November 20, five reasons death is gained. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gained

Philippians 121. How is it gained to die? One, our spirits will be made perfect Hebrews 12, 22 to 23,

but you have come to Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,

and to innumerable angels in festal gathering and to the assembly of the first born who are

enrolled in heaven and to God the judgeable and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.

There will be no more sin in us. We will be done with the inner war and the heart-rending

disappointments of offending the Lord who loved us and gave himself for us. Two, we will be

relieved of the pain of this world. The joy of the resurrection will not yet be ours,

but the joy of freedom from pain will be. Jesus tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man

to show the great reversal that is coming at death. The rich man called out,

Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool

my tongue for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, child, remember that you in your

lifetime received your good things and Lazarus in like manner bad things, but now he is comforted

here and you are in anguish. Three, we will be given profound rest in our souls,

Revelation 6 9 to 11. There will be a serenity beneath the eye and care of God that surpasses

anything we have known here on the softest summer evening by the most peaceful lake at our most

happy moments. I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God

and for the witness they had born. They cried out with the loud voice, oh sovereign Lord,

holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth.

Then they were each given a white robe and toned to rest a little longer.

Four, we will experience a deep at-homeness. Second Corinthians 5.8, yes, we are of good courage

and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

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