The Close Of Day

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Category: General | Sept 1982

It was to be the Christian doctor's last day on earth. He had lived a full and fruitful life, and God had brought him within months of his four-score years. The passing moments were drawing him closer to that great event when he would "step on shore and that shore heaven, to clasp a hand and that hand God's". As he rested in bed, so weak from his illness, he reached out with both hands as though to clasp something. "Where is the loaf?", he enquired of his wife. In thought he was not an invalid in bed, but he was present with others at "the breaking of bread", the precious remembrance of his Lord and Saviour. This was an event which had meant so much in his life as a Christian. The breaking of bread was first observed in the first church of God of this dispensation, when those who were saved, baptized, and added together, continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread (Acts 2:41, 42). And churches of God today observe it every Lord's day, with the bread and wine.

How deep-seated this experience must have been with the doctor! And herein lies a lesson for us all. If we are to enjoy things spiritual when we are sick or at our journey's end, they must dwell deeply in the recesses of our affections, enabling them to rise later to the surface of the mind. This is what happened to the doctor. Not long afterwards he gave his last, deep sigh and passed into the presence of the King. The Remembrance, celebrated on so many Lord's days of his life with bread and wine, speaking of Christ's body and blood, was now placed by the reality of the divine Person. So came the close of day, opening to the Christian doctor an eternal future.

In a vivid way too, came the close of day for that great warrior preacher John Knox. As he lay dying he called to his Wife to>read to him the text where he had first cast his anchor. She knew the words so well, "Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:2, 3.; A.V). Knox died repeating the words. Day's door then closed and eternity's opened for Knox "to pass from the storm: to one unbroken calm, to wake up and find it glory".

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Sept 1982
General