To Die or not to Die

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2 Corinthians 5:6-9

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:…

I once heard two good men holding a dialogue. One of them said he wished that his time was come to go to heaven; he did not see anything here worth living for. The other said he had many reasons why he would rather just then live than die. He had lived to see the Church in prosperity; he should like, therefore, to be a sharer in the Church's joy. Besides, he had those he loved on earth, etc. Now consider —

I. WHEN IT IS RIGHT AND WHEN WRONG TO DESIRE TO STAY.

1. It is wrong —

(1) When the Christian has grown worldly. Dr. Johnson, being taken by one of his friends over his fine house and beautiful garden, observed, "Ah! sir, these are the things that make it hard to die." The world was never meant to fill a believer's soul.

(2) When he has a secret fear of dying. Christ came into the world to deliver those who are subject to this bondage. Thou art afraid of a stingless enemy, of a shadow, of heaven's own portals, of thy Father's black servant whom He sends to bring thee to Himself!

(3) When it is the result of his doubting his interest in Christ. We have no right to doubt. The apostle says, "We are always confident." Now, some hate the very word "confidence," but the apostle knew what was the proper spirit for a believer.

(4) When it is because he has a large family dependent upon him.

2. It is right —

(1) When he wants to do more for his Master, and a sphere is just opening before his eyes. As a valiant soldier, with the field of battle in view, he wants to win a victory. Carey, Ward, and Pierre, when laid down with sickness at Serampore, prayed that they might live a little longer, because every godly man in India was then worth a thousand. Paul himself said, "To abide in the flesh is more needful for you, and therefore I prefer to stay."

II. WHEN IS IT RIGHT, AND WHEN WRONG FOR A BELIEVER TO WISH TO GO TO HEAVEN?

1. It is wrong —

(1) When he wants to get there to get away from his work. Suppose your servant came to you about ten o'clock in the morning, and said, "Master, it is a very hot day, I wish it was six o'clock at night." You would say, "I want none of those laggard fellows that are always looking for six o'clock." Or suppose you met him on Thursday, and he said, "I wish it was Saturday night." "Ah," you would say, "a man that always looks for Saturday night is never worth his master's keeping." And yet you and I have been guilty of that with regard to the things of Christ.

(2) When it is because there is some little discouragement in labouring for Christ. Jonah thought he would rather go to Tarshish than to Nineveh. We get cowardly and distrustful of God. 'Tis then we fretfully say, "Let us go to heaven." I fancy I hear Luther talking like that! Melancthon said, "Let me die," but Luther said, "No, we want you, and you are not to be let off yet, you must stand in the thick of the battle till the fight changes and victory is ours."(3) When it is to get away from the Lord's will on earth. Some have had so much pain, that they would like to be released from it. We cannot blame them. But yet does it not sometimes amount to this, "Father, if the cup cannot pass from me, let me pass away from it"? Such people never do die for years afterwards; because the Lord knows they are not fit to die. But when we are able to say, "Well, let it be as He wills; I would be glad to be rid of pain, but I would be content to bear it if it be God's will"; then patience hath had her perfect work, and it often happens that the Lord says, "It is well, My child: thy will is My will."

2. It is right —

(1) When it is because you are conscious of your daily sins and want to be rid of them. To be perfectly holy is an aspiration worthy of the best of men.

(2) When you wish to serve God better than you do. Then, inasmuch as it is a proper thing for the servant of God to desire, to be a better servant, it must be right and proper for him to long to serve his Master without imperfection.

(3) When we have been at the Lord's table, or in some service where we have had great enjoyment, we have had the earnest and want to have the whole of the redemption money.

(4) When you have had near fellowship with Christ. It would indeed be a strange thing if you did not wish to be with Him where He is. If a woman loves her husband she longs for his society. You are a child; he is not a loving child that does not wish to see his father's face. How some of us used to long for the holidays! We are also labourers. It were a strange thing if the labourer did not wish to achieve the end of his toils. And then, what soldier does not long for victory? He would not shun the fight, but he wishes it were triumphantly over.

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