The Bright Side

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A CHRISTIAN man went into a lawyer’s office in the city to transact some business. He was asked to take away with him some deeds and was told he could make the necessary payment later.
“No,” he said, “I won’t take them until I have paid the money. I might be with the Lord tonight.”
“Oh,” said the lawyer, “you need not look on the gloomy side of things!”
“The gloomy side!” he exclaimed. “I’m looking at the bright side. If I were to be run over and killed tight I should immediately go to be with the Lord.”
And so he would have done, for he was a truly saved man and the Bible says, of such “to die is gain,” and “to depart, and to be with Christ;... is far better.” Phil. 1:21, 2321For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23).
But the proper hope of the Christian is not death but the return of the Lord Jesus. If called upon to die the believer can say, “we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Cor. 5:11For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1). But then those who believe may not die at all, for the Apostle Paul also wrote: “We which are alive and rain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep.... the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:15-1715For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑17).
ML-10/27/1963