CanTherebeUnity (continued)
sake of momentary pleasures to lose a glorious eternity in Heaven! Here we are striving, and laboring, and exhausting ourselves about little things, and running here and there like ants on an anthill and yet after a few years we will all be gone, and another generation will take our place. Let us live for eternity. Let us seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness that can never be taken from us. And let us never forget John Bunyan's golden rule: "He that would live well, let him make the thoughts of his dying day his daily friend." 4. Let us observe, in the next place, "How precious a believer's soul is in the sight of God." The rich man, in the parable, dies and is buried. Perhaps he had an impressive funeral—a funeral in proportion to his wealth and position that he had when he was still alive. But we hear nothing further of his wealth and power when his soul and body were divided in death. The next thing we hear of is that he is in hell. The poor man, in the parable also dies. We don't know what type of burial he had. Today a destitute person's funeral is normally a sad affair. The funeral of Lazarus was probably no better. But this we do know—that the moment Lazarus dies he is carried by the angels to Abraham's side-carried to a place of rest, where all the faithful are waiting for the resurrection of the just. To my mind, there is something very striking, very touching, and very comforting in this illustration of the parable. I ask your special attention to it. It throws great light on the relation of all sinners who believe in Christ, to their God and Father. It shows a little of the care bestowed on the least and lowest of Christ's disciples, by the King of kings. No man has such friends and servants as the believer however little he may think about it. Angels rejoice over him in the day that he is born again of the Spirit. Angels minister to him all through his life. Angels encamp around him in the wilderness of this world. Angels take charge of his soul in his hour of death, and transport it safely home. Yes! Vile as he may be in his own eyes, and lowly in his own sight, the very poorest and humblest believer in Jesus is cared for by his Father in heaven, with a care that is beyond understanding. The Lord has become his Shepherd, and he will "not be in need." [Psalm 23:1] Only let a man come honestly and truthfully to Christ, and be joined to Him, and he will have all the benefits of a being a child of the Living God. Is he weighted down with many sins? "Though his sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow." Is his heart hard and prone to evil? A new heart will be given to him, and a new spirit put in him. Is he weak and cowardly? He that enabled Peter to confess Christ before his enemies will make him bold. Is he ignorant? He that was patient with Thomas' slowness will be patient with him, and guide him into all truth. Is he alone in his position? He that stood by Paul when all men abandoned him will also stand by his side. Is he in circumstances of special trial? He that enabled men to be saints in Nero's household will also enable him to persevere. The very hairs of his head are all numbered. Nothing can harm him without God's permission. He that hurts him, hurts the apple of God's eye, and injures a brother and member of Christ Himself. His trials are all wisely ordered. Satan can only harass him, as he did Job, when God permits him. No temptation can happen to him above what he is able to bear. All things are working together for his good.