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God’s View of the Death of the Righteous Mike Johnson Dealing with the death of a loved one can be one of the greatest agonies that a person has to face. We think of the death of a loved one in terms of heartache, tears, sorrow, and pain. Yet, Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of […]
How the Church May Use Its Money Andy Sochor “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when […]
Wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14) Mike Johnson Many think that David is the author of Psalm 27 and that he wrote it when he was fleeing from Saul. It has been called “An Exuberant Declaration of Faith.” It starts with David expressing great confidence in God (1-3). God is his light, salvation, and strength. […]
God’s Revelations Mike Johnson Some people do not believe that God has revealed Himself to mankind. In fact, they do not even believe that God exists. These people are called atheists. Another group, the deists, believe in the existence of a deity, but they think He has not given us a specific revelation; they believe […]
Which Is Better? (Ecclesiastes 7:1) Mike Johnson “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Eccl. 7:1). The first part of this verse is what one would expect to find in the Scriptures (also note Pb. 22:1). However, the second part might cause people […]
What Will Be Said About You? Mike Johnson Epitaphs (defined as “a commemorative inscription on a tomb or mortuary monument) have always been of interest to me. They often depict people’s attitudes about life after death. They may say something kind about a person who has died, perhaps pointing out how sorely all will miss […]
Precious Is the Death of a Saint (Psalm 116:15) Mike Johnson Psalm 116:15 informs us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” What does this mean? People think of death in many different ways. A loved one’s death is one of the greatest agonies people typically face in their […]
The Glory of Old Age Lord, keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity […]
ASHES AND FLAMES Oftentimes we look with forebodings to the time of old age, forgetful that at eventide it shall be light. To many saints of old age it is the choicest season in their lives. A balmier air fans the mariner’s cheek as he nears the shore of immortality; fewer waves ruffle his sea, […]
The Parable of the Rich Fool Mike Johnson The Parable of the Rich Fool is in Luke 12:16-21. Here, Jesus said: Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store […]
Having Strong Confidence (Pb. 14:26) Mike Johnson Christians are to fear (have reverence and respect for) God. Those who genuinely fear God see the importance of obeying His commandments. Ecclesiastes 12:13 tells us we are to “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” Also, if we fear God, we will hate […]
Precious in the Sight of the Lord Mike Johnson Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” We think of death in many different ways. The death of a loved one is one of the greatest agonies a person can face in his/her life. Typically, we think of […]
Immortality Mike Johnson “Death is not a period but a comma in the story of life.” In a sentence, a comma indicates a pause. A period is end punctuation and is used to show the end of a sentence. With this idea in mind, the above quotation says a great deal. It speaks of the […]
“NEVER LOST A CASE” I once lived in a community where a certain Methodist preacher preached more funerals than one could possibly believe. Methodists as well as others. One day I heard a local citizen say that he wanted him to preach his funeral. When asked why, he replied, “Well, I have never heard him […]
ARE YOU READY TO DIE? An eager‑to‑win‑souls barber had a rather curious way of beginning evangelistic conversations with his clients. As he laid his customer back in the chair and soaped his face, he would then strop his razor and place its honed edge to the man’s neck as he asked, “Are you ready to […]
“He Made One Mistake” He brushed his teeth twice a day – with nationally advertised toothpaste! The doctor examined him twice each year! He slept with a window open each night! He stuck to a daily diet of fresh vegetables! He walked three miles everyday checking his heart rate along the way with his $100.00 […]
I’d Rather Have a Little Rose I would rather have a little rose From the garden of a friend- Then to have the choicest flowers- When my stay on earth shall end. I would rather have the kindest words- And a smile that I can see, Than flattery when my heart is still- And this […]
Not Growing Old This frail old shell in which I dwell Is growing old, I know full well– But I am not the shell. What if my hair is turning grey? Grey hairs are honorable, they say. What if my eyesight’s growing dim? I still can see to follow Him Who sacrificed His life for […]
Put My Memory in Your Pocket All the warm and tender feelings That were born the day we met Still live on, and grow within me, Much too precious to forget. # Chorus Put my memory in your pocket! Take it with you through the day! Tuck it underneath your pillow, When the sun has gone […]
Don’t Grieve For Me When I’ve been to my last service, And fades softly on the air, The notes of the last song for me, And then the final prayer; When Friends arise and slowly walk Down the long church aisle, For that last look at my cold corpse, As they pass by single file. […]
“A Familiar Face Is Missing” Brian V. Sullivan We grow accustomed to familiar ways, As we each journey through life’s uncertain days. A friendly smile, perhaps a kind greeting. Make it worth our while to come to meeting. There are some folks you know will always be there With a warm smile and a genuine […]
Reason For Our Hope Pearl Pierson Those loving eyes are closed in sleep; Yet we have hope and do not weep For him (her) who goes to dwell above Where all is joy and peace and love. That tongue, whose gentle kindly word The eager little children heard, Is quiet now, yet we rejoice In […]
“Did You Know?” Selected That many people who plan to be saved from their sins the eleventh hour die at 10:30! The apostle Paul wrote: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard […]
SHOULD YOU GO FIRST Should you go first, and I remain To walk the road alone, I’ll live in memory’s garden, dear, With happy days we’ve known. In spring, I’ll wait for the roses red, In summer, lilacs blue; In autumn, when the brown leaves fall, I’ll catch a breath of you. Should you go […]
HOW DO YOU LIVE YOUR DASH? I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning…to the end. He noted that first came her date of birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said […]
THE CLOCK OF LIFE The Clock of Life is wound but once and no man has the power; To say, just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed, To lose one’s health is more; To lose one’s soul is such a loss That no man […]
The House of Mourning Mike Johnson Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.“ Why is it better to go to the house of mourning than to the house […]
A Blessed Rest Mike Johnson Revelation 14:13 says, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” The word “blessed” means “happy.” There is an […]
Two Mandatory Appointments Mike Johnson There are very few things in life that we absolutely must do. A person does not even absolutely have to eat. A person, of course, must eat if he wants to live, but he can stop eating and die if he wanted to. However, we cannot avoid two future […]
A FAITHFUL MAN WHO FEARED GOD ABOVE MANY Mike Johnson The book of Nehemiah tells about the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. This work was done by the Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity. After completing the walls, Nehemiah appointed Hanani, his brother, and Hananiah as rulers of Jerusalem. It is interesting to note the […]
The Spirits in Prison Mike Johnson I Peter 3:18-20 is a passage, which has prompted many questions. It speaks of Jesus having gone to preach to the spirits in prison. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the […]
YOU CAN ONLY LIVE SO LONG Mike Johnson You can only live so long.” According to an AP article, these were the last words of a tenor as he performed at the Metropolitan Opera House, in New York City, during a production. The man was standing at the top of a ten-foot ladder when he […]
Setting Sail on the Seas of Eternity (“My Departure Is at Hand”) Mike Johnson While in a Roman prison near the end of his life, Paul wrote, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Tim. 4:6). The Greek word (analusis), translated as “departure,” occurs […]
TO LIVE IS CHRIST/TO DIE IS GAIN Mike Johnson Paul wrote the book of Philippians, as well as some other books, while in a Roman prison. He was in prison awaiting a decision about his fate. He might be released and would then be able to continue preaching. However, the decision could go against him, […]
STRIKE THE TENT Mike Johnson The last words said by people before they die occur under a variety of circumstances. Sometimes people speak their last words without realizing that death is near. For example, a person’s final utterances may be a comment about what a beautiful day it is. Sometimes a person’s last words may […]
Carried by Angels Mike Johnson An interesting line occurs near the end of Hamlet, as Shakespeare has Horatio saying these words as Hamlet dies: “…Good night, sweet prince, / And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!” (5.2.361-2). Shakespeare’s idea of angels being near when an individual dies does not conflict with what we […]