Our Lord has been pleased to call away to glory many of our dear loved ones. No words of men can make these trials easier, dry your tears, nor dispel your loneliness. But perhaps I can remind us of some things that we know and believe, and these shall be to us words of comfort.
- They are WITH CHRIST IN GLORY. "To be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord," and they would not come back to this earth even if they could.
- They are PERFECT IN SOUL AND BODY! No-more sin, no more pain, no more tears, no more sorrow! They are satisfied, for they are in His likeness-perfectly holy and happy
- The have NO UNPLEASANT THOUGHT NOR MEMORIES of anyone nor anything on this earth. "The former things are passed away; for God makes all things new." Don't grieve over any neglect, deed, nor word; it is forgotten in His presence.
- They WOULD NOT HAVE YOU GRIEVE FOR THEM, but rather rejoice in their graduation, promotion, and victory. "To die is gain" and eternal glory! Their trials and tribulations are over; soon ours shall be.
- There is NO TIME IN GLORY! Days and years have to do with earth, not heaven. "With God a thousand years is a day." My son did not go to glory thirty years ago; he went there TODAY, and so shall we! Time is no more when we leave this earth.
- They are GONE FOR THE PRESENT, and memories of them are sweet and shall be with us throughout this journey. Remember, we have a life to live ourselves, our God to glorify, our children and others to serve, love, and encourage. WE CANNOT LIVE IN THE PAST and spend our days complaining of God's providence. Paul said, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Sons and daughters, take up your parents' mantle and serve your generation faithfully.
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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