Arranged by
The obscurest Christian, hidden away in the lowliest or most neglected spot, will not be overlooked by the angels when they come to gather in Christ’s little ones. Some years ago a ship went down on the British coast, and all on board was lost. None of the bodies of those who had perished were found, save that of an infant, which was washed ashore among the wreckage. The kindly people of the village, who picked it up, buried the body, and having no clue to the baby’s name, put on the little stone simply, “God knows.” When the angels come, they will know whose body it is, and will not pass it by.
So will they know all Christ’s little ones. The place where they sleep is well marked for the heavenly watchers. It will make no difference, either; that many of them die long before Christ himself comes again. These will miss nothing. They will be called up in time to witness all the glory and share in all the triumph. So Paul tells us that we should not sorrow for the Christian dead, as those who have no hope, for that “them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him”; and “the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” There is only one thing that we need to concern ourselves about – that we are indeed of those who have accepted Christ, and have been faithful to him in this life. It will not matter, in that day, whether we have been rich or poor, famous among men or unknown and overlooked; the only determining element in life will be, whether or not we have belonged to Christ.