Thursday, December 27, 2012

Chap. 362 - Longing for Heaven


"My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart
and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psalm 84:2.
When God’s people take their eyes off the things of this world and place them
on heaven and heavenly things they will be a peculiar people, because they will
see the mercy and goodness and compassion that God has shown to the children
of men. His love will call forth a response from them, and their lives will show to
those around them that the Spirit of God is controlling them, that they are setting
their affections on things above, not on the things of the earth.
In thinking of heaven, we may put our imagination to the utmost stretch and
think the loftiest thoughts that we are capable of thinking, and ours mind will grow
weary in the effort to comprehend the breadth and depth and height of the subject.
It is impossible for our minds to take in the great themes of eternity. It is impossible
for us even to make an effort to understand these things without the effort affecting
our whole character for good and having an uplifting influence on our minds. As
we think of how Christ came to our world to die for fallen man, we understand
something of the price that was paid for our redemption, and we realize that there
is no true goodness or greatness apart from God.
Only by the light shining from the cross of Calvary can we know to what depths
of sin and degradation the human race has fallen through sin. Only by the length
of the chain let down from heaven to draw us up can we know the depths to which
we had sunk. And it is only by keeping the unseen realities in view that we can
understand anything of the wonderful theme of redemption.
We are almost home; we shall soon hear the voice of the Saviour richer than
any music, saying, Your warfare is accomplished. Enter into the joy of thy Lord.
Blessed, blessed benediction; I want to hear it from His immortal lips. I want to
praise Him; I want to honor Him that sitteth on the throne. I want my voice to echo
and re-echo through the courts of heaven. Will you be there? ... God help us, and
fill us with all fullness and power, and then we can taste of the joys of the world to
come."

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