How wonderful to take the last step (in the world) of obedience to God and to walk upright into the company of the heavenly host shouting Hallelujah all the way! May Christ give us the faith to walk on the water of death as He walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee.

It may have been difficult for Aaron and Moses and their families when they came to the hour of parting. Perhaps their wives had already gone on before them. Both men walked forward in joy to renew acquaintances with their relatives and friends who had died during the forty years of the wilderness wanderings.

We must remember that the Lord Jesus was a young man who was tested along the same lines as we. He too had a father and mother, brothers and sisters, as well as faithful disciples, whom He had to leave as He went to His Father.

But, as in every other matter, the Lord Jesus acted in unquestioning obedience to the Father, knowing that this always is (ultimately) the path of joy. His hour had come.

Jesus yielded up His Spirit on the cross of Calvary, but only when His work on earth was finished.

Paul had a strong desire to go home to be with the Lord, but the needs of God's elect held him in the valley of tears.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. (Philippians 1:21-24)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (II Corinthians 5:8)

Finally the Lord notified Paul that his work was finished. Can you imagine Paul's joy?

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (II Timothy 4:6)

No more chains for Paul. No more thorns in the flesh. No more whippings or stones or perils among false brothers. No more cold, dark, dirty Roman prison cells for this Hebrew of the Tribe of Benjamin. No more chains keeping him bound to a Roman soldier or to a sinful body.

Before Paul's joyful gaze the golden streets of Heaven were appearing, the way lined with cheering throngs as the Lord's runner plunged the last few yards to the finish line. He could see the Judge standing to His feet and applauding with the multitude the faithful saint to whom alone had been entrusted the explanation of the transition from the Law of Moses to the grace of God through Christ.

Moses, Elijah, James, and others of Jesus' "mighty men" stood in the welcoming committee. A smiling Stephen was holding out his hands in greeting.

And there was Jesus! Jesus Himself was coming to receive this determined Jew who, in obedience to God, had dared to abandon his faith in circumcision and the Torah that he might trust in Christ alone for his eternal salvation.

The "new wine" in Paul swelled in adoration and glory until the old wineskin began to burst.

Compare this triumphant entry with the tormenting agonies the "believers" experience as one of their saved relatives or friends approaches the moment of physical death, sometimes with plastic and steel life-support equipment keeping his heart beating long past the completion of his task on the earth.

To be continued.