Revelation Before Death
Luke ii. 26 v.
“It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
Why should a revelation like this have been such a comfort? Was not death itself to usher in a far greater sight? Was it not like telling a man that he would not see the sun until he had seen a candle? Was not old Simeon on the road to the perfect day — the day of unblemished beauty? How could it add to his bliss to be told that ere he entered the garden he would receive a single rose? Because every scene requires a preliminary revelation. Nothing is beautiful to me unless I recognise it as a memory. Its whole sweetness is its appeal to my past. I only greet with the eye what has once lain near to the heart. It would not bring me a step nearer heaven if death were abolished. That which separates me from heaven is not death but life. If I were lifted to God’s throne in a chariot of lire, heaven would still be distant from me, unless it were otherwise brought nigh. If I have never held in my arms one treasure of the eternal sea, I may stand on the shore of that sea and feel no thrill. I want the grapes of Eshcol ere 1 journey to the promised land. Not as a stranger would I go even up the ladder of Jacob. I want the angel to Ascend before I ascend. I want heaven to come to me before I go to heaven. I want an olive-branch from the new world to be carried into the Ark while it is yet on the waters, that when I touch the summit of Ararat I may recognise its peace.
Our Father, which art in heaven, reveal Thyself to us ere we are translated to Thee. We have been making too much of the bridge of death. We have said, “first death, and then revelation “; Thou say est, “first revelation, and then death.” Thou wouldst not have us taste of death until we have seen the kingdom of Christ. Let the power of His Resurrection precede the fellowship with His sufferings. Let the vision of Mount Nebo anticipate the promised land. Teach us beforehand the language of the new world. Send us in advance 9S SEABGHINGS IN THE SILENCE.
the robes of the upper sanctuary. We would not be unclothed even by death, but only clothed upon. We would have something to carry with us when we leave the sun and moon behind us. We would have a fragment of Thyself in our emptied hand. Give us a gleam of Thy light when the windows of the sense are darkened. Give us a breath of Thy love when the breathing of our hearts is low. Give us a whisper of Thy voice when the voices of earth are faint. Put the child-Christ in the arms of the dying Simeon. Let us come to the tomb through the garden, and forget the fading by reason of the flowers. Let us be led by the hand of life through the valley of the shadow of death. Our departure shall be no severance, if, ere we go, we shall meet with Thee.