Job 14:10 But man dies, and wastes away: yes, man gives up the ghost, and where is he? The certainty of the general truth referred to in our text, "Man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost." And then we shall take up the concluding inquiry, "And where is he?" Now, the words translated "man" are different. There are two different words to express man in the original. The first properly means a mighty man: the second is Adam, man of the earth; implying that the mighty man dieth and wasteth away, — yea, man because he is of earth giveth up the ghost. It is quite unnecessary to attempt any proof of the solemn truth that man dieth. You all know that you must die. Yet how often does a man's conduct give a denial to his conviction. Hence it is needful for the ministers of the Gospel frequently to bring forward truths which are familiar to our minds, but which on that very account are apt to be little regarded. We are not unwilling to feel that others must die, but we are indisposed to bring the same conclusion home to ourselves; and yet it is the law of our being. "It is appointed unto men once to die." The first breath we draw contains the germ of life and of destruction. The stem of human nature has never yet put forth a flower without a canker at the bud, or a worm at its heart. Why is this? "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." It is of the greatest importance for us all to know that through the infinite merits of our gracious Redeemer the power of death has been broken and subdued, and the sting of death which is sin has been extracted, and thus may death become not an enemy but a welcome friend to introduce us to new, to holy, to immortal life. There are a thousand different ways by which mortals are hurried hence the lingering disease, the rapid fever, the devouring flames, the devastating tempest. But now our text suggests to us an important inquiry, "And where is he?" You must at once see that this is a question of the last importance to you and to me. We ought to be able to answer it. What has become of him? A short time since he was here in health and vigour, but where is he now? Where shall we seek for information on this interesting point? Shall we turn to some of our modern philosophers? Alas, they will afford but poor comfort! They will probably answer, "Why, he is no more; he is as though he had never been." And do all the boasted discoveries of the present age which refuse to believe in the annihilation of matter, tend to raise our hopes no higher than annihilation for the soul? Shall we ask the Romanist, "Where is he?" We shall be told he is in a state of purgatory, from whence, after having endured a sufficient degree of fiery punishment and after a sufficient number of masses have been said on his behalf, he will be delivered and received into heaven. Truly it may be said of all such, "miserable comforters are ye all." Revelation alone can cherish and support in us a hope of glory hereafter. It replies to our inquiry thus, "The dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it." Accordingly we are exhorted to "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Now these passages are sufficient to show that the body and soul in man are distinct, the one from the other, and that while the one is in the grave mingling its dust with the clods of the valley, the other is in eternity, in happiness or misery. We therefore now ask your attention to the Word of God for an answer to the inquiry, "Where is he?" And here we must observe that however different individuals may appear to their fellow men, yet the Scriptures divide all mankind into two classes only, those who serve God, and those who serve Him not. Hence the reply given to the inquiry will have distinct reference to one or other of these classes. With respect to the question as relating to the righteous, "Where is he?" the Bible comforts us with the cheering answer, that absent from the body he is present with the Lord. "For we know," says the apostle, "that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord." In accordance with this representation was our Lord's promise to the penitent thief, "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." "Where are the righteous?" In that happy place with the spirits of just men made perfect, waiting for the glorious time when the whole redeemed family shall be gathered in to celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb. "I go to prepare a place for you," said the Saviour, "and I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am there ye may be also." "So shall we ever be with the Lord." But then there is another class — the wicked, the impenitent. Where is he? The Scriptures afford a sad, though not less faithful answer. They inform us that "the wicked is driven away in his wickedness," — that "their condemnation slumbereth not." In order that we may bring the subject practically home to ourselves, let me put the question in a slightly altered form. Where are you now? What is your relation to God, and what preparation are you making for the period of death and judgment? We ask those who have never broken off their sins by true repentance and faith in Christ, where are you? Why, you are simply exposed to the vengeance of God's law, which you know you have broken a thousand times. If you die as you have lived, God's enemies — you must be condemned. You know that the Word of God says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." "The wages of sin is death." The Judge says, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." But I put the question, next, to those who seem to have got a step in advance, — who have heard the call to repentance, and are striving to forsake those sins which before had dominion over them. Where are you? It is a common deceit of Satan, when he sees that the sinner is really alarmed at his state and begins to cry to God for mercy, to persuade him that his altered life must needs be pleasing to God, and that his good deeds will certainly merit heaven for him. This is a delusion which I believe to be far more common than is supposed. People seem to think that by a moral life they are doing God service, forgetting that repentance is not the condition of our salvation, but faith. "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life," said our blessed Lord. "The wrath of God abideth on him." "He that believeth not is condemned already." "Oh, but," says one, "are we not to repent?" Assuredly! Repentance and a life of piety will be sure to be the necessary result of faith in Jesus as our Saviour. But, then, repentance can never undo a single sin you have committed, or pay the penalty of God's broken law. But come with me to a death bed or two, and we will put the question there, "Where is he?" A death bed is a detector of the heart. "Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die." No; the scene is then changed. The infidel then drops his mask. The hypocrite who through life has deceived himself and his fellow creatures, trembles as he draws near the valley of the shadow of death. Now, behold that pale emaciated wretch. That is the notorious infidel Thomas Paine. Where is he? He is dying, a victim of profligacy and of brandy. He is horrorstruck to be left alone for a minute. He dares not let those who are waiting upon him be out of his sight. He exclaims incessantly so as to alarm all in the house, "O Lord, help me. Lord Jesus, help me." He confesses to one who had burned his infidel Age of Reason, that he wished that all who had read it had been as wise; and he added, "If ever the devil had an agent on earth, I have been that one." And when the terror of death came over this most unhappy man, he exclaimed, "I think I can say what they make Jesus Christ to have said, 'My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?'" In that state of mind he died, a stranger to penitence, in all the horrors of an accusing conscience. Infidelity has no support for its deluded followers on a death bed. The apostle when contemplating his end said, "I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me; and not to me only, but unto all them that love His appearing." This blessed experience is as much the inheritance of Christians now as it was in the apostle's time, for there is the same Saviour, and the same sure word of promise on which to rely. The Rev. Holden Stuart when smitten with a sickness unto death, said to his medical attendant, "Doctor, don't be afraid to tell me the truth, for the day of my death will be the happiest day of my life." Someone who had great experience of human nature, once remarked, "Tell me how a man has lived, and I will tell you how he will die." (W. Windle.) Parallel Verses KJV: But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?WEB: But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he? |
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