Triumphant Songs of Faith in View of Death. 

"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"1 Corinthians 15:57

The confession o f the Christian Church, “ I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting,” is the doctrine of the Old Testament as well as that of the New. One of the most brilliant of the numerous gems of the Old Testament giving testi­ mony to this fact is the triumphant song, Job 19, 25—27: “I know that my Redeemer liveth and that He shall stand at the Latter Day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” Job looks beyond death, grave, and decay and beholds the Redeemer and His work, the day of the resurrection of the body and eternal bliss.

Another such triumphant song of faith in view of death is that of aged Simeon, Luke 2, 39: “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.” What made Simeon so ready to die? It was this: he saw Jesus with the eye of faith as his Salvation prepared by God. Therefore he rejoiced to depart and to enjoy that salvation. 

If we see our salvation in Christ Jesus, then, then alone, but then surely, we can depart in peace. Why? Because this Christ Jesus has removed everything which could separate us from God. Sin was a partition-wall between God and us; but here is the Lamb of God, which taketh away our sin. The Law of God accursed us, hell and everlasting death laid claim upon us; but here is the Son of God, who fulfilled the Law in our stead, ransomed us from the power of the grave, and redeemed us from eternal death. How blessed are we Christians by the grace o f G o d ! We must die, but our death is but a sleep, upon which follows an awakening. Then we shall triumphantly shout: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Then all those who believed in their Redeemer in this life shall see Him as He is and enjoy His presence forevermore.

Prayer.

I pray Thee, O Father of grace, so to rule and guide me with Thy holy and good Spirit that I may wholly consecrate myself to Thee for the remaining days of my life, by a Christian walk, by prayer and supplication. And grant to me ever more a state of Christian readiness, so that, whether the time of my departure has been set by Thee for to-day or for some other day, my end may be as peaceful as Simeon’s of old, and that, on departing this life, I may enter life eternal. Amen.