And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. – Gen. 46:30
Strange request! What, just come to the sight and embrace of thy long-lost son, and yet wish to leave him at the very first interview? One would have thought the language of Jacob should have been, Happy man! I not only see my beloved son, but also see him governor over all the land: I hope I shall live long to enjoy his riches and grandeur. But no: the good man had lived long enough to make an estimate of the uncertainties of life; to know the evil of days, the vicissitudes of time, and how soon the day of brilliant joy might be changed into an eclipse of gloom and sadness. The sight of his son was the summit of his wishes: that granted, he sought no more; he wished to be at home with his Lord.
Happy christian, thus to hold as subordinate all creature enjoyments, even when at their highest flood, and to have the mind go out in longings for the heavenly world: this bespeaks the spirituality of the affections. Many have for a time manfully withstood the frowns of the world; but its smile& have caressed, enchanted, and at last overcome them. To choose death, to be with Jesus, when all things around are inviting and engaging, shows that Christ has the supreme affections of our hearts.
Here see the nature of christian faith. It confesses that Christ is come in the flesh: that though he was dead, yet he is alive for evermore, and hath the keys of hell and of death: and that he has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Therefore, as Israel rejoiced to see his beloved son, and could depart in peace, so the believer rejoices at the sight of Christ by faith. Christ is the glory of the believer's soul. He can die peacefully, viewing the death of Christ for his justification, and the intercession of Christ prevailing for his eternal glorification.
This faith is more than a notion in the head: it brings victory into the heart. "For this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith: who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" I John 5:4,5. It is impossible to overcome the world, in any other way than by seeing greater glory and happiness in the Son of God than this world can bestow: but by faith we see this; therefore we exchange shadows for Substance, baubles for jewels. O, rest not in a dead faith, which brings not the glory of Christ into the heart, and brings no glory to Christ in the life.