A Saint is One Who Died in Christ | Psalm 116:15

[00:00:00] Real Truth Daily. This is Daily Truths with Dave Ahlman.

[00:00:08] But what also is a saint? Not only a believer in Christ, but one who has died in Christ.

[00:00:16] Look at this verse. I love this. Did you know it mentions the word saints like 50 times in the Old Testament?

[00:00:32] And here's one of the places. Precious in the sight of the Lord.

[00:00:40] Is the death of his saints. In other words, every time a believer shuts their eyes for the final time.

[00:00:49] With the name of Jesus upon their lips and in their heart.

[00:00:53] It's a precious passing.

[00:00:56] I think of the funerals I've been to for non-believers and all they talk about is what they've done in the past.

[00:01:02] What they've done in the past. What kind of person they were.

[00:01:05] And there's no assurance of eternal life.

[00:01:09] How sad.

[00:01:11] How tough.

[00:01:12] How difficult.

[00:01:14] How despondent it is to hear words where all they talk about is what they did and who they were.

[00:01:21] And there's no hope of eternal life.

[00:01:24] Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

[00:01:28] Hebrews puts it this way.

[00:01:30] Therefore, since we're surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.

[00:01:33] Let us throw off everything that hinders and every sin that so easily entangles us.

[00:01:38] And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

[00:01:43] Fixing our eyes on Jesus.

[00:01:45] The author and perfecter of our faith.

[00:01:47] Who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame.

[00:01:51] And is seated at the right hand of God.

[00:01:54] What's that saying?

[00:01:55] That we run the race to eternal life trusting in Jesus.

[00:01:59] And when we finally leave planet earth, our soul departs from our body.

[00:02:03] And we go to be with Christ.

[00:02:06] Christ.

[00:02:06] What did Jesus say to the penitent thief?

[00:02:09] Did he say, oh as you trust in me, in a month you'll be in heaven.

[00:02:14] When I come back you'll be in heaven.

[00:02:16] Maybe when I think about it and I think you're good enough, you'll get to heaven.

[00:02:20] No, the penitent thief said, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

[00:02:24] And what did Jesus say?

[00:02:26] Verily, verily I say to you today, you'll be with me in paradise.

[00:02:32] So the moment we pass on, our soul separates from our body.

[00:02:39] And we go to be with Jesus.

[00:02:41] St. Paul said it this way.

[00:02:44] I have a desire to depart and be with Christ.

[00:02:47] For me to live is Christ.

[00:02:49] But to die is so much better.

[00:02:53] What do we say when someone dies trusting in Jesus?

[00:02:57] They went to be with the Lord.

[00:03:00] And so I think about my parents on this day, both who are with Jesus.

[00:03:07] Many of you think about a son or a daughter or a husband or a wife who no longer are here,

[00:03:15] but they're with the Lord.

[00:03:17] And the moment they passed on, the Lord Jesus came to them, took them by the hand,

[00:03:22] led them through the dark valley of the shadow of death,

[00:03:25] elevated them into the glorious status of being in the presence of God forever and ever and ever.

[00:03:35] This is what we have in Christ Jesus.

[00:03:38] This is the solid rock of Christ's word.

[00:03:41] This is what we build our life on.

[00:03:44] This is what we teach and believe and confess,

[00:03:47] that those who die trusting in Jesus are glorified and elevated into the presence of God

[00:03:54] and someday will join them.

[00:04:01] I know I've shared this at times with you, but man,

[00:04:09] all my four oldest kids got to meet my parents, spent a lot of time with them.

[00:04:17] But by the time Joey came along, some 14 years after our youngest daughter Faith was born,

[00:04:25] my parents were with the Lord Jesus.

[00:04:30] And I said to Joey, Joey, I wish you could have met my parents.

[00:04:36] They were just awesome.

[00:04:37] They would have loved you.

[00:04:40] My mom would have told you Bible stories and sang you and sang Jesus loves me.

[00:04:45] And my dad would have told you jokes on end.

[00:04:48] And he just was such a wonderful man of God.

[00:04:51] And he loved the Lord.

[00:04:52] And he just had a smile on his face and a joy in his step.

[00:04:56] And when the other kids sat on his lap because he had such a big tummy,

[00:05:01] he'd bounce them on his lap.

[00:05:02] And they loved it because it was such a soft landing.

[00:05:07] I said, son, I wish you could have met them.

[00:05:09] Do you know what he said?

[00:05:10] I will someday, dad.

[00:05:13] This is what we have in Christ Jesus, guys.

[00:05:17] And we exalt and we celebrate and rejoice because of what we have in Christ Jesus.

[00:05:22] You see, a saint is not just someone who believes in Christ.

[00:05:25] A saint is someone who died trusting in Jesus Christ.

[00:05:29] And finally, what is a saint?

[00:05:31] Not only a believer in Christ, not only one who has died in Christ,

[00:05:35] but one who will be raised to meet Christ someday.

[00:05:40] Thank you for tuning in to Daily Truths with Dave Ullman.

[00:05:43] Pastor Dave Ullman is the pastor of Mount Hope Church in Boulder, Colorado.

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[00:05:58] Come back tomorrow for your next Daily Truth.