A Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson, A Believer’s Privilege At Death

http://www.fivesolas.com/watson/privileg.htm ^ | Unknown | Thomas Watson

[jodyel]

A Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson

A Believer’s Privilege At Death

'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’ Phil 1: 21.

Hope is a Christian's anchor, which he casts within the veil. 'Rejoicing in hope.' Rom 12: 12. A Christian’s hope is not in this life, but he 'hash hope in his death.’ Prov 14: 32. The best of a saint’s comfort begins when his life ends; but the wicked have all their heaven here. 'Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.’ Luke 6: 24. You may make your acquittance, and write 'Received in full payment.' 'Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things.' Luke 16: 25. But a saint's happiness is in reversion. 'The righteous has hope in his death.' God keeps the best wine till last. If Cato, the heathen, said, 'To me to die is gain:’ he saw mortality to be a mercy: what, then, may a believer say! 'The day of death is better than the day of one’s birth.’ Eccl 7: 1: A queen of this land said she preferred her coffin before her cradle.

[Hacksaw]

Possibly, only God can reveal truth to him but I am still called to tell it.

I think we should leave that to God. Do the right thing, treat others with respect, and we will all be fine in the long run.

[jodyel]

Well, that is not what a believer is called to do...we are called to preach Christ and not sit passively by when we see others in error. Whether they listen and hear and turn away from their error is left to God.

Believers are obligated to speak out.

I have treated no one with disrespect...only spoken the truth.

Thanks for your reply,
jodyel

[mlizzy]

They are my life and my heart and looking at all the sweetness surrounding me from them makes my heart very glad!

I hope you are close enough in proximity that they can visit their loving ♥ auntie. Being a mom is great, but being an aunt is super duper... :) [I was a much more patient aunt than mother.]

[jodyel]

One sis has 6 kids and they moved to New Mexico a couple of years ago...other than one trip back home I have not seen them since but we talk on the phone. I miss them like crazy!

The other sis has 4 ranging in age from 17 to 2. I see them as much as I can but that is not often with school and sports activities...they are pretty booked up.

My other sis has a 21-year old so I rarely see him. I have a pic of him when he was maybe 6 months old sitting in a bucket with a rubber duck and a wash cloth and soap...and of course he is naked as he can be....and it is a huge print. Sis gave me the biggest one and he hates it! Places it face down whenever he does come over.

But I don’t care....I have wiped their faces and their behinds and toted them hither and yon and loved it all and want to remember those times. Also, have one of those photo strips that you get taken in those booths of me and the same nephew tucked in my bible. I have been praying and beseeching the Lord on behalf of every one of these kids since before they were born.

I would love to see a lot more of all of them but families disperse and go their way as the kids get older. But I don’t mind so much as I know we will all be together one day with the Lord in heaven. I pray for the circle (of my family) to be unbroken. Do you know the hymn?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_the_Circle_Be_Unbroken%3F

There are loved ones in the glory[1]
Whose dear forms you often miss.
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss?

CHORUS:

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
Is a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?

In the joyous days of childhood
Oft they told of wondrous love
Pointed to the dying Saviour;
Now they dwell with Him above.

(Chorus)

You remember songs of heaven
Which you sang with childish voice.
Do you love the hymns they taught you,
Or are songs of earth your choice?

(Chorus)

You can picture happy gath’rings
Round the fireside long ago,
And you think of tearful partings
When they left you here below.

(Chorus)

One by one their seats were emptied.
One by one they went away.
Now the family is parted.
Will it be complete one day?

[mlizzy]

Yes, indeed! Good song. I don't like when families move apart, though. I'd like them to stay in the same vicinity, but realize it's not always possible. Fortunately, my birth family lives close by (except for one sis), BUT we are a dysfunctional family or so said the Lutheran minister--from the pulpit!!--at my mother's funeral service, so it's sort of like we are distanced regardless.

Our own kids, however, all live in the same-ish area, which we're real happy about, but as you said, we'll all [hopefully] end up together eventually anyway... :)