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THE CHANGE THAT TAKES PLACE AT DEATH
“IS there not an appointed time to man upon earth [Note: Job_7:1.]?” Yes, there is: the time for every man’s entrance into the world, and the time for his continuance in it, are fixed by Almighty God, from whose hand we come, and by whose hand alone we are upheld. Successive generations arise, and are swept away, like the foliage, which by revolving seasons is produced and destroyed. But in this the illustration fails: “for there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground, yet, through the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant: but man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, “man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” “As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up; so man lieth down, and riseth not, till the heavens be no more [Note: ver. 7–12.].” The change at death is complete: and, therefore, whether a man be elated with joys or depressed with sorrows, it becomes him to look forward to that period, when all present things shall have passed away, and an eternity, an unalterable eternity, shall commence. In the prospect of this period, Job consoled himself under his accumulated sorrows; and determined to wait with patience all the days of his appointed time, till this change should come.
It will be profitable to consider,
I. What is that change that awaits us all—
The voice of inspiration tells us, “It is appointed unto men once to die; and after that the judgment.” Now, the change that takes place in death is,
1. Great—
[That which passes upon the body we can in some measure appreciate; because we see before our eyes the frame, which but lately exhibited the loveliest evidences of creative wisdom, despoiled of all its powers, and reduced to the lowest state of degradation and deformity.
But who can estimate the change which death produces on the soul? Who can form any adequate idea of its views and feelings in a disembodied state? Respecting it we know little more than that it exists: of the mode of its existence, or the nature of its operations, or the extent of its powers, we have no means of judging. That it is in a state of inconceivable happiness or misery, indeed, we have no doubt: but all beyond that is mere conjecture. This, however, sufficiently warrants us to affirm, that the change which takes place in death is great.
It is also,]
2. Momentous—
[It is a transition, not only from the use of means to the absence of all means, but from a state of probation to a state of retribution. Here we can read the word of God, and hear it from God’s appointed ministers. Here we can draw nigh to God in prayer, and implore mercy at his hands, and plead his great and precious promises, and flee for refuge to the hope that is set before us. In our present state there is “a cloud of witnesses,” surveying all our motions, and, with affectionate solicitude, panting for our success [Note: Heb_12:1.]. God himself is watching over us, and saying, “How shall I give thee up [Note: Hos_11:8.]?” “Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be [Note: Jer_13:27.]?” But the very instant that the soul departs from the body, its state is fixed; all opportunities of promoting its welfare are terminated [Note: Ecc_9:10.]; and a sentence of happiness or misery is awarded to it, according to what it has done in the body during the period of its existence here.
The awfulness of this change is yet further increased by the consideration of its being,]
3. Permanent—
[True it is, indeed, that the body shall undergo a further change; because it will be raised again, to participate the lot which had been previously assigned to the soul. But, from the instant of its dissolution, its doom was fixed; and to all eternity will it remain an heir of happiness or woe. Conceive now the soul and body exalted to the throne of God, to enjoy all his blessedness and glory; or cast down to hell, to endure all the terrors of his wrath! Conceive its state irreversibly and unalterably fixed, so that, when millions of ages shall have rolled on, it shall be no nearer a termination than at its commencement! In what a view does this exhibit the change that shall take place at death! Truly, this is a subject which deserves the deepest consideration, and which, above all others, ought to operate with the greatest force upon our minds.]
Let us consider,
II. Our duty in reference to it—
We should continually look forward to that change, and “wait” for it in a state,
1. Of patient expectation—
[When trouble comes upon us, we are apt to feel impatience, and are ready, like Elijah, to pray that “God would take away our life.” Many, alas! proceed even to the extremity of terminating their lives by suicide: and I cannot but think that the act of suicide would be still more common, if the dread of an hereafter did not operate to produce a submission to present ills, as, upon the whole, a preferable alternative. But we should bear in mind, that “the number of our days is determined” of the Lord; that they are continually drawing to a close; that, in a little time, our afflictions, how great soever they may at present be, will come to a close; and, consequently, like persons waiting for the morning, we should submit with patience to the evils of the night.]
2. Of diligent preparation—
[The present is the only time for securing happiness in the eternal world. Now, therefore, every hour should be improved for that end. Whatever talents have been committed to us, we should employ them so as to give a good account of them at last. If we have but one talent, we should not hide it in a napkin, but turn it to the best account that we are able; that so our Divine Master may, at his coming, receive his own with usury.]
Let this subject teach us,
1. The folly of ambition—
[What if we possessed all that the world could give? We might speedily, like Job, be dispossessed of all, or be rendered incapable of enjoying it. At all events, the instant our “change” comes, we must resign it all, and go naked out of the world, even as naked as we came into it. Who, that reflects on this, does not see that vanity is inscribed on all created good?]
2. The wisdom of true piety—
[Piety is that which alone will profit us in the eternal world: and the effects of that remain unchangeable for evermore. Know, then, that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do thereafter: the praise of it endureth for ever.”]