April 20

Morning

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, — Heb 2:14 BSB

Child of God, death has lost its sting because the devil’s power over it has been destroyed. So, don’t be afraid of dying. Ask the Holy Spirit for grace to strengthen you for that final hour, by giving you a deep knowledge and firm belief in your Redeemer’s death. If you live near the cross of Calvary, you can think of death with joy and greet it with delight when it comes. It is sweet to die in the Lord—it’s a covenant blessing to sleep in Jesus. Death is no longer a banishment, but a homecoming, a return to the many mansions where your loved ones already live.

The distance between the glorified souls in heaven and the saints still fighting on earth seems vast, but it isn’t. We’re not far from home—a moment will take us there. The sail is already raised, and the soul is launched on the deep. How long will the voyage be? How many storms will beat against the sail before it reaches the harbor of peace? How long will the soul be tossed on the waves before it reaches that calm sea with no more storms? Listen to the answer: "Absent from the body—present with the Lord."

That ship may have just set out, but it’s already at its destination. The sail is spread, and immediately it arrives. Like the ship on the Sea of Galilee, once tossed by a storm, Jesus said, "Peace, be still," and immediately it reached the shore. Don’t think there’s a long wait between the moment of death and the start of eternal glory. When your eyes close on earth, they will open in heaven. The chariots of fire that carry you won’t take long on their journey. Child of God, what do you have to fear in death, now that through your Lord’s death, its curse and sting have been removed? Now death is only a ladder, with its base in the grave but its top reaching into everlasting glory.

Evening

Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” — 1 Sam 18:17 BSB

The army of God’s chosen people is still fighting on earth, with Jesus Christ as the Captain of their salvation. He promised, "I am with you always, even to the end of the world." Listen to the sound of battle! Let the people of God stand firm in their ranks, and let no one lose heart. Yes, it’s true that here in England, the battle seems to be turning against us. Unless the Lord Jesus lifts His sword, we don’t know what will happen to the church in this land. But let us be courageous and fight like men. Never before has Protestantism seemed to teeter so precariously. A fierce attempt is being made to restore the Roman antichrist to his former power. We need bold voices and strong hands to proclaim the old gospel—the gospel for which martyrs died and confessors suffered. The Savior, through His Spirit, is still present on earth. Let this encourage us. He is in the midst of the fight, and so the battle’s outcome is not uncertain. And as the conflict rages, how comforting it is to know that the Lord Jesus, in His role as our great Intercessor, is constantly praying for His people!

Oh, anxious heart, don’t focus only on the battle below, where the smoke and chaos may overwhelm you, and the sight of blood-stained garments may frighten you. Instead, lift your eyes to where the Savior lives and pleads, for as long as He intercedes, the cause of God is secure. Let us fight as if everything depended on us, but let us look up, knowing that everything truly depends on Him! Now, by the purity of Christian faith, and by the beauty of the Savior’s atonement, by the lilies of truth and the roses of righteousness, we charge you, lovers of Jesus, to fight valiantly in this holy war—for truth, for justice, for the kingdom, and for the crown jewels of your King. Onward! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.