The Joys of that Eternal Banqueting-House
by John Macduff He brought me to the banqueting-house, and
his banner over me was love. Song of Solomon 2.4 He brought me, all of grace,
he justifies, he glorifies, the banqueting-house is entered with
shouting, saying, Grace, grace unto it! Believer, contemplate
the journey ended, the course finished, the victory won. Seated
at the marriage feast of the Lamb in glory, guests talking
to guests with bounding hearts, recounting their Lord's dealings
on earth, the watchword circulating from tongue to tongue, He has
done all things well. Angels and archangels, too, will
be participants in that banquet of glory, and bright seraphs,
who never knew what it was to have a heart of sin or to shed
a tear of sorrow. But, for this reason, there will
be one element of joy peculiar to the redeemed, into which the
other unfallen guests cannot enter, the joy of contrast. How will this present world's
great tribulation, Augment the bliss of a world at once sinless
and sorrowless? How will earth's woe-worn cheek,
And sin-stricken spirit, and tear-dimmed eye, Enhance the
glories of that perfect state, Where there is not that symbol
of sadness, Nor the solitary trace of one lingering teardrop? My soul, seek often to ponder,
in the midst of your days of sadness, the joys of that eternal
banqueting-house. He will wipe every tear from
their eyes. There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain. One moment at that banquet-table,
one crumb of the heavenly manor, One draught from the River of
Life and all the bitter experiences of the Valley of Tears will be
obliterated and forgotten. Look upwards, even now, and behold
your dear Lord preparing you for this glorious feast of fat
things. Do not be troubled. There are
many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place
for you. When everything is ready, I will
come and get you, so that you will always be with me where
I am."