The following excerpt is from John Bunyan’s book, Paul’s Departure and Crown.
‘For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.’—2 Timothy 4:6-8
That this is the duty and wisdom of those that fear God, you may see by Christ’s exhortation to watchfulness, and to prepare for his second coming; ‘Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh’ (Matt 24:44).
These words, as they are spoken to stir up the godly to be ready to meet their Lord at his coming, so because the godly must meet him as well in his judgments and providences here, as at his personal appearing at the last day; therefore they should be diligent to be fitting themselves to meet him in all such dispensations.
‘And because,’ saith God, ‘I will do this unto thee; prepare to meet thy God, O Israel’ (Amos 4:12).
Now death is one of the most certain of those dispensations; yea, and such, that it leaveth to those no help at all, or means to perform for ever, that which, shouldst thou want it, that is lacking to thy work. Wherefore Solomon also doth press us to this very work, and that from this consideration, ‘whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest’ (Eccl 9:10).
Baulk nothing of thy duty, neither defer to do it; for thou art in thy way to thy grave, and there thou canst not finish ought that by neglect thou leavest undone; therefore be diligent while life lasts.
Bunyan, John (2011-03-24). Works of John Bunyan — Complete (Kindle Locations 30412-30420). . Kindle Edition.
God bless you too, Larry!
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Thank you for the welcome and also your comment on the post. God bless you.
Larry
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Hi! Thank you for visiting my blog and welcome to the world of Christian bloggers!
I appreciate this excerpt from John Bunyan’ s work because of the reminder of both the Lord’s return and our own death.
In the Lord Jesus,
Maria
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