Sarah Elizabeth Lyons, aged 95, went home to be with the Lord early Wednesday morning. She was the grandmother of the speaker.
She loved to sing the songs of Zion, and was greatly vexed at her inability through weakness to do so. Now she is able to sing again in the presence of her Redeemer!
God's people sometimes puzzle over the unhappy lot of the Saints here on earth. The world might well have said that Mrs. Lyons did not receive any great benefit in being a Christian. She had a hard life, losing her husband very young, losing her sight in mid-life, having to work very hard, encumbered with many ailments and weaknesses.
But God was exceeding good to her! He gave her a daughter, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He gave her a faithful brother Guy Pittman who watched for her and cared for her and helped raise her daughter. He gave her a physician son-in-law who took care of her and ensured a comfortable last several decades of her life.
But most of all, through great sorrow, God saved her! He drew her unto Christ.
Now she is entering into the great joy of eternity, so much greater than any sorrows and infirmities that are now past.
God collects those Saints who think upon Him and trust in Him. He says that we are His jewels, which He gathers, and protects, and treasures, and displays for eternity in Glory!
Then, it is a comfort to read of how our Lord Jesus treated death in His people as mere sleep. Death is our insuperable enemy, but to Jesus it is mere sleep. His raising us from the grave is, to Him, no more difficult that awakening a sleeping child.
For He destroyed the power of death for us at Calvary, praise God! |
