1 Corinthians 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; I. THE FORERUNNERS OF DEATH ARE FOR OUR ADVANTAGE. These, indeed, are often not joyous but grievous at first, but afterwards yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby. In common life we often consider those things which are attended with a very considerable degree of pain, as advantageous, because they are so in their results. For instance, a man suffers the amputation of a limb, because he hopes that the operation will be productive of good: and so it is eventually; life is spared. Now, on the same principle, but on higher grounds, we should learn to submit to those afflictions, whatever they may be, that are the precursors of death, to put us in mind that the great destroyer is on his way. "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment," &c. II. ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH ARE FOR OUR ADVANTAGE — time and place and manner. "My times are in Thy hand." And we know that God's time is the best; and the place, too, in which we shall expire, and the manner of our death — both will be of Divine appointment, and will prove to be the best. The manner of your death — whether it be natural or violent — whether it be a sudden death, or preceded by a lingering and distressing illness — all these things are ordered by the Lord. III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEATH ARE FOR OUR ADVANTAGE. I do not wonder that people are unwilling to think of death who have not a good hope through grace; but the heir of eternal life can look forward beyond all the dark clouds that intervene between him and the consummation of his happiness, and "rejoice in hope of the glory of God." "Death is yours," if you are members of Christ, for your advantage — 1. Because there will then be an end of all evil — not only moral evil, or sin, but all natural, inward suffering. 2. Because as soon as it takes place, your happy spirits, disentangled from the encumbrance of these tenements of clay, enter into eternal rest. (J. Entwisle.) Parallel Verses KJV: Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; |
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