What a Heaven!
(J. A. James, "The Practical Believer Delineated")
Heaven will consist of . . .
the moral perfection of the soul,
perfect knowledge,
perfect holiness,
perfect love,
perfect likeness to Christ,
perfection of the body in . . .
incorruptibility,
immortality,
glory, and
spirituality;
the presence of God in the full manifestation of His glory,
the beatific vision of Christ,
the fellowship of angels and all the redeemed,
the joint worship of the heavenly multitudes,
the perfect service of Christ, without . . .
interruption,
imperfection, or
cessation,
complete freedom from . . .
pain,
toil,
hunger,
thirst,
anxiety,
fear,
sorrow,
death!
Such is the substance of heavenly felicity. Take
any one of them by itself--and each is a Heaven!
Add them altogether--and what a Heaven!
How pure! How elevated! How felicitous!
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Go to Him in your emptiness, and receive daily out of His fullness!
(Ashton Oxenden, "The Christian Life")
"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord--so walk in Him!" Colossians 2:6
We are apt to think that all we need is to look to Christ as our Sin-bearer; and that, having once gone to Him in faith, and obtained forgiveness, the work is done. But the believer now needs the same Savior who pardoned him--to be ever with him, to help him on his way, and to keep his soul alive. He must ever run his Christian race, 'looking unto Jesus.' He must 'come out of the wilderness, leaning on his Beloved.' In himself, the believer is powerless. Christ is both the Life and Strength of the renewed soul.
The believer needs daily strength. He cannot fight by his own power. He cannot even walk alone. If he hopes to resist temptation, and to lead a holy life of service to his heavenly Master--if he wants boldly to come out from the world, and to stand forth as a decided follower of Christ--he must look to Jesus for daily grace to strengthen him.
It is living upon Christ, which alone can make us growing, thriving, vigorous Christians!
To be ever looking to Christ for grace, to be constantly stretching out the hand and heart to Christ for help, to be daily feeding upon Him--this is the secret of all our spiritual life, and of all our spiritual well-being.
Never suppose that you can become strong enough to do without Christ. Never imagine that you can reach such a point, that you are anything more than a poor, helpless being. As you humbled yourself beneath His cross at the first--so continue to feel your place to be in the dust before Him, your righteousness to be as filthy rags, your strength as utter weakness!
Go to Him in your emptiness, and receive daily out of His fullness!
________________________________
The Bible!(author unknown)
"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe!" 1 Thessalonians 2:13
The Bible contains . . .
the mind of God,
the state of man,
the way of salvation,
the doom of sinners, and
the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy,
its precepts are binding,
its histories are true, and
its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise,
believe it to be safe,
and practice it to be holy.
The Bible contains . . .
light to direct you,
food to support you,
and comfort to cheer you.
It is . . .
the traveler's map,
the pilgrim's staff,
the pilot's compass,
the soldier's sword and
the Christian's charter.
Here too, Heaven is opened--and the gates of Hell are disclosed.
Christ is its grand subject,
our good is its design, and
the glory of God is its end.
The Bible should . . .
fill the memory,
rule the heart
and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.
The Scripture is . . .
a mine of wealth,
a paradise of glory,
and a river of pleasure!
It . . .
is given to you in life,
will be opened at the judgment,
and be remembered forever.
The Bible . . .
involves the highest responsibility,
rewards the greatest labor, and
will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents!
"Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in Heaven!" Psalm 119:89
"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe!" 1 Thessalonians 2:13
The Bible contains . . .
the mind of God,
the state of man,
the way of salvation,
the doom of sinners, and
the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy,
its precepts are binding,
its histories are true, and
its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise,
believe it to be safe,
and practice it to be holy.
The Bible contains . . .
light to direct you,
food to support you,
and comfort to cheer you.
It is . . .
the traveler's map,
the pilgrim's staff,
the pilot's compass,
the soldier's sword and
the Christian's charter.
Here too, Heaven is opened--and the gates of Hell are disclosed.
Christ is its grand subject,
our good is its design, and
the glory of God is its end.
The Bible should . . .
fill the memory,
rule the heart
and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.
The Scripture is . . .
a mine of wealth,
a paradise of glory,
and a river of pleasure!
It . . .
is given to you in life,
will be opened at the judgment,
and be remembered forever.
The Bible . . .
involves the highest responsibility,
rewards the greatest labor, and
will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents!
"Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in Heaven!" Psalm 119:89
__________________________
The varied and rich profusion with which God had clothed His world!
(Thomas Guthrie)
As we looked down on the pleasant scene, we were astonished at the varied and rich profusion with which God had clothed His world.
Nature, like Joseph, was dressed in a coat of many colors--gray, black and yellow lichens clad the rock.
The glossy ivy, like an ambitious child, had planted its foot on the crag, and, hanging on by a thousand arms, had climbed to its stormy summit.
Mosses, of hues surpassing all the colors of the loom, spread an elastic carpet around the gushing fountain.
The wild thyme lent a bed to the weary, and its perfume to the air.
Heaths opened their blushing bosoms to the bee.
The primrose, modesty shrinking from observation, looked out from its leafy shade.
At the foot of the weathered stone, the fern raised its plumes, and on its summit the foxglove rang his beautiful bells; while the birch bent to kiss the stream, as it ran away laughing to hide itself in the lake below, or stretched out her arms to embrace the mountain ash and evergreen pine.
By a very slight exercise of imagination, in such a scene one could see Nature engaged in her adorations, and hear her singing, "The earth is full of the glory of God! How manifold are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! In wisdom You have made them all."
Insects--as well as angels,
the flowers that spangle the meadow--as well as the stars that spangle the sky,
the lamp of the glowworm--as well as the light of the sun,
the lark that sings in the air--and the seraph that is singing in Heaven,
the thunders that rend the clouds--or the trumpet that shall rend the tomb
--these and all things else, reveal God's attributes and proclaim His praise!
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6
(Thomas Guthrie)
As we looked down on the pleasant scene, we were astonished at the varied and rich profusion with which God had clothed His world.
Nature, like Joseph, was dressed in a coat of many colors--gray, black and yellow lichens clad the rock.
The glossy ivy, like an ambitious child, had planted its foot on the crag, and, hanging on by a thousand arms, had climbed to its stormy summit.
Mosses, of hues surpassing all the colors of the loom, spread an elastic carpet around the gushing fountain.
The wild thyme lent a bed to the weary, and its perfume to the air.
Heaths opened their blushing bosoms to the bee.
The primrose, modesty shrinking from observation, looked out from its leafy shade.
At the foot of the weathered stone, the fern raised its plumes, and on its summit the foxglove rang his beautiful bells; while the birch bent to kiss the stream, as it ran away laughing to hide itself in the lake below, or stretched out her arms to embrace the mountain ash and evergreen pine.
By a very slight exercise of imagination, in such a scene one could see Nature engaged in her adorations, and hear her singing, "The earth is full of the glory of God! How manifold are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! In wisdom You have made them all."
Insects--as well as angels,
the flowers that spangle the meadow--as well as the stars that spangle the sky,
the lamp of the glowworm--as well as the light of the sun,
the lark that sings in the air--and the seraph that is singing in Heaven,
the thunders that rend the clouds--or the trumpet that shall rend the tomb
--these and all things else, reveal God's attributes and proclaim His praise!
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6
_____________________________________
I would not live here always!
(Thomas Guthrie)
"Arise and depart; for this is not your rest--because it is polluted!" Micah 2:10
In his best hours, home, his own sinless home--a home with his Father above that starry sky--will be the wish of every Christian. He looks around him--the world is full of suffering; he is distressed by its sorrows, and vexed with its sins. He looks within him--he finds much in his own corruptions to grieve for. In the language of a heart repelled, grieved, vexed--he often turns his eye upward, saying, "I would not live here always!" (Job 7:16)
Not for all the gold of the world's mines;
not for all the pearls of her seas;
not for all the pleasures of her flashing, frothy cup;
not for all the crowns of her kingdoms--
would I live here always! Like a bird about to migrate to those sunny lands where no winter sheds her snows, or strips the grove, or binds the dancing streams--the Christian will often in spirit be pruning his wing for the hour of his flight to glory!
"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23
(Thomas Guthrie)
"Arise and depart; for this is not your rest--because it is polluted!" Micah 2:10
In his best hours, home, his own sinless home--a home with his Father above that starry sky--will be the wish of every Christian. He looks around him--the world is full of suffering; he is distressed by its sorrows, and vexed with its sins. He looks within him--he finds much in his own corruptions to grieve for. In the language of a heart repelled, grieved, vexed--he often turns his eye upward, saying, "I would not live here always!" (Job 7:16)
Not for all the gold of the world's mines;
not for all the pearls of her seas;
not for all the pleasures of her flashing, frothy cup;
not for all the crowns of her kingdoms--
would I live here always! Like a bird about to migrate to those sunny lands where no winter sheds her snows, or strips the grove, or binds the dancing streams--the Christian will often in spirit be pruning his wing for the hour of his flight to glory!
"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23
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