to face, and know even as also he is known. This hope of eternal glory, which brightens as graces become mature, may be considered the prime consolation of old age. Where it is possessed in large measure, it is a full restitution for losses, and an antidote to the poisonous influences of this mortal condition.” ~James W. Alexander

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Psalms 23:6

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” 

Psalms 17:15

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” 

http://www.gracegems.org/

Vain Wandering

1 Peter 2:25

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Have I withdrawn from my Shepherd to look for greener pasture not knowing there is none? Have I not realized the silliness and stupidity of going astray and wandering away from His presence? How enticing Satan's wiles and snares are. How captivating to the eyes, how tickling to the ears, how ravishing to the imagination! But in reality these seemingly delightful representations of wealth and beauty are nothing but trinkets that will turn to dust when fire devours them. The seducers with their beguiling words, the false friends, they are nothing but rotting stinking corpses dressed in the finest of garments, adorned with the most expensive embellishments. They are perishable things and people perishing from their sins.

Have I not thought that deserting my Shepherd even for a second grieves Him? In no time He will begin to look for me from every nook and cranny of the wild mountains and hills? With His staff He will catch me to protect me from the ravening wolves, or to prevent me from falling into the ravine? When he finds me torn and exhausted and slumped in misery, He will gently pick me up to lay upon His shoulder to bring me home?

Don't I realize how precious I am to God? From the gutter, dead in sin, His Holy Spirit picked me up and quickened me? From His wrath I am justified by His Son Jesus' death on the cross?

John 10:28

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” 

“Blessed Savior, to whom can I go but unto You? The wandering sheep may turn scornfully from its restoring shepherd; the eagle may cling to its ignoble cage, and despise its rocky fastnesses; the prodigal may mock a parent's pleas and recklessly cling to his foreign home and beggar's fare; the thirsty pilgrim may turn with averted head from the gushing stream; but You alone the unfailing Portion, You alone the unchanging Friend, let me never be guilty of the ingratitude of forgetting or forsaking You!

‘Let me Your power, Your beauty see,
So shall my vain aspirings cease,
And my free heart shall follow Thee
Through paths of everlasting peace.
My strength, Your gift, my life, Your care,
I shall forget to seek elsewhere
The joy to which my soul is heir.’” ~John MacDuff

"Return, O wanderer, return!
And seek an injured Father's face;
Those warm desires that in you burn,
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
"Return, O wanderer, return!
Your Savior bids your spirit live;
Go to his bleeding side, and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.
"Return, O wanderer, return!
Regain your lost, lamented rest;
Jehovah's melting affections yearn
To clasp his Ephraim to his breast."~William Collyer

Spiritual Rest

Matthew 11:28

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

The Christian finds spiritual rest in the knowledge of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Such rest is deep and genuine and cannot be taken away by any concern from man. Such rest is a rest that cannot be found from the world. As the world is imperfect, broken, and sinful, it can not be the answer to the Christian’s longing for the rest and tranquility of his soul.

Christ promised rest for His people. He offers them to take His yoke for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Being yoked with the world only gives momentary pleasure and rest. The price to pay is high, that of despair, loss, and disenchantment.

A Christian will not trade Christ’s rest for the deceitful rest that man gives. Rest in Jesus is incomparable, unfathomable, and immeasurable. No man can give another man the soul rest that he needs.

A man can find only physical rest in solitude and in quiet surroundings while his mind is in turmoil. But the solace that Christ gives is a quiet repose of the soul and the mind even in tumultuous circumstances.

God’s promises to His people are enough for them to be at rest and live in quiet assurance that no threats nor transgressions nor persecutions nor rejection nor desertions will be able to move them.

Psalms 23:2

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

“You look to SELF—it is but shifting sand, tossed
here and there with the restless tide, and ever 
casting up mire and dirt. No holding ground; no 
anchorage; no rest there. 

You look to OTHERS—you see what man is, even 
the very best of men in their best state—how fickle, 
how unstable, how changing and changeable; how 
weak even when willing to help; how more likely 
to add to, than relieve your distress; if desirous 
to sympathize with and comfort you in trouble and 
sorrow, how short his arm to help, how unsatisfactory 
his aid to relieve! You find no rest there. 

You lean upon the WORLD—it is but a broken 
reed which runs into your hand and pierces you. 
You find no rest there. 

So look where you will, there is no rest for the 
sole of your foot. 

But there is a rest. Our blessed Lord says, ‘Come to
Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, 
and I will give you rest.’ (Matthew 11:28)” ~J.C. Philpot

Journey's End

John 14:2

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” 

I have come to the last stage of my life’s journey. The memories of the painful past may have left countless scars but they don’t hurt anymore. They are meant by God for me to show His divine healing in His own appointed time. For without those wounds there would be nothing to heal, there would be no revelation of His amazing grace.

The gift of His grace of salvation through the death of His Son Jesus has blotted it all: the sins and temptations, the mourning and bereavements, the burdens and perplexities. 
My sins have been forgiven, my everlasting Friend and Comforter is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and all the answers to my questions have been found in His Word.

I am at my journey’s end. At my old age, my God has proven His faithfulness.The present may still be gloomy and life may still be full of vexations but it will not be for long.for glorious rest is at the horizon. There is an end to this wilderness journey for the sojourner like me. I am going home and my home is a celestial home not made by hands. It is my Father’s house that He promised to prepare for me.

"In that blessed region of delight, 
The saints no sin nor sorrow feel, 
Eternal day excludes the night,
And all possess the spirit's seal. 
The ransomed soul in glory clad, 
Shines brighter than meridian sun; 
The weary pilgrim, now so sad, 
There finds his toilsome journey done." ~David Harsha

“All the complicated afflictions of time 
must disappear when time is no more. Why, 
then, take deep concern, or heavy sorrow; or 
much joy, or lasting delight--at the ill or good 
of the few flying moments on our journey to 
eternity? My soul is immortal, and God is eternal. 
Therefore in God below, and in God above, in 
God in time, and in God in eternity--shall my 
soul find boundless pleasures and unfading bliss!” ~James Meikle

THE PILGRIM'S SONG.
My rest is in Heaven, my rest is not here, 
Then why should I murmur when trials are near? 
Be hushed, my dark spirit, the worst that can come 
But shortens my journey, and hastens me home.

It is not for me to be seeking my bliss,
And building my hopes in a region like this
I look for a city which hands have not piled;
I pant for a country by sin undefiled.

The thorn and the thistle around me may grow;
I would not lie down upon roses below;
I ask not my portion, I seek not my rest,
Until I find them forever in Jesus' breast.

Afflictions may damp me, they cannot destroy;
One glimpse of His love, turns them all into joy;
And the bitterest tears, if He smiles but on them,
Like dew in the sunshine, turn diamond or gem.

Let doubt, then, and danger my progress oppose,
They only make Heaven more sweet at the close;
Come joy, or come sorrow, whatever may befall,
An hour with my God will make up for it all.

A bag on my back, and a staff in my hand,
I march on in haste through an enemy's land!
The road may be rough, but it cannot be long,
I'll smooth it with hope, and I'll cheer it with song.

Sublime Antidote

Titus 2:13

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” 

Afflictions were considered heavy burdens and unreasonable, worthless, and meaningless sufferings in the days of our youth, when we were yet to be quickened by the Holy Spirit. In times of sorrow all we wanted then was to be relieved from our predicaments, to be delivered from the difficulties of life, and go back to our daily preoccupations. As we grow old we work to make a living; raise a family, save for the future, and on the side, “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”

That was life back then; we never understood what it was all about, and we never cared to ask and look for answers.

But being predestined by God to be co-heirs of His begotten Son, Jesus through His death, He saved us at His appointed time and place. From being dead in trespasses and sins, the Holy Spirit quickened us “imparting a new life, infusing new thoughts, and producing new desires in our souls.” (James Smith)

Having quickened us, He conquered us, “subduing the enmity in our hearts, the obstinacy of our will, the worldliness of our affections, and bringing every thought into subjection to the obedience of Christ.” (James Smith)

Having been quickened, we have begun to consider our afflictions as trials God sees fit to send us. Our tears and bereavements have become meaningful to us, as they are the thorns we tread on while we walk towards our glorious destiny. These afflictions purify us as fire purifies gold. “…when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 33:10)

Through the stony, thorny, perilous journey, we fix our eyes on Jesus. We hold on to that blessed hope. With joyful anticipation, we watch, and we wait. We wait patiently for what is before us: His glorious appearing. "But you who believe your Savior's word long for His coming, wait His approach, and are preparing to meet your God---happy are you: rejoice and be exceedingly glad. 'Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.' (1 John 3:2) 'When Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.' (Colossians 3:4)" (James Smith)

We also wait for the time when we shall say “farewell, sickness—welcome, perpetual health; farewell, sorrow—welcome, everlasting joy; farewell, sin—welcome, perfect purity; farewell, ignorance—welcome, perfect knowledge; farewell, desertion—welcome, the eternal presence of my God; farewell, death—welcome, everlasting life!” (James Smith)

Romans 8:25

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”