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A Short Sermon

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 30, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 44.

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A Short Sermon

By H. A. St. John

Death of Saints

H. A. ST. JOHN
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Ps. 116:15.
WHAT a beautiful, comforting expression of divine love is this. The same divine love gave Jesus to die. Jesus was precious to his Father, whether in life or in death. His preciousness was attested by a glorious resurrection, and a glorious exaltation. Although death is an enemy, it is the last enemy, and a conquered enemy. While under the power of death the saints are resting sweetly, their conflicts are all over. They are sleeping in Jesus, a “blessed sleep, from which none ever wake to weep.” They are resting in the everlasting arms. Precious, precious, O how precious, are these sleeping ones to our Heavenly Father no mortal ever can tell or know!
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13.
In all their labors of love for their Master, when they were alive, they were blessed. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit. . . . Blessed are they that mourn. . . . Blessed are the meek. . . . Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness. . . . Blessed are the merciful. . . . Blessed are the pure in heart. . . . Blessed are the peacemakers. . . . Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. . . . Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad.” Thus we see the saints have the blessing of God that maketh rich, in all the afflictions, trying conditions, walks and works of life; and then when their life-work is ended and they come to die, a voice from heaven says, “Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Truly we may say, Blessed are they who live in the Lord, who die in the Lord, who sleep in the Lord, who are made alive in and by the Lord; whose bodies are changed and fashioned like unto the Lord’s; who are caught up to meet the Lord, go home with the Lord, and so shall ever be with the Lord. Let us ever praise the Lord.
Sanitarium, Cal.