A Letter To A Close Friend

Dear Friend,

I often wonder how close to death each of us is. Whether we are close enough to see the door creaking open, or whether we are so far from it that it is hidden in the fog of wonder, death is our portion upon which the Lord has cast his sovereign will due to our sin.

But now that sin has taken its journey into the depths of the sea, and now that sin has been sown up in a little bag, and since God remembers them no more, death does not seem to be so mysterious, because God has revealed much of it to us in his word. Death does not seem so lonesome, since we know that, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear no evil, for he is with us. Death does not seem so fearful, for he has cast away our fear of it, not the fact of it, but the result of it. Even the Lord feared at his death, but he looked for the joy that was beyond it. We, too, shall fear in death, no doubt; but we joy in the result of it.

Heaven is waiting; the Devil is defeated; Christ is ready in his own time to literally "bring us to God." We shall see him as he is, and I think we shall not only be blessed and honored to see him face to face, but we shall also be somewhat surprised at his beauty, his glory, and his majesty.

I am not sure that it is very Scriptural to desire that the Lord will come quickly, but sometimes a weak body and a longing soul can hardly do otherwise. Pain and weakness are pushing me in that direction often in these senior days. 

May God give you and your family grace for whatever he has for you. We love you and pray for you often. To God be the glory!

Pastor Dr. Ronnie Wolfe - November 5, 2013
To my friend, Bro. Glenn Archer