Many Mansions # 3

Many Mansions # 3

And now, in conclusion, some will say that such a subject as this is not practical. Well, in one sense, it is not and yet I think it has a very practical tendency. Is it not practical to show you something of the attractions of Heaven so that you may desire it very powerfully; so that you may daily live in cultivating a fitness for its enjoyment; so that you may seek to lay up for yourselves a treasure there?

Surely that is practical enough. I tell you what I think: anything is practical which will make you think of  this poor world, make you think more of the world which is to come, wean your affections from earth, lead you to long after Heaven.

At all events this is practical; that Heaven, as vast as it is, will not receive you should you knock at its door, and it be found that you have come there with an unholy heart. In it "nothing shall enter which defiles, neither whatever works abomination or makes a lie, but those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Let me say to those who have good reason to think that their names are there: Oh! look upon that Heaven as your home; try to get your affections weaned from earth, and set them on things that are above. Remember, this is not your rest; your rest is there!

Habitually, think of Heaven as your home, and when you contemplate death, it will have no terrors for you, and when you die you will be able to look upon your death as a going home, and to rejoice with one who said, as she lay in her dying bed: "I'm going home! I'm going home!"

~W. Landells~

(The End)
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Never Separated from God

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"   (John 11:26).
Yes, LORD, we believe it; we shall never die. Our soul may be separated from our body, and this is death of a kind; but our soul shall never be separated from God, which is the true death -- the death which was threatened to sin -- the death penalty which is the worst that can happen. We believe this most assuredly, for who shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD? We are members of the Body of Christ; will Christ lose parts of His Body? We are married to Jesus; will He be bereaved and widowed? It is not possible. There is a life within us which is not capable of being divided from God: yea, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and how then can we die? Jesus, Himself, is our life, and therefore there is no dying for us, for He cannot die again, In Him we died unto sin once, and the capital sentence cannot a second time be executed. Now we live, and live forever. The reward of righteousness is life everlasting, and we have nothingless than the righteousness of God, and therefore can claim the very highest reward.

Living and believing, we believe that we shall live and enjoy. Wherefore we press forward with full assurance that our life is secure in our living Head.

~Charles Spurgeon~