'Their works do follow them.' These are the words of the Spirit
concerning 'the dead who die in the Lord.' We need not fear marring
the great truth that 'not by works of righteousness but by His mercy
He saved us,' if we firmly grasp the large assurance which this text
blessedly contains. A Christian man's works are perpetual in the
measure in which they harmonise with the divine will, in the measure
they have eternal consequences in himself whatever they may have on
others. If we live opening our minds and hearts to the influx of the
divine power 'that worketh in us both to will and to do of His good
pleasure,' then we may be humbly sure that these 'works' are eternal;
and though they will never constitute the ground of our acceptance,
they will never fail to secure 'a great recompence of reward.' To many
a humble saint there will be a moment of wondering thankfulness when
he sees these his 'children whom God hath given him' clustered round
him, and has to say, 'Lord, when saw I Thee naked, or in prison, and
visited Thee?' There will be many an apocalypse of grateful surprise
in the revelations of the heavens. We remember Milton's noble
explanation of these great words which may well silence our feeble
attempts to enforce them--
'Thy works and alms and all thy good endeavour
Stood not behind, nor in the grave were trod,
But as faith pointed with her golden rod,
Followed them up to joy and bliss for ever.'
So then, life here and yonder will for the Christian soul be one
continuous whole, only that there, while 'their works do follow them,'
'they rest from their labours.'