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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Thursday, January 10, 2008
MORNING:
"There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."
-- 2 Timothy 4:8
Doubting one! thou hast often said, "I fear I shall never enter
heaven." Fear not! all the people of God shall enter there. I love the
quaint saying of a dying man, who exclaimed, "I have no fear of going
home; I have sent all before me; God's finger is on the latch of my
door, and I am ready for him to enter." "But," said one, "are you not
afraid lest you should miss your inheritance?" "Nay," said he, "nay;
there is one crown in heaven which the angel Gabriel could not wear, it
will fit no head but mine. There is one throne in heaven which Paul the
apostle could not fill; it was made for me, and I shall have it." O
Christian, what a joyous thought! thy portion is secure; "there
remaineth a rest." "But cannot I forfeit it?" No, it is entailed. If I
be a child of God I shall not lose it. It is mine as securely as if I
were there. Come with me, believer, and let us sit upon the top of
Nebo, and view the goodly land, even Canaan. Seest thou that little
river of death glistening in the sunlight, and across it dost thou see
the pinnacles of the eternal city? Dost thou mark the pleasant country,
and all its joyous inhabitants? Know, then, that if thou couldst fly
across thou wouldst see written upon one of its many mansions, "This
remaineth for such a one; preserved for him only. He shall be caught up
to dwell for ever with God." Poor doubting one, see the fair
inheritance; it is thine. If thou believest in the Lord Jesus, if thou
hast repented of sin, if thou hast been renewed in heart, thou art one
of the Lord's people, and there is a place reserved for thee, a crown
laid up for thee, a harp specially provided for thee. No one else shall
have thy portion, it is reserved in heaven for thee, and thou shalt
have it ere long, for there shall be no vacant thrones in glory when
all the chosen are gathered in.
EVENING:
"In my flesh shall I see God."
-- Job 19:26
Mark the subject of Job's devout anticipation "I shall see God." He
does not say, "I shall see the saints"-though doubtless that will be
untold felicity-but, "I shall see God." It is not-"I shall see the
pearly gates, I shall behold the walls of jasper, I shall gaze upon the
crowns of gold," but "I shall see God." This is the sum and substance
of heaven, this is the joyful hope of all believers. It is their
delight to see him now in the ordinances by faith. They love to behold
him in communion and in prayer; but there in heaven they shall have an
open and unclouded vision, and thus seeing "him as he is," shall be
made completely like him. Likeness to God-what can we wish for more?
And a sight of God-what can we desire better? Some read the passage,
"Yet, I shall see God in my flesh," and find here an allusion to
Christ, as the "Word made flesh," and that glorious beholding of him
which shall be the splendour of the latter days. Whether so or not it
is certain that Christ shall be the object of our eternal vision; nor
shall we ever want any joy beyond that of seeing him. Think not that
this will be a narrow sphere for the mind to dwell in. It is but one
source of delight, but that source is infinite. All his attributes
shall be subjects for contemplation, and as he is infinite under each
aspect, there is no fear of exhaustion. His works, his gifts, his love
to us, and his glory in all his purposes, and in all his actions, these
shall make a theme which will be ever new. The patriarch looked forward
to this sight of God as a personal enjoyment. "Whom mine eye shall
behold, and not another." Take realizing views of heaven's bliss; think
what it will be to you. "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty."
All earthly brightness fades and darkens as we gaze upon it, but here
is a brightness which can never dim, a glory which can never fade-"I
shall see God."
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