by C. H. Spurgeon
All the issues of death are at Christ's disposal. No man can die unless Jesus opens the mystic door of death. It is our consolation that our death is entirely in his hands. In the midst of fever and pestilence, we shall never die until he wills it.
In the times of the greatest healthiness, when all the air is balmy, we shall not live a second longer than Jesus has purposed; the place, the circumstance, the exact second of our departure, have all been appointed by him, and settled long ago in love and wisdom.
A thousand angels could not hurl us to the grave, nor could a host of cherubim confine us there one moment after Jesus says, "Arise."
This is our comfort. We are "immortal until our work is done;" mortal still, but immortal also.
Let us never fear death, then, but rather rejoice at the approach of it, since it comes at our dear Bridegroom's bidding!
Christ has the key of death, and therefore death to us is no longer a gate of terror.
"Fear not" may be specially applied to the matter of the grave. We need not fear to die, because Jesus has the key of the grave. We shall never pass through that iron gate with an angel to be our conductor, or some grim executioner to lead us into a dreary place of hideous imprisonment. No, Jesus shall come to our dying bed, in all the glory of his supernal splendor, and shall say, "Come with me my spouse, for the day breaks, and the shadows flee away."
The sight of Jesus, as he thrusts in the key and opens that gate of death, shall make you forget the supposed terrors of the grave, for they are but suppositions, and you shall find it sweet to die.
Since Jesus has the sepulcher's key, never fear it again, never fear it again.
Depend upon it, your dying hour will be the best hour you have ever known! Your last moment will be your richest moment, better than the day of your birth will be the day of your death.
It shall be the beginning of heaven, the rising of a sun that shall go no more down forever!
Let the fear of death be banished from you by faith in a living Savior.
"I have the keys of hell and of death."
-----
Excerpt From Christ with the Keys of Death and Hell by C. H. Spurgeon