FOUR DOCTRINES IN FIVE WORDS
‘I shall go to him.’
Few, but big with meaning, are these words of the inspired prophet. No less than four scriptural and heart-cheering doctrines are contained in and taught by them.
I. Infant salvation.—‘I shall go to him.’ Whoever may doubt or call in question infant salvation, David believed it, and comforted himself by the faith of it. ‘I shall go to him.’ Whither? To the grave to him? No, no! What communion is there there? Where, then? to purgatory, as some teach? David knew not of such a place. Whither, then, was he to go to him, but to where he was, in heaven? How strange that any, with the Bible in their hand, should be found calling in question what the Holy Spirit so plainly teaches in the above Scripture. David, the inspired prophet of God, and speaking by the Spirit of God, says, ‘I shall go to him.’ Besides, special promises are made to children. No threatenings of eternal misery are found in the Word of God against them. Nineveh was spared for their sake. They are not subjects of a judgment to come. They have done no ‘deeds in the body.’ The Apostle speaks of a generation (infants) who have not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s first transgression. Christ says—and will not that satisfy every one?—‘Of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ Observe, He does not say that such will make a part of the kingdom, but that the kingdom mainly consists of such. ‘Of such is the kingdom of heaven.’
II. Recognition in the future state.—‘I shall go to him.’ But if recognition were not a fact, what better had David been in heaven than he was on earth? But David believed in it, and comforted his stricken spirit by it. And did not Christ teach it in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus; and did not the disciples know at sight Moses and Elias on the mount? And the wicked (we are taught) shall look into the kingdom and see friends and parents there. And shall we know less in heaven than we do on earth?
III. Personal assurance.—‘I shall go to him.’ Not a single doubt does he entertain of it. ‘I shall go to him.’ And is not this assurance the privilege (purchased by the blood of Christ) of every Christian believer? Adam in innocency enjoyed it, and do the blood-bought sons of God enjoy less blessing? Nay, says Christ, ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ And, says the Apostle, ‘We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.’ And ‘the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God.’ Besides, their faith, their repentance, their love of God, say it; and the Holy Spirit both in the Scriptures and in their hearts say it. ‘I shall go to him.’
III. Final salvation of saints.—‘I shall go to him.’ Some call this in question, but David did not. ‘I shall go to him.’ Were our salvation of ourselves, we might call in question the doctrine; but as it is wholly of God, He will perfect His own work. Hear Him Who cannot lie: ‘I give to My sheep eternal life. They shall never perish,’ etc. How can God condemn those He has pardoned and justified, or how cast off those He has adopted as His own? Hence, says the Apostle, ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’ ‘There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.’ Well, then, might David say, and every Christian parent, mourning his or her infant dead—‘I shall go to him.’
Illustrations
(1) ‘It is certain by God’s Word, that children which are baptized, dying before they commit mortal sin, are undoubtedly saved.’— Rubric, Public Baptism of Infants.
(2) ‘The following well-known epitaph was placed on the tombstone of four infants:—
“Blind infidelity, turn pale and die:
Beneath this stone four infant children lie,
Say, are they lost, or saved?
If death’s by sin, they sinned, for they are here;
If heaven’s by works, in heaven they can’t appear:
O reason! how depraved.
Revere the sacred page, the knot’s untied;
They died ’cause Adam sinned;
They live ’cause Jesus died.”
That is, imputation of Adam’s guilt slew them,—imputation of the righteousness of Christ saved them.’
(3) ‘ “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” The glimpse of the future expressed in these words is touching and beautiful. The relation between David and that little child is not ended. Though the mortal remains shall soon crumble, father and child are not yet done with one another. But their meeting is not to be in this world. Meet again they certainly shall, for “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” And this glimpse of the future relation of parent and child, separated here by the hand of death, has ever proved most comforting to bereaved Christian hearts. Very touching and very comforting it is to light on this bright view of the future at so early a period of Old Testament history. Words cannot express the desolation of heart which such bereavements cause. When Rachel is weeping for her children she cannot be comforted if she thinks they are not. But a new light breaks on her desolate heart when she is assured that she may go to them, though they shall not return to her.’