There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. In “Pilgrim’s Progress”, Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, “To prevent drowsiness in this place - let us fall into good discourse.” Christian enquired, “Brother, where shall we begin?” And Hopeful answered, “Where God began with us.” Then Christian sang this song, “When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither; and hear how these two pilgrims talk together. Yes, let them learn of them, in any wise - thus to keep open their drowsy slumbering eyes. Saints’ fellowship, if it is managed well - keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.”
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Every person struggles with the thought of dying. The non-Christian’s rationale is: “To live is self, to die is loss.” But the apostle Paul described the Christian’s perspective: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philp. 1: 21). Death brings immediate gain to the Christian. “Negatively, he is free from indwelling sin, temptation, weakness of the flesh, suffering, sorrow, persecution, and a temporary decaying body. Positively, he gains Christ’s personal presence, his inheritance, the kingdom, a body like Christ’s, and perfection in holiness” – W E Best.
Magnifying Christ by life or by death
Seemingly in a dilemma, the apostle confessed: “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philp. 1: 23).
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Every living thing in this perishing world decays and dies. The day will come when it is our turn to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” All earthly comforts flee as we take our last breath and part with possessions and loved ones. How vain and foolish, therefore, to tenaciously cling on to the things of the earth. How important to secure an interest in that heavenly inheritance which shall never fade away.
In their epistles, the apostles constantly reminded their readers of the temporal nature of their earthly life. In II Corinthians 5: 1, the apostle Paul used the phrase, “our earthly house of this tabernacle” to illustrate our frail, mortal body. He compared the body of a believer to an earthly house, “because such buildings consist of slight and mean materials, they are soon set up, and as soon taken down” – William Burkitt’s Expository Notes. Anticipating his impending execution, the apostle Peter earnestly sought to motivate the believers to spiritual diligence: “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance” (II Pet. 1: 14-15).
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Last Updated: 27 February 2012
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Death is an unwelcome visitor to any home; he calls uninvited, without prior notice of time or place. “Life will fall before a touch, a breath. Justinian, an emperor of Rome, died by going into a room which had been newly painted. A consul struck his foot against his own threshold, and his foot mortified, so that he died thereby” - C H Spurgeon.
Death is the “King of Terrors” which everyone must meet some day. “A man has no power to adjourn the day of his death, nor can he by prayers or bribes obtain a reprieve; no bail will be taken, no essoine (excuse), protection, or imparlance (conference), allowed” – Matthew Henry.
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I was talking to a Christian brother recently concerning the stress and strains of life: “Well, we get by day to day. Anyway, God has built us to last ‘threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength … fourscore years’” (Ps. 90: 10).
Job, the old patriarch, spoke these wise words: “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1: 21). All must die - some at an old age, others in their youth. Death happens to kings and nobles, the poor beggar on the street as well as the common working people. Notwithstanding, death is no respecter of persons or status.
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Pastoral Exhortation 
Written by Rev E M Wee
