See the great difference between the death of the godly and the wicked. The godly are great gainers at death—but the wicked are great losers at death. They lose four things:
(1.) They lose the WORLD; and that is a great loss to the wicked. They laid up their treasure upon earth, and to be turned out of it all at once is a great loss.
(2.) They lose their SOULS. Matt 16:26, 27. The soul was at first a noble piece of coin, upon which God stamped his own image. This celestial spark is more precious than the whole globe of the world; but the sinner’s soul is lost: not that the souls of the wicked are annihilated at death—but tormented.
(3.) They lose HEAVEN. Heaven is the royal seat of the blessed; it is the region of happiness, the map of perfection. There is the manna which is angels’ food; there is the garden of spices, the bed of perfumes, the river of pleasure. Sinners at death, lose all these.
(4.) They lose all HOPE. Though they lived wickedly, they hoped God would be merciful, and they hoped they would go to heaven. Their hope was not an anchor—but a spider’s web. At death they lose their hopes, and see they did but flatter themselves into hell. “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider’s web.” Job 8:13-14. It is dreadful to have life and hope cut off together! “The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked are all in vain.” Proverbs 10:28. “When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes.” Proverbs 11:7. “The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.” Proverbs 11:23.
If saints gain such glorious things at death, well may they desire it. Does not everyone desire happiness? No one is content before his death. Faith gives a title to heaven; death gives the possession of heaven. Though we should be desirous of doing service here—yet we should be ambitious of being with Christ. “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!” Phil 1:23. We should be content to live—but willing to die. Is it not a blessed thing to be freed from sin, and to lie forever in the bosom of divine love? Is it not a blessed thing to meet our godly relations in heaven, and to be singing divine anthems of praise among the angels? Does not the bride desire the marriage day, especially if she has the prospect of a crown? What is the place we now live in—but a place of banishment from God? We are in a wilderness! Here on earth, we are combating with Satan—should we not desire to be out of the bloody field, where the bullets of temptation fly fast—and receive a victorious crown? Think what it will be, to have always a smiling look from Christ’s face! to be brought into the banqueting-house, and have the banner of his love displayed over us! O you saints, desire death; it is your ascension-day to heaven.
Said Hilarion on his death-bed, “Go forth, my soul, Go forth!” Another holy man said, “Lord, lead me to that glory which I have seen as through a dark glass; hasten, Lord, and do not tarry!” Some plants thrive best when they are transplanted. Just so, believers, when transplanted by death, cannot but thrive, because they have Christ’s sunbeams shining upon them. What though the passage through the valley of the shadow of death is troublesome! who would not be willing to pass a tempestuous sea, if he were sure to be crowned as soon as he came to shore?
We may here find comfort in the loss of dear and pious relations. They are not only taken away from the evil to come—but are great gainers by death. They leave a wilderness, and go to a paradise! They change their complaints into thanksgivings! They leave their sorrows behind, and enter into the joy of their Lord! Why should we weep for their happiness? Believers have not their portion paid to them, until the day of their death. God’s promise is his bond to give heaven to them; but though they have his bond, they do not receive their portion until the day of death. Oh! rejoice to think of the happiness of those who die in the Lord. To them “to die is gain.” They are as rich as heaven can make them!
Hope is a Christian’s anchor, which he casts within the veil. “Rejoicing in hope.” A Christian’s hope is not in this life—but he “has hope in his death.” The best of a saint’s comfort, begins when his life ends; but the wicked have all their heaven here. “What sorrows await you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now!” Luke 6:24. You may make your acquittance, and write “Received in full payment.” “Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things.” But a saint’s happiness is in the anticipation of heavenly glory. “The righteous has hope in his death.” God keeps the best wine until last. If Cato, the heathen, said, “To me to die is gain,” as he saw death to be a mercy; what, then, may a believer say! “The day of death is better than the day of one’s birth.” A queen of England said she preferred her coffin before her cradle.
Thomas Watson. A Body of Divinity.
