In a well-known country town in England is a secluded cemetery. In one corner of it fully a dozen tombstones tell the story that a group of those who have been laid to rest there have “fallen asleep in Christ.”
Their happy spirits are already with Him, while their bodies lie there in His safe keeping, waiting the wonderful moment when He will awaken them Himself and take them to be with Him forever.
Among that group there is a tiny grave. The stone that marks the spot is a good deal disfigured by time, but the words engraved upon it can still be read. They run as follows: WILLIE ARTHUR,
Died April 3rd, 1890
Aged 4 years,
saying as he departed, “I’ll sing glory, glory, forever and ever.”
In the same cemetery — not fifty yards distant — is another grave, not of a child, but an old man. His life covered a span of eighty years and underneath the name is engraved the following text of scripture:
Death is busy among the young as well as the old, and it is probable that your age lies somewhere between that of the little boy and the old man.
The little boy, although only four years of age, evidently knew the Lord Jesus, and was looking forward with the greatest joy to being with Him, and mingling his voice with the myriads in heaven singing “glory, glory,” to Jesus forever and ever.
The old man, after proving the faithful love of God for eighty years could say as he was departing, “I am dying, but thank God, I can see the other side as clearly as noonday.”
I wonder whether the reader has this same joy!
ML 12/03/1961