In this world there are few things about which I can speak with absolute certainty. But I know this - I am a dying man. The fatal disease is already in my body. I must die. Though I am a relatively young man, my body is wearing out. Every day I am reminded of it. This earthly house, this tabernacle of clay, must be dissolved.
As much as I have loved and over-loved this body, I must leave it to the grave. There it must lie and rot in darkness as a neglected and hateful thing. These eyes must see no more. These hands must move no more. These feet must walk no more. This tongue must speak no more. This body of my flesh must become a feast for loathesome worms. From the dust it came, and to the dust it must return; earth to earth, water to water, air to air, ashes to ashes. This is the fruit of my sin. But, thank God, this body is only my shell, my tabernacle, my tent, my clothing, and not myself!
DEATH IS SEPARATION FROM THE BODY. It must come. But it will be a welcome separation. It will be a separation from a troublesome and hateful companion. Death is like taking off a shoe that hurts my feot. It will be a welcome relief. To put this body aside will be like laying aside a worn-out tool, when all its work is done. It will be the dismissing of a servant whose service is no longer required.
THIS BODY HAS BEEN MY GREATEST ENEMY. It has caused me pain, and toil, and sorrow. It has required my constant care and attention. I will be glad to put it aside. I know by long experience that this body of flesh has been a painful lodging for my soul. "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" WHEN I AM FREE FROM THIS BODY I WILL BE FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION AMD THE PRISON OF SIN. By reason of sin dwelling within me, this body has become mortal, beastly, and vile. This body was created perfect. Had it never known sin, it would have been immortal, it would have never known death. But since the fall of our father Adam, the human body has become a decaying, dying, mortal body of sin. This is what I am saying - SOMEHOW, WE MUST LEARN TO TREAT THIS BODY AS A PERISHING THING. I do not mean that we should be wreckless about our health. That would be a great evil. But I do mean that we spend far too much time, care, and money pampering, soothing, and gratifying this body. Soon, very soon, it must rot in the grave. IT IS YOUR SOUL THAT IS IMPORTANT. "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world (for the comfort of his body), and lose his own soul?" "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
BUT WHEN DEATH COMES TO THIS BODY OF MINE, IT WILL BE A WELCOME RELEASE FOR MY SOUL. As a believer, united to Christ by faith, death is a happy prospect for me. I am redeemed by the blood of Christ, robed in his righteousness, and saved by his grace. For me, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." "To die is gain." I have no reason to fear death, because the Lord Jesus Christ died for me, satisfying the wrath of God in my place, as my Substitute. He has put away my sin, and made me righteous and accepted before God. "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." No sooner shall I close my eyes in death than I shall awake in the presence of my Redeemer, who loved me and gave himself for me. "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
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