Complete dependence upon the
Lord for all needed help this evening. I wish to direct your
very prayerful attention to the chapter that we read in the first
book of Samuel and chapter 20. And our text is found in the
final clause of verse 3. There is but a step between me
and death. There is but a step between me
and death. The whole verse reads, And David
sware moreover and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that
I have found grace in thine eyes. And he saith, Let not Jonathan
know this, lest he be grieved. but truly as the Lord liveth
and as thy soul liveth there is but a step between me and
death on Wednesday morning I had a
call early in the basement where I work over in Bognor and it
was someone from university phoned me and informed me that a soul
who was in our course on our final year had fallen in a tragic
accident and had gone into eternity at the age of 23 and this was
the text that came to my mind you see it's a living reality
isn't it? it's one step that was all there
is but a step between me and death you see this is a subject and
this is a truth that perhaps you don't want to think about
perhaps you don't want to consider and perhaps it's something that we put to one side but it's a reality it's a reality there is a step between me and
death now the providence of God has been merciful to us just
yesterday I was reading the editorial for the Christians Pathway in
1915 the nation has been looking at
the hundred years since World War 1 had commenced and it's
right that we should remember these things I'm absolutely convinced
of that and Francis Kirby I believe was
the man writing very different circumstances in which we find
ourselves today some of us may have been called to the front
if we had been living in those days you say well we don't live
in those times anymore and we don't fight wars like that well
it may appear not but what if civil war were to break out here? in fact this week I was conversing
with a man who used to be in the army he drove an ambulance
and he said when you join you are given an estimated date,
time a life expectancy if combat were
to break out and he said his was only 6 seconds see this is
a reality this is a reality there is but a step between me and
death and we can't escape it we can't
escape it but before we consider our subject
more fully we must consider the circumstances in which these
things were written David was speaking at the time
when King Saul was actively seeking his demise. You see, Saul was a very angry,
a very jealous and a very bitter man. And do we not prove, even
here in the Scriptures, that jealousy is indeed as cruel as
the grave? King Saul had become embittered
with his hatred absolutely embittered reading the Proverbs and through
the Proverbs recently struck me that text that says make no
friendship with an angry man lest thou learn his ways become
like him it's true isn't it? it's true King Saul was an angry
man and was absolutely embittered
and was determined that his soldiers would seek out and would take
David's life but here we can take comfort in this several occasions we see David
in the midst of danger and delivered from it and it's the truth it's
the truth that we will not leave this world until our appointed
time we won't, we won't mortals are immortal until their time
here is done you know we have to apply this particularly to
the believing soul because every believer has a work Every man
hath his proper gift. It's not necessarily a public
ministry. But all Christians are God's servants. It's not
the Christian life. A life of service in one respect
to another. It's not a life of slavery. It's
a life of service. We are willing servants. We're
not just automatons, as it were. We have
living exercises and we have living souls. And there are those
things that concern us. There are those things that are
on our minds and on our hearts. People, causes, situations that
we pray for. Those things that we are engaged
in, in life. And these are the things that
the Lord has placed us, the situations the Lord has placed us in. that David had come here, fled
from Naoth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, what
have I done? What is my iniquity? What is
my sin before my Father that He seeketh my life? You are always going to get people
like that. People filled with jealousy and
bitterness against you for no good reason. for no good reason nevertheless this was in the
Lord's providence and the Lord had delivered David thus far
and he was to deliver him until the end because Saul was never
to take his life we see the situation around his
death, David dying old man full of years when he said he hath
made with me an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure
that was to be the time of David's departure but for others it was not so
was it? we've read the account of David's
final meeting with Jonathan now they didn't know it was their
final meeting did they? but it was, but it was and in
such sad circumstances no doubt you can think of people in your
life you have seen, you have perhaps visited and have been taken unexpectedly,
they've gone, they've left this world such is the situation that we find ourselves in from
time to time this step of death it's not the only time David
spoke like this, is it? there are other occasions think particularly of Psalm 39
when David says, Lord make me to know my end and the measure
of my days what it is in this last clause particularly
that I may know how frail I am how frail I am and the margin
says of what time I have here you see he understood the Brailty,
the human body. You see people talk these days
like as time goes on and as generations increase not only do we get more
civilised and more intelligent but our bodies increase and we
become better and better. Well actually the exact opposite
is the truth. Those of you here that have an
interest in sport and fitness will know that the human body
reaches its physical fitness at about the age of 27 or 28
and then declines slowly so by the time one is 34 or 35 people
cease to compete at the very highest level that's a natural
illustration and this decline continues slowly some faster
than others the days of our years are 3 score years and 10 and
if by reason they be 4 score years are they not in sorrow?
are they not those afflictions of the body and of the mind that
come in? and I may know how frail I am people that think themselves
strong gone sometimes in a moment this is how it is, is it not? I'm not desirous of being mindful
this evening but we have to set the record straight as it were
as to what our condition really is this is the reality of things
this is the reality of things we're here one moment and we're
gone the next and we are soon forgotten we are soon forgotten this is the reality of life and
of death now in venturing upon this text you
might say well I'm afraid I disagree with you I'm only in my twenties
or thirties I feel I have a lot of time to go yet well Not only may that not be
the case, but even those who live to three score years, maybe
four score years and beyond, most will say, whether believers
or not, at the end of their lives, that it's all gone rather quickly. It's all gone rather quickly. This is where we are. just a step just a step now David
may have been in a particular danger and you may find yourselves
in a particular danger but we're only just a step we're
only just a step as I received that call on Wednesday morning
it was totally unexpected somebody who'd taken just a step
just once in the wrong step and that was it but in considering this issue
of death does it not fill us with that
which can only be described as a fear in the heart death we
read is the king of terrors the king of terrors why is it the king of terrors? it's the king of terrors because
of sin that's why that's why it's the king of terrors and you see even the reprobate they fear death because of sin they may have regrets over their
sin but that's a different situation
to being repentant for sin you see there's only one way
to face this prospect isn't there? you see death comes of course
as a result of the fall we go back to the very first
thing that the devil says you shall be as God you shall be
as God you'll know the answers to life and death only given
one commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil the difference between life and death. And that's what we have. It's
the difference between life and death. He should be as God's.
And only at the tea table and the dinner table actually today
at Hajend we were discussing this matter of what people call
genetic engineering. I only mention this for this
reason. The devil said he shall be as gods. Man wants to play
around with human life. Because he doesn't accept he's
answerable to a God, he desires to be God himself. That's how
man thinks. He has the answer to everything.
He shall be as gods. But it's all a sad delusion,
isn't it? It's all a sad delusion because all that will die all
will die, all will face at the end wise and foolish, rich and
poor large or small all will face it at that appointed time but this issue of death mind
goes to what Paul describes in Romans sorry, 1 Corinthians, chapter
15. You see, he sets these things
out clearly, that we may understand why things are as they are. He says, for as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive, with every man in
his own order. Christ the first fruits afterward
they that are that is coming you see by one man death entered
into the world and was sinners in Adam and that's what causes
our death it's our natural condition it's not a natural thing to be
a spiritual person we're born creatures of the earth
and we cling to the earth that's how we are, we cling to it it's
always going to be our natural disposition and that's why in our own regeneracy
we run around with this thought continually in our minds that
we shall go on forever and that life is full we can
go on eating, drinking, laughing enjoying ourselves and these
things will continue forever but not so it's not so, it's
not so Better to go to the house of mourning than the house of
feasting. Why? Because there's soberness there, isn't there?
There's reality there. There's reality there. Because
everything that we see is decaying. It's all decaying. Why in the Hymn of Ivy Bay we
hear change and decay. In all around I see that thou
wilt change us not abide with me through one man sin entered into
the world and death by sin the first death is a spiritual death
happened immediately happened immediately but the physical
death was to follow eventually eventually And to die in that condition is unthinkable. But you see, if that's the state
we live and die, that's the state we are. And that's the state
we'll appear before God. Where the tree falleth, there
it shall be. And Solomon wasn't talking about
trees falling. The condition in which we leave
this world will be our condition forever. That's why John writes
on the Isle of Patmos, let him that is righteous, let him be
righteous still. Let him that is filthy, let him
be filthy still. To state the condition of the
heart. A natural inclination is to death. But you see, the difference is
here, it's one of the key differences here, is that David realised
it. David realised it. He did. And is that not one of the first
things the Lord awakens us to when he brings us into spiritual
life? It's one of the main things that
he uses in convincing us of our sin. The brevity of this life. And the fact that it's all vanity.
Vanity and vanities. That's the preacher. All is vanity.
It's all got to go. And you say, could not David? Certainly, at times. Certainly,
we read in his last days. When he said that the Lord has
made with him an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things
unsure, he knew the reality. The brevity of life. He knew
the reality of his own sin. But you see, more than that,
he saw that there was an answer to these things. Because, is
this not why the Lord Jesus came and why he had to come? in his
humanity upon the earth because he had to come as a forerunner
to his people he had to come made in the likeness of sinful
flesh made as a man, he had to come in that form in order to
be a real substitute in order to be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities to be born under a woman, born
under the law to fulfill the law in every job, in every title,
as a man upon the earth but then to taste death you see in the
epistles of the Hebrews this is laid out quite clearly it's
very simply put very simply put for as much then as the children
are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took
part of the same that through death he might destroy
him that had the power of death that is the devil You see, is this not the work
of the devil? The devil will say to you, the
devil will tempt you and say, how can you be a Christian, you?
You say this, you say that, you think this, you think that. These
are the temptations that come upon the mind. People speak of
the devil as almost an inactive or a dormant force. The devil is busy. He's busy. he goes about as a roaring lion,
he might be we believe don't we that he has that chain about
him he's allowed to go only so far and no further but he goes
about with his restricted hand as it were causing as much devastation
as he can and is this not one of the biggest devastations he
attempts to make for the most people he will not endure to
the end How can you call yourself a Christian after what you are? You see this is the only hope
that we have. This is the only hope that we
have. He also himself likewise took
part of the saying that through death he might destroy him that
had the power of death. That is the devil. and deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage. The Lord Jesus brings himself,
relief to his people. And that last verse, particularly
in verse 18, for in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted,
he is able to succour them, that are tempted so he looks upon
his people with pity he looks upon his people's situation
with pity and he gives them grace sufficient for the day you might say well I don't feel
to have grace sufficient to die at this very moment well maybe
not But the Lord says, My grace is sufficient for thee. He gives
grace for the day, He gives grace for the hour. At the moment,
I need grace to preach, you need grace to hear. And He gives grace
sufficient for the hour. Have we not seen, perhaps on
numerous occasions, those who were all their lifetime subject
to bondage, in a spirit of liberty, in the final days, perhaps out
of character for their natural disposition. I've seen it on
several occasions. Those facing the end, very much
before them, very much before them, but would not swap places
with anybody. You see, that is true sanctifying
grace, is it not? That is true. that grace made manifest that's
the Lord Jesus made manifest in the soul you see he does take pity upon
his people he does come to where they are he does come to where
they are but this subject of death and of life is it not something
that we consider continually is it not something that is before
us? that we meditate upon? it was
well known that the Puritans in a day would often meditate
and pray upon certain subjects most notably Heaven hell and the judgment
in other words they lived this life as a preparation for the
next and that is all this life is it's a preparation for the
next and that is why to make our home here to make this our
dwelling place is a vain thing because We're just passing. We're just passing. That's all. Just passing. It's all going to go. And it
may go sooner than what we think. You see, for as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in
his own order Christ the firstfruits, as we were speaking that forerunner
and afterwards they that are Christ's that is coming. You
see we couldn't be raised in newness of life, we couldn't
be raised in glory if it were not for Him. You see our death
is only in His death. And our resurrection is only
in the power of His resurrection. And that's it, isn't it? There is no other hope, there
is no other way. You see, we are not saved, are
we, by anything but the blood of Christ. And nothing but the
blood of Christ can take away sin. And nothing but the blood
of Christ applied to the heart, to the soul. And His robe of
righteousness can satisfy justice. This is what causes death, isn't
it? It's the fact that we have broken
the law. Death is caused by a broken law. And our condemnation is by a
broken law. I know the Fullerites tell us
it's because we haven't believed. But that's absolutely not true.
That's not what condemns a man at all. He's condemned by breaking
the law. We've all broken the law. And
thus the Lord Jesus had to fulfil the law. He had to fulfil the
law. Is that not what makes the atonement
so complete? And is that not what makes victory
over death, which is what the Lord Jesus Christ achieved, an
absolutely perfect victory? And that is again another reason
why the atonement must be limited. It must be a particular redemption. Because to have anything short
of that is to state that the Lord Jesus has failed in His
atonement. But He couldn't fail. He can't
fail. But He won't fail. That's what it means when it
says, as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made
alive. It doesn't mean all men indiscriminately. But it means
all men from the first man, Adam, until the last man that is to
be saved. But we have to remember, even
the reprobate will be raised. They'll be raised to condemnation,
but they'll be raised. They'll be raised. They'll be
raised. Then cometh the end when he shall
have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father. In other words, when He's gathered
in, all is elect, when His people have come in that right order,
when He shall have to put down all rule and all authority and
power. And He confirms this in the following
verse, for He must reign till He hath put all enemies under
His feet. Now, people tell you, this conversation all the time
where people tell you the devil is running the earth as it were
that he's in charge I get this all the time particularly with
dispensational folk we hear it all the time he's the prince of the power
of the air yes but he's not in control he's not in control he's not in control Lord allows
him to go about, as he does, deceiving the nations but he's
not in control he must reign the Lord reigns today he reigns
in the hearts of his people he reigns, and how does he reign?
he reigns in spiritual life that's how we are kings and priests
unto God He reigns in spiritual life. There's not going to be
some future reign on the earth. He reigns in the hearts of His people,
continually. Until He's brought them all home. Till He hath put all enemies
under His feet. And we read of the judgement
at the end. And then we have this verse.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. It's the
final enemy. It's the final enemy. Death has
claimed the lives of so many, hasn't it? The natural death.
But we have to remember that a spiritual man may die once but he lives twice. A natural man, he lives once
but he dies twice. So what does the Lord Jesus say?
He that believeth in me shall never die. Now death claims the
natural life. But you see, we know after death
the judgment. And to believe in Christ, is
it not to be wrapped in the righteousness of Christ? Is it not to know
Him absolutely and completely? You see people speak of the judgment
as standing trial and your deeds being weighed one against another.
If we were to be judged in that fashion none of us would stand
anything. The judgment shall be a declaration
of what God has done. In the hearts of his people,
it will be a declaration of the righteousness of Christ and of
sin being covered. To the reprobate, they shall
have to face their sins in their own person. The full weight of them. The
full weight of them. And God being an eternal being,
the price must be an eternal price. That's why the Lord Jesus
had to come. That's because He is God. He
is the eternal Son of God. You see, if the Lord Jesus were
not the eternal Son of God, we would have no hope. That's the
reality of it. That's the reality of it. It's the step,
isn't it? Between me and death. there is death and there is life you and I as we go about our
time upon the earth speak to people who are either living
or dead they might be physically alive but most we speak to are
spiritually dead and that's what we see here that's what we read
here she'll never die either believe
it or not she'll never die we often read texts like that, I
think and we don't take in the full weight of what they mean
to never die you see, we carry about bodies, sin and death and
very often does the Lord not make his people tired of this
natural state, to be tired of the earth and to be sick of sin. And he makes them and brings
them to a place wherein they are enabled to let go of everything. And to sing with the hymn writer
O Lord, I could from all things parted be, but never, never,
O Lord, from Thee. That's what he does. That's what he does. These are the exercises of the
heart and of the soul. You say, isn't that the reality of
living Christianity? So we can all preach a theological
sermon, make a few expository or doctrinal points. But we're in the balances. We have to preach of the exercises
of the heart and of the soul. David knew the situation he was
in. But the Lord delivered him from
all his troubles. And at the end of his life, he
made a good end. Now, for you and I that remain
here upon the earth, we have to say with Paul that
to live is Christ, do we not? It's for the cause of Christ.
For the cause of the Gospel. to set those things forth that
we truly and really believe and to live unto Him. Unto Him. You see the Lord has every right
to take from us our life any time He pleases. That's His right. That's His right. But Whilst we're here, we have lives
to lead, don't we? But I'll tell you this, a life
lived in the service and for the cause of Christ is the only
truly satisfying and the only truly fulfilling life. You see,
that's the sad element of it. you know people look upon God's
church as very restricted and leading very narrow and bigoted
and difficult lives and so on and so forth perhaps you get
this sort of thing from relatives all the time they see you as
limiting yourself but actually they're the ones in bondage they're
the ones in bondage because they're never satisfied they always want
more And they always want something else. And nothing is ever right. And then after that they meet
their end. To live is Christ. And to die is gain. to see the end of all the things
that have troubled us that have perplexed us that have caused
us grief upon this earth we have to remember these things are
only a step they're only a step the Lord is in absolute control,
He knows exactly what He's doing these things are written that
we may take heed that life and death far be it from what we
think is not in our own hands but is in the Lord's medical science has improved
it's a good thing advocate that average life expectancy in this
country has increased but you know nobody can put off
that day nobody can put it off we won't put it off it will come it will come but to know the
deliverance from eternal death and to live in eternal glory in an eternal bliss where there's
no sin Where there's no sorrow, where the former things are passed
away, it's not that the prospect of the real believer. There is
but a step between me and death. I'll leave it there for this
evening. Amen.