Charles Spurgeon said, “There is an essential difference between the death of the godly and the death of the ungodly. Death comes to the ungodly man as a penal infliction—but to the righteous as a summons to his Father’s palace! To the sinner death is an execution—to the saint death is casting aside of his sins and infirmities. Death to the wicked is the king of terrors. Death to the saint is the end of terrors, and the commencement of eternal glory!” JR Miller reminds of the truths that Abraham had to learn. God’s thoughts are long; He plans for long periods, for generations and ages future. Because a promise has not an immediate fulfillment, we are not to conclude that it has failed. Some of God’s wheat grains are long in coming to harvest. The same is often true of the Divine promises. They are long in being kept. There must be a time of preparation before fulfillment can come. We do not know what we must suffer and endure—before the spiritual beauty of which we dream when we consecrate ourselves to God, can be realized in us. We are only part, too, of a great company of believers who are to work in the bringing in of the kingdom. Our portion may be small, only a tear or two, only a word spoken for the Master, only a short day of service—and then death. It would take generations, the Lord told Abraham, to make ready for the occupancy of the promised land. Let us learn to believe—and to wait. We do not live for ourselves nor for our own age alone; we live for those who will come after us, even generations hence. We may be only foundation layers—and may never see the superstructure rising. But no matter. If we can make a good beginning, which after we are gone shall grow to nobleness, will not the honor of the work be ours? Indeed, those whom the world honors most highly today—are the men who themselves did not see completed the great things they began. This was true of Abraham, of Moses, of John the Baptist, of Luther, of Calvin. They wrought in faith, receiving not the promise themselves—but only laying foundations for after generations to build upon, sowing seed for future harvests. We as a church need to think about this. What are we building? What foundation are we laying for future generations?