One hour in heaven. By Charles Spurgeon. Philippians chapter 1, verse 23. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.

What would it be like to have one hour in heaven? Not to escape trouble merely, nor to walk golden streets for novelty's sake, but to be where Jesus is. That is the believer's greatest joy. the sum and substance of all heavenly delight.

Paul did not long for death because he was weary of life, but because being with Jesus was better by far than even the most fruitful life on earth. The streets of gold, the gates of pearl, what are these to me? My heaven is to see my Savior's face and lie forever in His embrace.

In one hour in heaven, the soul would drink more deeply of joy than in a lifetime below. Here on earth, even the most blessed moments are but sips from a thimble. There, the believer drinks from the river of God's pleasures.

All sin left behind. No more weary striving against the flesh. No more battling the darkness. In that hour, holiness would not be a struggle, but a nature complete, untainted, radiant.

Think of it. One hour of seeing the face of Jesus, not by faith, not through a veil, but face to face. The Lamb slain, yet enthroned. The wounds still visible, yet glorified. That one sight would eclipse every earthly treasure and all former sorrows.

The mind would be filled with divine truth, the heart would be consumed with perfect love, and the will would be fully surrendered in joyful obedience. No distractions, no doubts, no distance. Only worship, adoration, and praise.

The believer would be among the redeemed from every nation, singing the Song of the Lamb. Yet not one moment would be spent drawing attention to self, but all glory would be directed to the One who bought us with His blood.

Just one hour in such a place would make every earthly loss seem light and every affliction but momentary. What holy motivation this should bring! If an hour there is so rich, then how can we live for the fading trifles of time? How can we cling to dust and shadows when the substance awaits?

Let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Let us live not for fleeting temporal comforts, but for the eternal weight of glory. For one hour in heaven will soon be followed by endless ages in the presence of our matchless King.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.