Prayer for God’s Help at Life’s End

“Come, Lord Jesus,” I now say with the spiritual Bride; “even so, come,” and take my soul unto Thyself. I have had a foretaste of heaven, and I long and thirst for its fulness. I am not alarmed by the thought of death; for I die in the love of my heavenly Father. He who through all my life has sustained, nourished, led, and guided me, — should He now, when the end of my life approaches, forsake me? O no; His great love for me will not permit Him to do so. If an earthly father remains with his sick child, and helps him as much as he can, how much more certainly will my heavenly Father now grant me His almighty support! Yea, He will bestow upon me the inheritance which Jesus has acquired for me by His death. He will bid me inherit the kingdom prepared for me from the foundation of the world.

I am not afraid of death; for I die united with Jesus Christ. I entered into fellowship with Him here by faith, and that fellowship shall never cease. I am a living member of the body of Christ. He is the head. And just as the head knows how the members fare, so Jesus knows how matters stand with me. I am in Him, and He in me; and in this fellowship with Him I desire to die. He has said: “I am with you alway even unto the end of the world;” and He will be with me in death. Just as He loved His own even unto the end, and gave Himself into death for them; so He loves His own when they are about to die. Since I am safe in Jesus’ arms, death is not terrible to me. I have with me Him who has robbed death of its sting. Here already Jesus has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and covered me with the robe of His righteousness; there He will put upon me the white robe of honor and glory. The Bridegroom of my soul will lead me to the wedding; the Friend of my soul will make me partaker of His glory. My Lord will fulfill in me His promise: “Where I am, there shall also my servant be.”

Death has no terrors for me; for I die in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. He has consecrated my heart as His temple in this life: and He will remain united with me in death. He who has so often comforted me in my sadness, cheered me in suffering, refreshed me in trouble, and sustained me under the cross, will not forsake me in my last hour, but will bear witness with my spirit that I am certainly God’s child. Though my speech should fail me and deprive me of the power to pray, He will make intercession for me with, groanings which cannot be uttered. Yea, since He is the earnest of our inheritance, He already assures me, that I am an heir of heaven and shall enter upon its full possession. The Father holds out the crown to me; Jesus takes me by the hand and leads me to eternal happiness; the Holy Spirit adorns me with light and gladness. The holy angels rejoice over my entrance into the heavenly life of joy: All the elect and saints of God extend a joyous welcome. Amen.