It must be consigned to the dust
from whence it came by William Nicholson 1862 It is appointed for men to die
once, and after this comes judgment. Hebrews 9, verse 27. No event
is so important as death, but how little is it regarded? Death
is sure to come, nothing can prevent it. Every expedient has
been tried, but there can be no discharge in this war. The
time of death's approach is uncertain. It may come when you are young
and in health and calculating on long life. You are deeply
immersed in worldly cares and business. Your mind is not the
least directed towards it, in the hour of festive enjoyment
and at a time when you would not be at all prepared for it,
unpardoned, unrenewed and without love to God. At death the body
returns to its original dust. By the sweat of your brow you
will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from
it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust
you will return. Genesis chapter 3 verse 19. Then shall the body return to
dust. Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse
7. Death, then, as the effect of
sin, is the cessation of human existence. It is ended by disease,
by sudden violence or accident, by the human machine being worn
out by affliction, or by protracted old age. The lungs heave no more,
the pulse ceases to beat, the blood is congealed in the veins,
the eyes are dimmed, the tongue is silent, and the hand forgets
its dexterity. Such is the end of the human
structure, so fearfully and wonderfully made. And however stately, well-formed,
athletic, strong, and beautiful before, it must be consigned
to the dust from whence it came. Its tendency to corruption causes
even its once adorers to exclaim, Bury my dead out of my sight. It is deposited in the silent
tomb, becomes worm-food, and is hidden from mortal sight.
Think, then, of the momentous results of death. It mars the
beauty and strength of the body, casts it into the abhorrent grave,
tarnishes all its glory, and terminates all its happiness. Death is the last of time and
the commencement of eternity. It is a complete change of existence,
of situation, of circumstances, and of feeling. After death,
the soul appears before God. It is appointed for men to die
once, and after this comes judgment. Death, then, is the crisis of
man's fate, the seal of his destiny. It encounters either a smiling
father or a frowning judge. It conducts to the crown of life
or the regions of death. It conducts to eternal glory
or to everlasting perdition. Therefore, be ready, for the
Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.