The Moment After Our Friends
Say We Are Dead by J. R. Miller No earthly language is adequate
to describe the blessedness, the joy, the happiness of heaven. Perhaps no human word gathers
and holds in itself so much of the truest meaning of heaven
as the word home. Home is a place of love. It is
a place of confidence. We have nothing to hide or conceal
from each other inside home's doors. We know we are loved. Our faults may be seen and known,
but we are dear in spite of them. We find their sympathy with our
sufferings and patience with our infirmities and shortcomings. Heaven is our home. Into it,
all God's children will be gathered. It is a place of glory, of beauty,
of splendor, a holy place. But, best of all, it is a place
of perfect love. As we read the wonderful description
of the heavenly life in the book of Revelation, we find that all
heaven's glory comes from Christ. Then I saw a lamb, looking as
if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne. Revelation 5 verse 6. Whatever else heaven may mean
to us, it will, first of all, mean being with Christ. Here
we see Him only by faith, oft times dimly. We long to see Him
as He is. Our hearts hunger for Him. We would see Jesus is our cry
all our days. But when the veil which hides
heaven from our sight is torn for us, and the glory is suddenly
revealed, we shall see, first of all, before we look upon any
of the splendors of the place, Him we have loved, our Savior
and our Friend, Jesus Christ. And He will wipe away every tear
from our eyes. Being with Him, we shall need
nothing else to make our blessedness complete. Seeing Him, we shall
be satisfied. Seeing Him, we shall be like
Him, changed fully into His image. Seeing Him, we shall then be
with Him forever. This dull bud will open, and
a glorious rose will unfold in all its splendor. from this poor,
feeble, struggling earthly life, will emerge a child of God in
glorious beauty. If only we could have a glimpse
of ourselves, what we will be, the moment after our friends
say we are dead. Could we go on living as if we
were made only for the earth? Let us not grovel any longer.
Let us who have this glorious future not creep in the slime
and dust. Let us live worthy of our exalted
honor. When we see Christ, we shall
be made like Him. We know that when He appears,
we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. 1 John 3 verse 2. This hope of heaven should strengthen
us to overcome all earthly discouragements. No matter how hard the way is,
the end is glorious. No matter how great the fierceness
of the battle, the weariness of the struggle, the bitterness
of the sorrow, the keenness of the suffering, glory is the final
outcome. And so we will be with the Lord
forever. Therefore comfort and encourage
each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4 verses 17 and
18. This Puritan devotional has been
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