John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. Sir Philip Sidney when on his death-bed reviewed the reasons upon which we base our hope of a conscious existence hereafter. First, he had related to him the arguments adduced by heathen philosophers, and then the declarations and promises to be found in Holy Scripture. When the dim light yielded by the former source brightened into the glorious daylight of Christian revelation, the dying hero's mind was satisfied, and he died in hope of life immortal. Upon the decease of dear friends, upon the approach of age, nay, often in the silence of the night, the question comes before our mind - Shall we live hereafter? Christianity alone can give a clear and satisfactory answer to this question. And that answer does not take the form of argument. But our religion teaches us to connect our individual prospects with our Divine Redeemer, and with our personal relation to him. Jesus himself teaches us to do this, and nowhere more succinctly and effectively than in these words: "Because I live, ye shall live also." I. THE GROUND OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS IN THE LIFE OF THE LORD HIMSELF. 1. The true life of the Savior was not suspended by his death upon the cross. 2. Its continuance was manifested by the glorious resurrection from the dead of him over whom death had no power. 3. Christ's life is revealed in the apocalyptic vision as powerful and benevolent, he spake as the one Being who had known death only to vanquish it, and who had the keys of death and of the unseen world. 4. The means and the power of the spiritual life are provided by wisdom and the loving kindness of the living Lord. The outpouring of the Spirit is the life of the Church. II. THE LIFE OF CHRISTIANS IS ACCORDINGLY AKIN TO THAT OF THEIR LORD. 1. By "life" here and elsewhere in Scripture we are not to understand the mere continuance of being or even of consciousness, which would be an interpretation very derogatory to our Lord, but the life or the sensitiveness and energy of the spiritual nature. 2. This life partakes in the moral qualities of him from whom it is derived. Even in the physical realm the life which is derivative partakes of the character of its origin. As Christ lives in holiness, in wisdom, and in love, it is reasonably to be believed that such attributes of spiritual life are reflected in the character of Christ's people. And this is actually the case; the "notes" or symptoms of the Christian life are not to be mistaken. III. THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS THE IMMORTAL LIFE. in a memorable conversation which our Savior held with the Sadducees, this great principle was plainly asserted: "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him." Through Christ, those who believe on him, and live in fellowship with him, share the life of God, and are partakers of the highest kind of immortality. As surely as Christ lives, who purchased his people with his blood, laying down his life that their life might be hid with him in God, so surely they shall be delivered from the death which is the doom of the unbelieving and the ungodly. Jesus says to us as we pursue the walk of faith - and the words reach our ears like music in the darkness of earth's night - "I will see you again." And our hearts, cheered and emboldened by the promise, reply in loving confidence, in exulting aspiration and hope, "We shall see him as he is." "If my immortal Savior lives, Then my immortal life is sure: His Word a firm foundation gives; Here let me build and rest secure." Parallel Verses KJV: Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. |
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