Let’s Chat: Pleased to Dwell 18

for the past two thousand years people have discovered that once they catch a glimpse of Jesus, God’s salvation, then death is not the great enemy anymore. The world has been overrun by an army of Simeons: having seen Jesus, they are ready to die. Ready to be martyred. Ready to step into eternity.[1]

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Yesterday, we saw that Jesus “came to people like us so that people like us can come to God.” We asked “Are you fully convinced that Jesus is for you, too? Does this change or challenge how you point people to Jesus where you are?” Simeon was convinced that this Savior was His Savior. And for Simeon, that faith conquered death.

Just as Jesus came for all people, so does death.

Beloved, death is the great king of kings, and the emperor of emperors, the great captain and ruling king of the world; for no king has such dominion as death has. It spreads its government and victory over all nations. Death treats everyone with equality, though he is a tyrant. As a tyrant spares none, he is equal in this. He subdues young and old, poor and rich. He levels sceptres and spades together. He levels all. There is no difference between the dust of an emperor and the meanest man. He is a tyrant that governs over all. And so there is this equity in him, he spares none.[2]

Death would not be so bad if not for the sin which separates us from God, and puts us at war against one another. What are the deepest regrets or fear that cut to the soul laying on the death bed? Relational hostilities, and uncertainty about one’s status before God.

So death has continued from the beginning of the world to this time; but he is a tyrant brought in by ourselves (Romans 5:19). Sin let in death. It opened the door. Death is no creature of God’s making. Satan brought in sin, and sin brought in death. By this, we are accessories to our own murder by the powerful stroke of this prevailing tyrant. For this reason sin is called the cause of death. Sin brought in death, and arms death. The weapon that death fights with, and causes great terror with, it is sin. The cause is armed with the power of the wrath of God for sin, the fear of hell, and damnation. So that wrath, and hell, and damnation, arming sin, it brings a sting of itself, and puts a venom into death. All cares, and fears, and sorrows, and sicknesses, are less and petty deaths, harbingers to death itself; but the attendants that follow this great king are worst of all, as Revelation 6:8, “I saw a pale horse, and death upon it, and after him comes hell.” What were death, if it were not for the pit, and dungeon that follows it? So that death is attended with hell, and hell with eternity . . . it is an evil in itself, and as I said, armed with a sting of sin, after which follows hell. [2]

And yet, here is Simeon. At the end of his life, in his old age, tears running down his face as his heart pounds with anticipation answered: he sees his salvation, and can enter death at peace with God.

Let’s Chat

Let’s pick up on Peter’s questions for the end of the chapter:

After pondering Luke’s account of the birth of the Saviour, are we convinced? Has he piled up enough pairs of witnesses to make a Simeon of us?

Think about the Bible, and think about your own life. Is there enough there for you to trust Jesus to destroy that greatest of all enemies, death, by taking it’s sword of sin away from it?

So where does this leave us? Having seen Jesus, I have seen God’s salvation and now not even death threatens me. Christmas is not about two hours of turkey-induced peace. Christmas peace is not merely momentary tranquillity. Instead, Christmas is about peace with our Creator so that we can enjoy life to the full, a relationship with Him, and a peace that leaves us ready to go home whenever God should call.

Make your home in Jesus. You will never leave it; not even in death.

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[1] Peter Mead, Pleased to Dwell,

[2] Richard Sibbes, The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 2, p. 623