"Jesus Is Precious, Jesus Is Precious."

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MOST people live for the present; “things seen and temporal” occupy the mind, the “unseen” and “eternal things” have but little, if any, place in their thoughts. What treasures they have are here, they have nothing beyond, and thoughts of leaving this scene and meeting God are unwelcome, and only tend to render them wretched.
Such are like J. G., the C―butcher, who, when asked by a fellow-passenger in a railway carriage, “J., what about your sins? How are you going to meet God?” replied with great emotion, “I cannot meet God, oh! I cannot meet Him.” “But, J., you must meet Him.” Again, while his powerful frame seemed convulsed, he said, “Oh! I cannot meet Him. I cannot meet God.” Poor J., in this he had no choice, for within three weeks from that date he went into the presence of God (I am afraid unprepared), and did meet Him. Solemn thought!
What a contrast to all this was the case of Mrs. B., the subject of the following narrative: ―Her title to heaven was clear, her treasure was there and her heart also. She longed to be there herself to see the face of Him, “whom not having seen she lowed,” and though she suffered much bodily pain from congestion of the lungs, would frequently repeat the words at the head of this paper, “Jesus is precious, Jesus is precious. I soon shall see His face and be like Him.”
What think you, dear reader, was the ground of this confidence? Was it her morality, uprightness, and honesty? She had all this, and much more; but had it been the ground of her hope, it would have been a foundation of sand, and would certainly have given way. But she had rested her soul on that work which Christ accomplished on the cross, wherein He perfectly glorified God and bare our sins. The empty sepulcher is the proof to us that the work is accepted. God raised him from the dead, and faith in this gives peace with God (Rom. 4:25, 525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). This was the sure foundation on which she built her hopes for time and eternity, and thus it was she was enabled to triumph in view of her departure. She had found peace and satisfaction in Him, and with joy and singing waited the moment when she should be with Him.
She said to the doctor, a day or two before she departed, “You always told me, doctor, that I should get better, but I am going home to glory. Are you going?” “I hope to,” was the reply. “It is useless hoping about it, doctor. You are either bound for glory or the place where their worm dieth not, and where the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:4444Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:44)). Solemn thought! There is nothing between the brightest glory and the blackness and darkness in the fathomless depth of the “Lake of Fire,” and each individual member of Adam’s fallen race is either a glory-bound saint or a hell-bound sinner. Reader, which are you?
We do not set much value upon that which is merely visionary, and would be wary of what may appear imaginative; yet we do think that some get glimpses into the unseen ere they enter.
One evening she said, “I have had such a nice time with Him this afternoon. I saw His hands and feet as if they had been nailed to the tree, and oh! the crowns, the beautiful crowns upon His head.” Then she would have us sing that little hymn commencing―
“We know there’s a bright and a glorious home,
Away in the heavens high,
Where all the redeemed shall with Jesus dwell,
But will you be there, and I?”
The last words she uttered here were, “Give me sway, let me go. I long to see His face and to be with Him.” Thus she departed, and was “absent from the body, present with the Lord.”
She had been “given away” before by her beloved father (who is also with the Lord) to form a relationship which, while happy in itself, was only for time. Now she calls upon the one to whom she was thus given to “give her away” to the One with whom, on the ground of His death and resurrection, she had a new and eternal relationship. Precious portion! blessed prospect! Well might she say, “Let me go.”
And now, dear reader, how do matters stand with you? If suddenly called into the presence of God, would your portion be that of Mrs. B., or the butcher? Perhaps you say, like one of old, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his” (Num. 23:1010Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! (Numbers 23:10)), but like that same one you may not care to live the life of the righteous, for we read of his end shortly after this in company with the enemies of God (Num. 31:88And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. (Numbers 31:8)), and you may wish to have your fling at pleasure here, and then go to heaven when you die, because you don’t want to go to hell. But you must be converted to enter heaven. The story of the cross may be no new story to you, but beware, I entreat you, lest you carry the precious truths of the gospel with you into the lake of fire, where they would certainly augment your pain forever. Let me entreat you, as one who loves you. Take sides with God against yourself, and decide for Christ now. The work is finished, and God is satisfied, and so may you be. This dear woman could say, “Jesus is precious. I am going home to glory.” She had rested her soul upon that which another did for her, and she was saved and satisfied, and you will be if you accept Christ as your substitute. He has fully met the claims of God’s throne, and glorified Him about the question of sin, and as the poet says―
“Payment my God will not twice demand,
First at my bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine.”