Blessed are the dead

This post was prompted by the news of a dear friend's dear mother passing away to be with her Lord. But death is in the news quite a lot, with COVID counts and Remembrance Day recently. It is held before our eyes as the ultimate disaster for a person, without a very clear understanding of why. The phrase 'blessed are the dead' seems absurd if not harsh and morbid. The opposite is true. Let M'Cheyne explain...

The world say, Blessed are the living; but God says, Blessed are the dead. The world judge of things by sense—as they outwardly appear to men; God judges of things by what they really are in themselves—He looks at things in their real colour and magnitude. The world says, “Better is a living dog than a dead lion.” The world look upon some of their families, coming out like a fresh blooming flower in the morning,—their cheeks covered with the bloom of health, their step bounding with the elasticity of youth,—riches and luxuries at their command,—long, bright summer days before them. The world says, “There is a happy soul.” God takes us into the darkened room, where some child of God lately dwelt. He points to the pale face where death sits enthroned, the cheek wasted by long disease, the eye glazed in death, the stiff hands clasped over the bosom, the friends standing weeping around, and He whispers in our ears, “Blessed are the dead.” Ah, dear friends, think a moment!—whether does God or you know best? Who will be found to be in the right at last? Alas, what a vain show you are walking in! Disquieted in vain. “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” Even God’s children sometimes say, “Blessed are the living.” It is a happy thing to live in the favour of God,—to have peace with God,—to frequent the throne of grace,—to burn the perpetual incense of praise,—to meditate on his word,—to hear the preached gospel,—to serve God; even to wrestle, and run, and fight in his service, is sweet. Still God says, “Blessed are the dead.” If it be happy to have his smile here, how much happier to have it without a cloud yonder! If it be sweet to be the growing corn of the Lord here, how much better to be gathered into his barn! If it be sweet to have an anchor within the veil, how much better ourselves to be there, where no gloom can come! In “thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Even Jesus felt this,—God attests it. “Blessed are the dead.”

Watch this video for a recent message about getting this blessedness... 

What M'Cheyne had to say is worth reading in full. It can be located in page 455 of a book you can get for free following this link or see pages below...  

Of penguins and lions

We've had a fairly calm 24 hours, thankfully. Pads has not talked again, but he had called out, especially when we try to move him. We're also keeping a close eye on his temperature, which has required paracetamol to control. It's impossible to work out the cause of these spikes.
It was great to see Pads' cousin Anwen yesterday, back from her reconstituted 'Oz experience', complete with jet lag and a gift for one of his school-mates. He and Padi share many interests, a love of penguins amongst them, and this sent Anwen in pursuit of a plush Fairy (or Little) penguin, native to Australia and New Zealand, in Sydney Zoo.

Little/Fairy Penguins

(image cc fir0002 http://flagstaffotos.com.au ). Sadly, Pads showed no signs of consciousness and it was hard to be confronted with such a dramatic change in the time she's been away. Anwen also spotted another kind of Lion, in the form of Brian O'Driscoll. The whole of the 3rd Test is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X97zh2ijEU The scale of that victory by the Lions was only comparible to Wales defeat of England recently, to claim the 6 Nations Championship. In both games, supporters could sit back for a large part of the second half and rejoice as their team continued to play 'out of their skins', watching the seconds tick down in delicious anticipation of the inevitable victory. If you hadn't guessed already, I can't resist alluding to this in connection with Padi's battle with cancer. Because there is yet another kind of lion, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, one of Christ's titles which our pastor preached about last Sunday (we have just started a YouTube channel where you can watch this sermon - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jvx2qO_f4o ). On one view of Padi's bed, death and disease seem to be the ones I with a vice-like grip on unfolding events. But that is not the whole story. We have One who is Almighty to save. With each passing moment, Christ's victory, a victory gained through apparent defeat on the cross, draws nearer because that victory is shared with all who call upon His Name. In His body, by His death and resurrection He abolished death for us and the scale of that victory is beyond anyone's powers of description. It behooves us to at least check any rising sadness and at least dart a glimpse towards a glorious outcome and a Wonderful Redeemer.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Paul in 1 Corinthians 15)

Dry your tears, ye that stand around the bed of the dying believer, the parting moment is almost at hand -- a cold damp is on the forehead -- the eye is fixed -- the pulse too feeble to be felt -- are you staggered at such a spectacle? Nay! let faith do its part! The chamber is crowded with glorious forms; angels are waiting there to take charge of the disembodied soul; a hand gentler than any human is closing those eyes; and a voice sweeter than any human is whispering -- "Surely the Lord giveth his beloved sleep." Henry Melvill (1798-1871), in a Sermon entitled "Death the Gift of God.", cited by Spurgeon in commenting upon Psalm 127. (Thanks to Daniel for providing this quote).