Psalm 23: Crossing Safely When Summoned by the Lord
I had the privilege of being the last friend to visit with LuAnne before she died. I sat with her for a couple of hours on Sunday before evening worship, and she died later that night. By that time, of course, she was no longer conscious. She slept on the bed as I sat in a chair beside her and read Scripture aloud, prayed, and read several pieces to her from John Bunyan.
The last thing I read to her was the final chapter of Part Two of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Many people are familiar with Part One, but I have found over the years that fewer people are aware of Part Two. In Part One Christian becomes a pilgrim and journeys to the Celestial City, but his family refuses to accompany him. Part Two is the story of what happened afterward, when his family’s minds are changed, his wife becomes Christiana, and she and their children go on pilgrimage to the Celestial City, following the footsteps of their father.
The last chapter of Part Two depicts Christiana and various friends from her journey assembled on the bank of the river across from the city. The river depicts death, and the city is Heaven. There the pilgrims wait for word from the King telling them when they are to cross to the other side.
After this, I beheld until they were come unto the Land of Beulah, where the sun shineth night and day. Here, because they were weary, they betook themselves awhile to rest. And because this country was common for pilgrims, and because the orchards and vineyards that were here belong to the King of the Celestial Country, therefore they were permitted to make bold with any of His things. But a little while soon refreshed them here; for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets continually sound so melodiously, that they could not sleep and yet they received as much refreshing as if they had slept their sleep never so soundly. Here also the noise of them that walked in the streets was, "More pilgrims are come to town!" And another would answer, saying, "And so many went over the water, and were let in at the golden gates, to-day!" They would cry again, "There is now a legion of Shining Ones just come to town, by which we know that there are more pilgrims upon the road; for here they come to wait for them, and comfort them after all their sorrow!" Then the pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro. But how were their ears now filled with heavenly voices, and their eyes delighted with celestial visions! In this land they heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing, that was offensive to their stomach or mind; only when they tasted of the water of the river over which they were to go, they thought that it tasted a little bitterish to the palate, but it proved sweeter when it was down.
Eventually letters begin to arrive, and as the major characters prepare to embark on the final stage of their journey, they make brief speeches or offer final sayings on their way to glory. Christiana is the first to go across.
She called for her children, and gave them her blessing, and told them that she yet read with comfort the mark that was set in their foreheads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had kept their garments so white. Lastly, she gave to the poor that little she had, and commanded her sons and her daughters to be ready against the messenger should come for them.
The mark on their foreheads is the mark of God, the seal of the Holy Spirit, the sign given to them at baptism identifying them as servants of the living God, and the messenger that she anticipated would one day come for them was the messenger who would bring news of their own death.
Now, the day drew on that Christiana must be gone. So the road was full of people to see her take her journey. But, behold, all the banks beyond the river were full of horses and chariots, which were come down from above to accompany her to the City gate. So she came forth and entered the river, with a beckon of farewell to those that followed her to the river-side. The last words that she was heard to say were, "I come, Lord, to be with Thee, and bless Thee!"
The next to make the journey was Mr. Ready-to-Halt who had been unable to walk easily in life and had to make his pilgrimage on crutches.
When he came to the brink of the river, he said, "Now I shall have no more need of these crutches, since yonder are chariots and horses for me to ride on." The last words he was heard to say were, "Welcome life!" So he went his way.
After Mr. Ready-to-Halt went Mr. Feeble-mind, whose last words as he crossed the river were: “Hold out, faith and patience!” Then Mr. Despondency and his daughter, Much Afraid, received their summons. “The last words of Mr. Despondency were, ‘Farewell, night! welcome, day!’ His daughter went through the river singing, but none could understand what she said.” Mr. Honest’s last words were: “Grace reigns!” Mr. Valiant- for-Truth quoted Scripture as he waded into the water saying: “Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?”
Mr. Stand-fast is the last pilgrim to cross the river in the story, and his crossing is of particular importance for learning to think rightly of that journey.
Now, there was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr. Stand-fast, when he was about half-way in, stood a while, and talked to his companions that had waited upon him thither. And he said, "This river has been a terror to many; yea, the thoughts of it have also frighted me; but now methinks I stand easy; my foot is fixed upon that on which the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood while Israel went over Jordan. The waters, indeed, are to the palate bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thought of what I am going to, and of the conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing coal at my heart. I see myself now at the end of my journey; my toilsome days are ended. I am going to see that head which was crowned with thorns, and that face which was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith; but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with Him in whose company I delight myself. I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too. His name has been to me as a perfume box; yea, sweeter than all sweet smells. His voice to me has been most sweet, and His countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the sun. His Word I did use to gather for my food, and for medicine against my faintings. He has held me, and hath kept me from my sins; yea, my steps hath He strengthened in His way."
Now, while he was thus speaking, his countenance changed, his strong man bowed under him; and, after he had said, "Take me, for I come unto Thee!" he ceased to be seen of them.
But glorious it was to see how the open region was filled with horses and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and players on stringed instruments to welcome the pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the City.
Those were some of the last words that LuAnne heard in this life, and they are words that should ring in our ears and hearts throughout whatever remains of our own earthly pilgrimage. That night LuAnne crossed over the river of death, and we trust in God’s promise that she was carried by angels and received into Christ’s presence with the glorified saints and pilgrims who had gone there before. Can you imagine what it was like for her to cross over? As I told Dave and Kathy a few days before she died, she will not miss you, though we all will miss her. How different our sense of death and life might be if we could see it with the clarity that Bunyan did in the pilgrims’ story.
Psalm 23 speaks of the confidence we have in passing through the valley of the shadow of death. We will fear no evil. Why? Because we are strong or bold or brave? No, because the Lord is with us. His rod, to fight against our enemies, and his staff, to guide us in the good and right way, are a comfort and support to us.
Jesus is our good Shepherd, and we, as his sheep, must pass through that valley. But the Bible says we are no longer enslaved to the fear of death. Death remains an enemy, but it is an enemy Christ has vanquished in his death and resurrection. Death is a curse, but its holds no terror or danger for the believer anymore. Apart from Christ, men and women live in bondage to the fear of death, but Christ has set us free from its terror by taking our place on the cross and then breaking death’s power from the inside. In his resurrection, we have the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life, but only if we believe.
LuAnne lived and died in faith, and the promises and comfort and hope of the gospel apply to her because they are given to all who believe. They are not given to everyone. The forgiveness of sins and the gift of salvation is not a human right; it is a privilege of the children of God. If you believe in Jesus, then Jesus is your Savior, and you do not have to fear passing through the valley of the shadow of death and crossing the river. Jesus will meet you on the other side, along with all the glorified saints, which now includes our sister LuAnne. But if you do not believe, these promises do not apply to you, and you should fear that valley. You are not strong enough to travel it safely on your own. Only Jesus can bring you through it. You must trust him and not yourself. You must follow him, obey him, and stop living life on your own terms and for yourself.
Saving faith is a living faith, an obedient faith. Do you have such faith? Would any of your friends and family know it? Don’t tell me about the warm feeling you have in your heart. Do you believe? If so, there will be fruit and evidence. You will follow the Lord just as Bunyan’s pilgrims did, just as LuAnne did. We know she was a believer because we could see it, we could see her faith. Where is yours? Will you live your life for the Lord, looking to Jesus, anticipating that river, and eager to cross to the other side? Or will you live for yourself, in disobedience, and hope to claim the promises that do not belong to you at the last hour? A loved one’s funeral is a good time to examine yourself, repent, and make your heart right with God. Your own funeral will be too late.
She called for her children, and gave them her blessing, and told them that she yet read with comfort the mark that was set in their foreheads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had kept their garments so white. Lastly, she gave to the poor that little she had, and commanded her sons and her daughters to be ready [for] the messenger [who would] come for them.
LuAnne was a sinner, just like the rest of us. But she believed in Christ, she loved the Lord, and she sought to serve him during her life. She died as a faithful member of the Church, and we trust, not in her goodness or her kindness or her religious activity but in the God who made her and saved her for himself.
For God so loved the world that he sent his Only Begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. LuAnne believed in Christ, and that is why we have hope today, that is our comfort. She loved the One who loved her first, who loved her best, who loved her to the end, and who loves her still. May God grant each of us to live so that we may never be afraid to die, so that living and dying we may be His, the Lord who gave himself for us and rose again, who leads us safely through the valley of shadow of death and into the joy and glory on the other side.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
