Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
When the time comes for God's children to die, it will not be a giving in to death; it will be a giving in to Jesus. It will not be as if God's frightened children have been desperately running from death but were finally caught by it, conquered, and killed. It will be a surrendering to the loving arms of Jesus.
In the way of righteousness, we are told, "There is no death" (Prov. 12:28). And Jesus promised that those who believe in him will never die (Jn. 11:26). The death of one of God's saints is precious in His sight (Ps. 116:15), most likely because it is just another example of one of His children trusting and obeying Him. Dying, for a saint of God, is another way of yielding to the Spirit.
When you lift your hands and praise God, you are yielding to the Spirit. When you let your tongue be used by God to sing or to speak in tongues, you are yielding to the Spirit. When you choose to do good instead of evil, you are yielding to the Spirit. When you deny yourself and help another to bear a heavy burden, you are yielding to the Spirit. When you roll across the floor under the power of God, or dance before the Lord with all your might, or even when you are healed, you are yielding to the Spirit. Dying, for an humble, obedient child of God, will only be another way of yielding to the Spirit. When you yield to God now, while you are living, you are preparing to yield to God later, when you die.