Morning, April 20
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Hebrews 2:14
"That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death."
Hebrews 2:14
O child of God, death hath lost its sting, because the devil's power
over it is destroyed. Then cease to fear dying. Ask grace from God the
Holy Ghost, that by an intimate knowledge and a firm belief of thy
Redeemer's death, thou mayst be strengthened for that dread hour.
Living near the cross of Calvary thou mayst think of death with
pleasure, and welcome it when it comes with intense delight. It is
sweet to die in the Lord: it is a covenant-blessing to sleep in Jesus.
Death is no longer banishment, it is a return from exile, a going home
to the many mansions where the loved ones already dwell. The distance
between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems
great; but it is not so. We are not far from home--a moment will bring
us there. The sail is spread; the soul is launched upon the deep. How
long will be its voyage? How many wearying winds must beat upon the
sail ere it shall be reefed in the port of peace? How long shall that
soul be tossed upon the waves before it comes to that sea which knows
no storm? Listen to the answer, "Absent from the body, present with the
Lord." Yon ship has just departed, but it is already at its haven. It
did but spread its sail and it was there. Like that ship of old, upon
the Lake of Galilee, a storm had tossed it, but Jesus said, "Peace, be
still," and immediately it came to land. Think not that a long period
intervenes between the instant of death and the eternity of glory. When
the eyes close on earth they open in heaven. The horses of fire are not
an instant on the road. Then, O child of God, what is there for thee to
fear in death, seeing that through the death of thy Lord its curse and
sting are destroyed? and now it is but a Jacob's ladder whose foot is
in the dark grave, but its top reaches to glory everlasting.