THE DEPARTURE

 

OCTOBER 31

 
THE DEPARTURE

"For I am now ready to be offered, 

   and the time of my departure is at hand." 

                                            2 Timothy 4:6
 
Aged believer, the time of thy departure 

  will soon come;
  let not thy mind be exercised as to
    where thou shalt die,
     when thou shalt die, or
        how thou shalt die;
these are all minor matters,
 and ought not to affect thee.
 
Simply look at death as Jesus did, 

  as we read,
 "Jesus knew that his hour was come

    that he should depart out of this world 

       unto the Father" 
 
 
Why shouldest thou regret 

  to leave a world like this,
 where sin, sorrow, pain, grief, 

  disappointment, and anxiety 

    meet thee at every turn?
Or why be reluctant to go HOME,
   to go to thy Father?
 
Dost thou not want to see his face?
 to enjoy his company?
 to be perfectly happy in his presence?
 
What did I hear thee say,

   "If I should be mistaken?"

If I should presume?
Mistaken! How can you be mistaken?
 
Do you not renounce all hope in yourself,
   all dependence on your duties,
   and do you not trust on Christ alone?
 
Have you not sought his face,
  relied on his Word,
  trusted in his blood? Mistaken!
   why, if you are not right,
     what will make you so?
 
Do you say, "My sins, my imperfections, 

  my infirmities."
 
Knowest thou not, that sins confessed,

   imperfections deplored, 

    infirmities mourned over,
if accompanied with faith in Jesus,
 never kept a soul out of Heaven yet,
    and never will.
 
Do you say, "Presume," didst thou say!

What, is it presumption to believe thy Savior?

Is it presumption to take God at his Word,
and give him credit for speaking truth?
 
"Presumption!" It is presumption to doubt,
 when God has spoken so plainly.

 It is presumption to fear,
 when God has spoken so positively,
 It is presumption to want something 

   else to assure thee,
 when God has said:
"He that believeth hath everlasting life."
    And to you,  "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,

   and THOU SHALT BE SAVED."
 
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,

   according to thy word:      Luke 2:29

 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE BETTER COUNTRY

 

OCTOBER 30

THE BETTER COUNTRY
 
"They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Hebrews 11:13, 14
 
Canaan was the better country to the Jew,
  but Heaven is the better country to the Christian.
 
And truly it must be better than this;
  there are no thorns or briars there;
  there is neither death nor barren land there;
  there are no plagues or famines there;
  there are no wants or woes there;
  there is no sin, disease, or death there.
 
In that country the atmosphere is serene and healthy,
  the views are clear and enchanting,
  the sun never goes down,
 for there is no night there.
 
Ah, it is a better country, if we think of
  the holiness of its inhabitants,
  the plenitude of its stores, and
  the immutable security thrown around it.
 
There is permanent joy,
  untiring activity, and
  the perpetual presence of God.
 
There are no winds of error there;
There are no storms of persecution there;
There are no sighs, groans, or sorrows there.
 
Aged Christian, 

 this is the country that thou hast been seeking,
 and thou art now come to the margin of it.

Soon, very soon, thou wilt be called to take possession of it, and then thou wilt leave 

 all that is painful behind thee.
 
 There are no weary limbs,
   no aching bones,
   no unstrung nerves,
    no long tedious nights there.
 
No, no! All is health, ease, light, peace, 

  and pleasure there!
 
It is, indeed, THE BETTER LAND, 

 the land which the Lord our God 

  hath espied for us, and 

  which we shall soon pass over 

   Jordan to possess it!
 
Millions of our brethren, and 

 some of our dear natural relatives,
 are there before us;
 others are on the road, and 

 will follow if they do not overtake us;
 best of all, Jesus is there; it is his country,

 it is called Emmanuel's Land.

Home of Jesus! my heart sighs for thee.
O to enter into that better country!
 
 
"If they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.   But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
                              Hebrews 11:15-16
 
JAMES SMITH 1869

THE DESIRE

 

OCTOBER 28

THE DESIRE

Having a desire to depart, and 

  to be with Christ; which is far better:

                                Philippians 1:23
 
Reader, do you at all sympathize with Paul?
Do you desire to leave the present scene
of conflict, sorrow, and sin?
Do you desire to depart from all that gratifies the flesh,
  and all that perplexes the soul,
   that you may be with Christ?
 
What a delightful assurance it is to the believer,
  that, "absent from the body and

    to be present with the Lord!"
 
To be with Christ, what does not this comprise?
Surely one may say, "It is all my salvation and all my desire!"
 
To be with Christ, what does not this exclude?
All sin, all sadness, all foes, all fears, all claims.
 
Well may Paul say, it is “far better."
 
Ah, how much better to be with Christ,
  than to be with the kindest relatives,
  the wisest friends, or
  in the most comfortable circumstances that this world can furnish!
 
To be with Christ,
  how far preferable to our present lot, 
  where we are surrounded by foes,
    annoyed by temptations,
    perplexed with disappointments,
     and made wretched by our sins!
 
To be with Christ, that is to be perfectly holy,
  perfectly happy, and
  for ever satisfied!
 
Now — we mourn his absence,
  sigh for his presence, and
  would give all we possess at times for
  one hour's heart-melting communion with him;
then,    we shall be
   always with him,
     exactly like him,
        and for ever praising him!
   always with him,
     exactly like him,
        and for ever praising him!
 
Better, surely it is, infinitely better,
  to be where Jesus is, to be with Jesus,
   than to be here where there is
   so much sin,
    so many dangers,
     such briers and thorns,
      such disease and death!
 
My soul, seek such large communications of grace from God,
 such fellowship with the Holy Spirit,
  that you may rise above all your doubts,
  fears, carnality, and fleshly attachments; and
  say right heartily with the Apostle, 
  "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better;"

 Yea, which is best of all!
 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

                              2 Corinthians 5:8
 

 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE PREPARATION

 OCTOBER 27

THE PREPARATION

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour 

  as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44

Be ready!
Let all your worldly affairs be so settled,
  that you may comfortably leave them at any moment;
  and let your spiritual concerns be in such a state,
  that you may have nothing to do but bid friends farewell,
  and depart to be with Christ.
 

Daily confess sin over the blood of Christ,
  that it may be pardoned.
Daily renounce your own righteousness,
  and appropriate afresh the righteousness of Jesus.
Daily seek the renewings of the Holy Spirit,
  that they may be shed on you abundantly.
Daily commit body, soul, and spirit into the hands of Christ,
  to be saved by his grace, and to be used for his glory.
Surrender everything to Jesus daily,
  without the least reserve; and
  endeavor to detach thyself as much 

  as possible from everything here below.
 

Make the Bible thy companion, JESUS
  the constant object of thy faith,
  his perfect work the grand subject of thy meditation,
  and his presence and glory thy chief desire.

View God as a Father.
Worship God as a Father.
Constantly think of God as a Father.

Dwell upon 
  his love to thee,
   his pity for thee,
    his promises to thee, and
     his conferring the kingdom upon thee.
 

Hold communion with the Holy Spirit.
  Pray for His empowering.
  Pray to Him.
  Think of Him.
  Expect from Him.

Look to Heaven as God's holy home,

  and as your eternal home!
So live and walk with God, 

  that you may feel that though by death, 

  you will change your place,

   that you will not change your company.
 

You are leaving the world,

  therefore withdraw your thoughts, desires, 

   and affections from it,

    as much as you can!

You are going to Heaven,

   therefore direct your thoughts, desires, and affections 

   to it as much as possible. 

By so doing you will be ready to depart, 

  whenever God calls you home.
 

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour

   your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42
 

 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE JORDAN

 

OCTOBER 26

THE JORDAN
 
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; 

  for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; 

   yea, I will help thee;      Isaiah 41:10
 
Canaan was a very faint and imperfect type of Heaven. 

It was better than the wilderness, yea, better than Egypt. 

But imperfect as it was, it was the object of desire and anticipation;

  how passionately Moses longed to go over the Jordan River 

  and see it, but was denied. 

Jordan rolled between the desert and the promised land; 

  and it must be crossed, before the promised land could be enjoyed. 

And death, like the Jordan,

   lies between us and Heaven!
 

We must die. To die is unnatural. It is unpleasant. 

Yet the Christian has no reason to fear death. 

No Israelite was ever drowned in this Jordan. 

Jesus crossed it, and, like Joshua, 

  placed 12 stones in the midst of it, 

  on which the feet of his saints may rest. 

The precious promises are these stones.
 
Reader, are you afraid of death?

  As a believer in Jesus, it cannot hurt you. 

    He has taken away its sting. 

      He has deprived it of all power to injure. 

The waters may be cold, and deep, and broad; 

  but what then? He says,  

     "When thou passest through the waters,  

            I will be with thee;" 
 
On the other side,
  the sun always shines,
  the plants are always in bloom,
  the atmosphere is always pure,
  the inhabitants are all happy and holy!
 
Fear not death, it is a stingless serpent! 

The substance is gone, the shadow only is left.
 
He who believes in Jesus shall never die!
 
Art thou afraid of dying? 

What!     Afraid of falling asleep after the toils, 

   troubles, and sorrows of life's long day?
 
Afraid of dying?

What!    When Jesus will stand by your dying pillow, 

   and the angels of his presence wait around

      to conduct thee to glory!
 
Place the hand of thy faith on 

   the shoulder of the faithful Jesus, and

    hang your whole weight on him.

 Go across the Jordan, 

    as the spouse out of the wilderness, 

        LEANING ON THY BELOVED.
 
Whether we live  or die, we are the Lord's. Romans 14:8

JAMES SMITH 1869 

THE CONFIDENCE

 OCTOBER 25

THE CONFIDENCE

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Three things conspire to give the aged Christian confidence:
  the Word of God,
  the Spirit of God, and
   his past experience of God's faithfulness and love.

He has traveled with the Lord so long and so far;  

  the Word of God is so plain and so positive, and 

  he has always proved it so true,

  that he feels there is no ground for fear. 

Death itself is but the shadow of what it was, 

  since Jesus died; for he has abolished death, and 

  brought life and immortality to light by the gospel.

The valley may be long, and dark, and damp for us! 

  but Jesus has passed through it, and 

  driven everything injurious from it. 

Besides which, he will be with us 

  in the valley of the shadow of death. 

  He said to his servant John, 

  "Fear not; I am the first and the last: 
    I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, 

    behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; 

     and have the keys of hell and of death."

No one can open the 'door of death' 

  to a believer but Jesus.

And he always does it at the best moment, 

  and in the best manner, for 

    "precious in the sight of the Lord 

          are the death of his saints."

Nature always shrinks from death,

   but faith will look to Jesus as 

   the resurrection and the life, and welcome it; 

    but even when faith is not strong enough to welcome it,

    it will look to the great Shepherd and 

    expect that his rod will drive away all evil beasts,

    and that his staff will be lent to the soul to lean upon.

My aged friend, do not be frightened at a shadow.

 Do not be afraid to go where Jesus has gone before thee.

Look out for his foot-prints, listen to hear his voice,
  believe, and you shall find his grace made 

  perfect in your weakness.

Take the promise, look at it, place confidence in it, 

   "I will never leave thee, I will never, no never, 

   no never forsake thee" 

and then stand at the entrance of the valley and sing, 

   I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; 

We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

                                                          Romans 8:37

JAMES SMITH

THE ANTICIPATION

 

OCTOBER 24

THE ANTICIPATION

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:6

In looking back, we see that God 

  has been true to his Word
  and faithful to his promise.

Not one good thing has failed,
  of all that the Lord our God has promised;
  all has come to pass.

His grace has been sufficient for us,
 His strength has been made perfect in our weakness.
 As our days, and we have had long days, dark days,   sharp days, days that have made flesh 

  and blood shake and tremble;
  but as our days so has our strength been!
 
Goodness and mercy' began with us,
  they have always accompanied us,
  and now they will not forsake us.

We can testify, with the psalmist, that 

  "the Lord is good, ready to forgive, 

  and plenteous in mercy unto all 

  who call upon him."

Can God's goodness fail?   Impossible! for he is "abundant in goodness and truth!"

Can God's mercy fail?   Impossible! for "the mercy    of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon       those who fear him and his righteousness to     children’s children.
 
God's mercy found a channel in which 

  to flow to poor sinners,
  in the person and work of Jesus;
  mercy flowed to us when we never sought it
  nor even thought of it;
  and shall it fail us now? Oh no!

  from day to day, even until our dying day,
 we shall have to say,
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not     

  consumed, because his compassions fail not.

  They are new every morning; great is thy       

     faithfulness.”

Sooner may the water in the ocean fail, or
  the light in the sun fail,
  than that the mercy of God toward

   his poor people should fail.

 His faithful Word is, "for I will not leave thee, 

  until I have done that which I have 

  spoken to thee of."

And what is that?

  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: 

  the LORD will give grace and glory: 

  no good thing will he withhold from 

   them that walk uprightly.

 
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, 

  and afterward receive me to glory.  

                                                Psalm 73:24
 
JAMES SMITH 1869

THE ORNAMENT

 OCTOBER 23

THE ORNAMENT

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

Strive not try to hide your gray hair,
my venerable friend; they are no shame to thee,
they are rather thy glory,
if found in the way of righteousness.
 
If we are found in that way,
in which God justifies poor sinners by his grace,
 it is a choice mercy; and 

if we are found in that way,
in which God glorifies himself by 

the service of poor sinners,
it is a less mercy.

 If we are in God’s way, he brought us 

  into it by his grace;
  and if we have been kept in that way,
 then we have been kept in it by his grace.

If we have grown gray in God's service,
 then it is an honor to us.

It reflects glory on him; he acquires a credit 

  by our conduct and constancy.

An aged saint, who sought the Lord in youth,
who began to serve God almost before
   he began to serve the world, and
who has persevered for forty or fifty years,
 is an honorable character.
 
 
"The beauty of old men,” said Solomon,

   “is the gray head.”

And it is a beautiful sight to see

  the gray-headed Christian,
  happy in God;
  walking closely with God;
  to see him leaning on the faithful promises 

  that has supported him so many years;
 while daily endeavoring to lead sinners to Jesus;
  encouraging those who are seeking;
  comforting those who are cast down; and 

  bringing forth from the stores of his own experience,
  matter to stimulate and strengthen 

    those who are ready to halt.
 
Reader, is the head hoary?

 Has it acquired that colour in the service of my Master, Jesus?

By some, the gray head may be called the flag of death,
  by others it may be said to be frosted by age, 

  but God styles it, "a crown of glory!"

The gray head and the sanctified heart;
the gray head and the useful life,
are beautiful companions;
but the gray head and the black heart;
the gray head and a life spent in sin,
are woeful associates.
 
"Bless the LORD, O my soul:… 

  who crowneth thee with lovingkindness 

  and tender mercies; 
                                           Psalm 103:1,4
 

JAMES SMITH 1869

THE AUTUMN

 

OCTOBER 21

THE AUTUMN

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; 
they shall be fat and flourishing;  
To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, 
and there is no unrighteousness in him.
                                        Psalm 92:14,15

Look at the aged disciple, the devout, 
  the sincere, the humble follower of Jesus;
  he has entered life's autumn, and,
  like the aged palm tree in the east,
  with its coronet of rich ripe fruit,
  he stands a witness of God's faithfulness,
  a proof of the power of grace, and
  an evidence of the excellency of real religion.

The Spirit of God has long dwelt in his heart,
  the Word has wrought effectually in him, and
  now the ripe fruits of the Spirit appear.

There is "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, 

  gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance."

But the Christian, 

  when in an advanced state of grace, 

  never admires his own fruit;
  he sees his defects and mourns over them, and 

  like the full ears of ripe corn, 

  his head is bowed down in humility and 

   self-renunciation before God.

The young professor may rejoice,
  in what he is,
  in what he has, or
  in what he has done;

not so the aged saint;

  though laden with fruit, 

   he rejoices in Christ Jesus;
  if he boasts, it is only in the Lord. 

In his life he has been useful to others, 

  he has fruit in souls converted to God 

  through his instrumentality, 

  perhaps in children educated in the truth of God, 

  in saints comforted, and backsliders restored.

He has not lived in vain. 

He has left traces of usefulness behind him.

But all is renounced when he looks into eternity!

He says, "I am a sinner saved by grace!

I owe everything to divine mercy;
  I ascribe everything to Jesus.

This is my rejoicing, that my God is my Savior, 

  and my Savior is my God!

Christ in his person,
  Christ in his work,
  Christ in his glory,
  is the object of my faith,
  the subject of my meditation,
  and the theme of my song.

In the mellow autumn of grace,
Christ is all in all, and 

  the creature is nothing at all!
 
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, 

which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory 

 and praise of God.        Philippians 1:11
 
JAMES SMITH 1869