In chapter 1, we're told where
John was and why he was there. In verse 9 of chapter 1, John,
who also am your brother and companion, I'm your companion
in tribulation. And in the kingdom and patience
of Jesus Christ was in the owl, but is called Patmos. Why? For the word of God and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ. He was banished there. But instead
of being silenced, which I suppose is what his captors, his persecutors,
wanted, he was given a fresh and glorious view of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And how comforting as we look
at this last book of God's Word to find out how the story ends. How it all comes to a climax
and we find that the Lord Jesus Christ is victorious and all
those with him shall be victorious. Notwithstanding where John was
by his persecutors cast out on this rocky island Notwithstanding
all that, he was exactly, he was exactly where God wanted
him. God put him there. Because John was given this revelation
to strengthen him and to encourage him. He saw the risen, reigning,
sovereign God. Look, if you will, at the very
first verse here in chapter 1, Revelation 1 and 1. We read,
Plainly. Plainly. I hear people talk about
revelations. No, that's not what it says.
Revelation. Singular. And we're told exactly
what it's about. The revelation of Jesus Christ. The revelation of Jesus Christ. That's the one John saw. That's
the one that encouraged him. That's the one that he wrote
of. That's the one that he saw in glory the revelation of Jesus
Christ which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things
which must shortly come to pass. It won't be long. It won't be
long. And he sent and signified it
by his angel unto his servant John. The revelation of Jesus
Christ. Now I have quite a few commentaries
on the whole Bible. And of course, that being so,
the book of Revelation is included in those commentaries. But I
have two, two books that are single commentaries on the book
of Revelation alone. One was written by a man named
William Hendrickson. And it was published in 1940,
and the title of his commentary on Revelation was, More Than
Conquerors. More Than Conquerors. This is
what Paul says in Romans 8 concerning God's people, that there are
more than conquerors through him that loved us. The other
was written by someone you know better than this other fella,
Hendrickson, Don Fortner. It was published in 2002, And the title of that commentary
is Discovering Christ in Revelation. Now if you take those two titles,
you have a pretty good account of what this book is about. It's
Discovering Christ in Revelation, and it shows us that we're more
than conquerors through Him that loved us. Revelation. Apocalypse is the word. And it
means unveiling, uncovering. The unveiling, the revealing
of Jesus Christ as He is. That's who John saw. Not that
deceiver, not that imposter, not that antichrist that our
Lord warned about in Matthew 24. No, John for his blessed
encouragement saw the risen reigning Lord. Anytime you hear anyone,
including me, God forbid that it should ever happen, If it
ever does, get rid of me and find yourself another pastor.
But you ever hear anyone that professes to be preaching Christ
and they present Christ to you as someone who can't, someone
who tries, someone who wants to, you know right away they're
not talking about the Christ of God. They're not talking about
this one that John saw. He saw the risen Lord and he
was given this revelation of Christ as he is to assure every
child of God of their ultimate victory over this world and what
a fierce enemy this world is. Love not the world and the flesh,
O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me? the devil. What a fierce foe he is. But
this revelation of the risen Lord encouraged John and you
and I to know that we shall be brought forth victorious over
all those things. The theme of the book is the
victory of Christ and his church. Look at that one John saw. That
one that was unveiled before him. And we realize it's no wonder
that we must be victorious. Look again, if you will, in chapter
1, verse 8. Chapter 1, verse 8. This is the
one John saw speaking. Now who else could in truth say
such things as this? Verse 8 of chapter 1. I am, I
am. How often he used that word.
I am that I am. He told Moses at the bush. That
was Jesus Christ. I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning
and the ending. Verse 17 in the same chapter.
And when I saw him, now there's an article in your bulletin,
I think the very last article ended, about boastful, proud,
strutting, professing preachers. Oh, I tell you what, anytime
God Almighty, and I don't think there's any exceptions to this,
I'm sure of it. You look throughout the Word
of God and you'll see it. Anytime God Almighty reveals
Himself to a sinner, that sinner in the presence of the true and
living God bows down. That's where he ought to be,
at the footstool of King Jesus. And John said, when I saw Him,
the real Christ, The reigning Christ, the mighty God, the everlasting
Father. When I saw him, I strutted around
like a peacock and said, look at me, look what's happened to
me. I've got something that you don't have. John said, no, no.
That's the furthest thing from his mind. He said, I fell at
his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand up
on me saying unto me, fear not, fear not, for I am the first
and the last. I am he that liveth. and I was
dead. Destroy this body, he told his
enemies. Destroy this temple and in three
days I'll raise it up again. I was dead and behold John, I'm
not dead anymore. I'm alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of
hell and of death. He is the one who says to his
suffering children like John, like John and like you and like
me. He says this, the reigning sovereign
Lord God, the Lord Jesus Christ, he says, when thou passest through
the waters, I, I am, I am, I will be with you. And through the
waters they shall not overflow you. When thou walkest through
the fire, not if you walk through the fire, but when you walk through
the fire, there's no question about it, thou shall not be burned. It's not going to hurt you. You're
going to be more than a conqueror. Neither shall the flame kindle
upon you, for I am the Lord thy God. The Holy One of Israel,
Thy Savior. It's the revelation of the great
God and Savior, the captain of our salvation. That One who's
responsible to keep me. Aren't you glad that impossible
task to anyone else doesn't rest on your shoulders? Aren't you
glad that you're a pretty big fellow, Louie, but you're not
big enough to keep yourself? No, no, no. Neither are you and
neither am I. Oh, but I'm safe in the hands
of the great shepherd who said, none can pluck him out. Oh, don't you like that picture?
Don't you like that picture? The hand of omnipotence. The
hand of all wisdom. The hand of all power. The hand
of God himself. I'm in his hand and none shall
pluck me out. This was the revelation that
John was given to encourage him, and how encouraging it must have
been. How it encourages every weary
pilgrim as they make their journey through this world. Paul said,
it is this, to which he pressed. Forgetting all the things which
are behind, Paul said, I pressed toward the mark. I'm pressing
toward the mark. And what is it you've got your
eyes on, Paul? What is it that so captivates
your heart? What is it that you consider
everything else as dung that you might gain this prize? What is it, Paul? It's a harp
in heaven. It's a mansion next door to Mama's. Oh no, it's the prize of the
high calling of God that's in Christ Jesus. Paul said, I want
to be with Him. That's what I'm pressing toward
at the finish line of this race. When it's run and life is all
over, Paul said, I'll be absent from the body, but I'm not complaining.
I want to be. Because long as I'm here, I'm
not there. When I cease to be here, I'm
going to be there with Him in glory. His promise to you is
this. As it was proven in the case
of John, and proven in your own experience of grace, and proven
by the faithful shepherd to every sheep that's been committed into
his hand, he said to John and the others, I will not leave
you comfortless, I will come to you. They could throw John on the
Isle of Patmos, but that wouldn't stop Christ from coming to him.
They could lock Paul in prison, but they couldn't lock Jesus
Christ out. I'll come to you. I'll not leave
you cumberless. He said, now you go into the
world and you start at Jerusalem. Jerusalem? The place where I
was hated the most? The place where they crucified
the Son of God? The place where they cried, I'll
not have this man rule over me? You want us to start there? and
preached the gospel, and he said, yeah, and lo, I'm with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Verse 5 of chapter 1, Jesus Christ,
who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved
us, unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His
own blood." Now, that being the case, that being the case, is
it any wonder that Paul writes as he does in Romans chapter
8, verse 35, seeing that Christ loved us and washed us from our
sins in His own blood. Seeing that we have been purchased
not with silver and gold, redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus
Christ, he'll not lose that which he purchased at such a great
cost. And it's that that Paul speaks
of and has in mind when he says in Romans 8 verse 35, who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? He loved me. He loved
me enough to give himself for me. He loved me enough to wash
me from my sins in his own blood. Who can separate me from such
love as that? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Paul had experienced all those things. As it is written, for
thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter. But nay, in all these things
Not that we are merely conquerors, but we are more than conquerors. More than conquerors. How can
that be? Because God worketh all things
together for our good, making those very things we think contrary
to us to be the very means by which we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither
life, or rather death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, or any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Yes, I'm with you always, even
until the end of the world. You're familiar with the story
recorded in the Gospels when our Lord said to the disciples,
Let us pass over into the other side, in Mark chapter 4 verse
35. John visited me the other day
and he said, you know Larry, we were sitting in the backyard
and I think as we both agreed when we parted that evening,
I think it was Wednesday, wasn't it John? that we have solved
just about 90% of the world's problems that afternoon setting
out back. But, he said, you know, Larry,
I've concluded the best thing for a child of God to do, come
what may, is to stay in the boat. Stay in the boat. Christ said,
let's get in the boat and let us pass over into the other side. And you know what happened? There
was that fierce storm. But in verse 1 of the next chapter
we read, and they came over unto the other side. That's exactly
what we read here in Revelation chapter 7. These are they which
came out of great tribulation. They all came out on the other
side. That's the title of my message.
On the other side. This passage in John is like
a mirror, isn't it? It's like a mirror set in eternity. And the believer sees reflected
his future hope and glory. We all, as beholding in a mirror
our heavenly glory, are encouraged to look forward to the time when
we shall be changed into the same image from glory to glory
by the Spirit of the Lord. The verses unfold before us,
the former experience and condition of the redeemed under the two-fold
aspect of sin and suffering. Tribulation, robes washed white. Under the aspect of sin and suffering,
but concerning both those things, our sin and our suffering. When we come out on the other
side, there's no trace of either one. No more trouble, no more
sorrow, no more tribulation, and more importantly than that,
glory to His name, no more sin. They all came out unto the other
side. I'm reminded when I was preparing
this message of Bunyan's famous allegory, Pilgrim's Progress. I found this portion of it and
I want to share it with you. Bunyan wrote, and I saw in my
dream that on the morrow he got up to go forward, that is Christian. But they desired him to stay
until the next day also, and then they said, if the day be
clear, tomorrow we'll show you the delectable mountains, which
they said would yet be further and to his comfort because they
were nearer the desired haven than the place where at present
he was. So he consented to stay. When the morning came they took
him up to the top of the house and bid him look south. So he
did and behold a great distance he saw a most pleasant mountainous
country beautified with woods and vineyards and fruits of all
sorts and flowers also with springs and fountains very delectable
to behold. Then he asked the name of the
country and they said that is Emmanuel's land. That's Emmanuel's
land. And to all the pilgrims when
you come there from hence you may see the gate that leads into
the city. That's the mirror that we're
looking at here in Revelation chapter 7. We're looking into
Emmanuel's land. Old Isaac Watts expressed it
this way, when I can read my title clear to mansions in the
skies, I'll bid farewell to every fear. and wipe my weeping eyes. Let cares like a wild deluge
come, and storms of sorrow fall. May I but safely reach my home,
my God, my heaven, my all. There I shall bathe my weary
soul in seas of heavenly rest, and not a wave of trouble roll
across my peaceful breast. On the other side. When we read
here in Revelation 7 verse 14, these are they which came out
of great tribulation. We really shouldn't be surprised,
should we? Because remember what our great
high priest prayed that night? Father, in his high priestly
prayer, among all those other things, he prayed for his sheep. Not a word for himself, but for
his sheep. Read John 17. It's all for them. It's all for them. And he added
this, Father I will also that all those whom thou has given
me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory. Father I want them with me. Now when you read that, when
you hear The mighty God saying, I will. I ask you, who shall
prevent it? When he says, I will also that
they be with me, I ask you, who's going to stop them from being
with him? Who's going to hold them back? Who's going to stop
them from coming through great tribulation? Who's going to prevent
them from beholding the king and his beauty when the king
himself wills that they do so? Christ wants me with him, my
soul. That's astounding. That's astounding
that he should. At least it ought to be. How
can it be, oh, how can it be that thou shouldst love a soul
like me? Oh, how can it be? And yet, how
comforting that he does, that he does. And what assurance that
he wills it to be so. He had no doubt about it, did
he? Listen to the great shepherd. or read along with me. Turn if
you will to John's Gospel chapter 6. These are very familiar passages,
but when we read that he wills that we be with him where he
is, he had no doubt about it. He had no question about that.
In John chapter 6, look at verse 37. He says, All that the Father
giveth me might come to me. Most of them might come to me.
All but one or two might come to me. Thank God there's no such
language as that in scripture. He says, All that the Father
giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father's will which is sent me, that of all,
all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise
it up again at the last day. They all came out. And this is
the will of him that sent me, that every one would seeth the
Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I
will raise him up at the last day." The church of God is Christ's
body. Christ is her head. Wherever
her head is, the body is bound to follow. Are you still in John? Look in chapter 10. John chapter
10. In chapter 6, we read the words
of our great shepherd. Did he sound unsure of the outcome? Not at all. And in John chapter
10, look at verse 9. I am the door. By me, if any
man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find
pasture. Verse 14, I am the good shepherd
and know my sheep and am known of mine. Verse 16, and other
sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring. I must bring. Don't you like
that? There's no maybe about that.
There's nothing doubtful about that. Nothing uncertain. Them
also I must bring and they shall hear my voice. and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd verse 18 no man taketh my life
from me I lay it down on myself I have power to lay it down and
I have power to take it again this commandment have I received
of my father and then again that verse we quoted from John 17
father I will also that those whom thou has given me be with
me where I am that they might behold my Glory. And what we read here in Revelation
7 is a picture of that. That glory that this great multitude
that no man can number has with Him for everlasting and everlasting. This is what the prophet saw
when he said concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, the suffering shepherd
that was smitten. That was bruised, that was crushed
beneath the wrath of a holy God for our sins. That's not all
that Isaiah saw. He saw the outcome of it. What's
all of that for Isaiah? What's going to be the fruit
of that? Did He trod the winepress alone? Was He crushed beneath
the wrath of a holy God? Was He made sin for me? Then what's the outcome of that?
He shall see of the rebel of His soul and be satisfied. My righteous servant shall justify
many because He shall bear their iniquities. That's exactly what
He Himself said. in chapter 12 of John's Gospel.
Except the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone. But if it fall into the ground
and die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Any doubt about that? Any question about that? It wasn't
for him. He says, they shall never perish. They shall all be with me on
the other side. Yes, Daniel went into the lion's
den, didn't he? But he came out. Those three
young men, those three Hebrew children, they went into the
fiery furnace, but they all came out. David said in his most famous
song, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
He's just walking through. He's not staying there, John.
He's walking through. He came out. Why? Because the
Great Shepherd is leading the way. Someone said, when you're
reading the Gospels, this phrase, you come across it again and
again, and it came to pass. Notice that, some preacher said
to a hurting believer. It came to pass. It's not come
to stay. It's come to pass, soon, soon. Your Heavenly Father shall arise
when it's best for His glory and you're good. And He'll arise
with healing in His wings and He'll chase all the clouds away
and you'll see Him as John did in a way that you never had before. And you'll bow down in holy wonder
with a new appreciation of who he is, exclaiming, Hallelujah! What a Savior! There's not a
God like unto our God. More than conquerors. How can that be? Well, Paul tells
us in 2 Corinthians 4 that those things which we think are contrary
to us, those temporal things, are working not against us, Paul
said, but worketh for us. One of the prophets said, Oh,
all these things are against me. No. No, Paul said, they worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Daniel
was exalted. The Hebrew children were exalted.
And you and I shall be exalted. We shall be lifted up to be with
him forever. That where Christ is, there may
we be also. Paul in Romans chapter 8 wrote
this. verses 24 and 25. For we are
saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For what
a man seeth, why doth he get hope for? But if we hope for
that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it? Some, Paul
tells us in Ephesians 2, have no hope. They have no hope. They're without God, without
Christ, without grace in this world. Millions, millions have
a false hope. Having only a form of godliness,
but no power, no real experience of God's grace. Oh, but some,
some, they have a good hope through grace. How good is it? As good as a thrice holy God
can make it. As good as the purpose of God
Almighty, has his way in the armies of heaven and among the
inhabitants of the earth, as good as that, as good as the
precious blood of Jesus Christ that was shed to redeem them
was, as good as that, some have a good hope through grace wrought
in them by the Holy Spirit. And it's a well-grounded hope.
It's grounded, it's settled, it's sure, because it's based
on the oath of God Almighty. and the blood of the covenant
and the earnest of God's Holy Spirit. It's certain to every
believer, every believer. Look in Revelation chapter 14. I love this picture in Revelation
chapter 14. Our treasure is laid up in heaven. Our hearts and our hopes are
there and we shall soon be there too. We'll soon be where our
treasure is. Verse 1 of Revelation 14, and
I looked and lo, a lamb stood on the mount Zion, oh my, but
he's not by himself. Father I will that they also
whom you've given me be with me where I am. With him a hundred
forty and four thousand, all of his chosen, all of his elect,
all of his redeemed, having his father's name written in their
foreheads. Look in chapter 17, Revelation
chapter 17, verse 14. I mentioned at the beginning
that this revelation of the risen, exalted, reigning Lord was given
to John to encourage him, encourage him and us. Verse 14 of Revelation
17, These shall make war with the Lamb. Well, whoever they
are, they're not very smart. These shall make war with the
Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords
and King of kings. And they that are with Him are
called and chosen and faithful. His victory is their victory. His triumph is their triumph. Their joint airs with Him, alike
with James Smith. prayed. I ran across this somewhere
the other day and I made a note of it. He said, Gracious Lord,
give us a steady hope of glory and enable us patiently to bear
all that falls to our lot below, ever remembering that it is through
much tribulation that we must inherit the kingdom of God. Remember, Revelation, this unveiling,
unveils one John Saul who sat upon the throne. He sat upon
the throne. There's nothing more comforting
to a suffering, hurting child of God than this. The Lord God
omnipotent reigneth. That's what they said in Revelation
19. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. And that God that rules That
God that has his way, that God that has his way in the storms
and the whirlwind and the clouds are but the dust of his feet,
that great, omnipotent God is my Heavenly Father. Think about
that. That's why every believer will
land safe on the other side. In Romans chapter 8, Paul does
a little heavenly arithmetic. And I like his calculation. He
says in verse 18 of Romans 8, For I reckon that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us. Paul compares present
sufferings with future glory. Believers are exposed to all
kinds of suffering. And instead of their sonship
being a reason that they're exempt from suffering, it's the very
reason that they do suffer, because ye are sons. And I've known some
that's endured inward suffering, and you have too. What I mean
by that, they seem to be the majority of their time here on
earth to have such a darkness of mind and gloom and distress. They just seem not to be able
to shake off the trouble and the agitation of mind. And then
there are others, we know some, that seem never to have a day
without physical suffering. I think of mine. They seldom
move without suffering. for years altogether at a time.
They live a life of suffering and think so much of heaven along
this line when they read, there is no more pain. And then I've
known some, God's people, that suffer financially. Scarcely
does anything seem to prosper with them. Losses at every turn. And they want to live honestly
in this world. Was it the wise man who said,
Lord, Don't grant me riches lest I be tempted to forget you, but
don't grant me such poverty that I might be tempted to steal.
Just give me that which is convenient for me, what you can trust me
with. And others suffer reproach, misrepresentation,
persecution in the world and in the church by false brethren.
And their prayer is at such times, oh, that I had the wings of a
dove, then would I fly away and be at rest. And then there are
others I've known. And perhaps this is, out of all
those I mentioned, one of the greatest to endure. And that's trouble in the home. Even the
sweet singer in Israel said, although my house be not so with
God. I declare, John, I think you'll
agree with this. You can take a lot that this
old world throws at you, can't you? I mean, we don't expect
to be well treated in this world. Our Savior wasn't. They hated
me. They'll hate you. In the world,
you'll have tribulation. But all that we can put up with
by the grace of God, because we have the blessed comfort of
our home. Home. I won't be mistreated at
home. I won't be misrepresented at
home. I won't have to continually have
my guard up when I'm home. Oh, but even when even there,
if your companion, for example, is an unbeliever, oh, to have
domestic strife, that's tough. That's tough. But whether our
trouble arises from our mind, or the sickness of our body,
or trials in business, or family disorder, or persecution for
Christ's sake, they all came out on the other side. They all landed
on the other side. Jesus on you our hope depends
to lead us on to your abode assured our home will make amends for
all the toil while on the road. May Christ reveal himself to
you this hour with a blessed reviving sense of his love and
faithfulness. Nobody else can do it like he
does, can they? I mean, are you like me? I think
I mentioned this before. But you have a sudden trial. You're hurting, hurting. Who can I talk to? Maybe Louie. Maybe Louie's gonna do this.
I'll go talk to Louie. Eh, miserable comforter. Maybe
I can talk to John. John, he's just not getting it.
He's just not getting it. Maybe Lester. Maybe old Lester.
He's been around a little while. He's experienced a lot of stuff.
Maybe he can help me. Just not quite what I was looking
for. And then you go to the one who
should have went through two in the first place. You go to
that one who sticks closer than a brother. That one who says,
come unto me, Larry. I'm the one that'll give you
rest. They can't give you rest. And he speaks like nobody else
can. And through the sound of the
wind and the waves and the lightning, the thunder, he says, it's I. Don't be afraid. Don't you be afraid. It's me. Nothing's out of control. Like
John, you're right where I want you. We're going to pass over to the
other side. You're going to come out of this
great tribulation. Let me share with you, and I'll
bring this to a close. as evidence of this, where we
have it throughout God's Word, that he'll never forsake his
own, that he proves again and again his grace is sufficient
even for me. One man wrote this. He said,
God laid me on a bed of sickness. I was living a life of engrossing
worldliness. I was taking my health as a thing
of course. I thought that this strong frame
and vigorous pulse and undimmed eye could never in my case be
shattered or impaired. I had no thought of death or
eternity, but he who gave me the abused talent stretched me
on a couch of pain, and year after year I was familiarized
with the dim night lamp, the sleepless nights, the aching
head. Mine was a mournful, monotonous
song. Would to God, I said, it was
evening, and then would to God that it was morning. But he allured
me into the wilderness that he might speak comfortably to me.
I now praise him for it all. I praise him for it all. In the
solitary night watches, my lips were first tuned for the heavenly
song. Heart and flesh fainted and failed
me, but my tribulation led me to him who was the strength of
my heart and my portion forever. Another said, at an unexpected
moment the crash came. The whole fabric of a lifetime
fell to the ground. Seated amid empty coffers and
dismantled walls and blighted hopes, I was led to bring the
perishable into emphatic contrast with the eternal, and I thank
my God for it all. For that whirlwind blast which
swept over me, burying the hoarded treasures of a vain existence,
I would have died the fool that I lived. But the loss of the
gold which perishes led me to the unsearchable riches to lay
up treasure beyond the reach of bankruptcy." To be rich in grace. Rich in
grace. rich in grace and through such
various and mysterious ways God leads his dear children along
and in that day as we read there in Revelation 7 God Almighty
shall wipe all tears from their eyes. Let's read the last few
verses here in Revelation chapter 7. Revelation 7 Therefore are they before the
throne of God, verse 15, and serve him day and night in his
temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among
them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither
shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the lamb, these
are they which follow the lamb. For the lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto
living fountains of waters, and God himself shall wipe all tears
from their eyes. The Lord God says, I will be
their God and they shall be my people. If Jehovah is your God,
all of his glorious attributes and perfections are engaged and
employed for your eternal welfare. His mercy will supply all your
needs, his power will conquer all your foes, and his wisdom
will direct all your ways. and his faithfulness will answer
all your needs and his justice will maintain your cause. As
when the weary traveler gains the height of some overlooking
hill, his heart revives if across the plains he eyes his home,
though distant still. While he surveys the much-loved
spot, he slights the space that lies between. His past fatigues
are now forgot because his journey's end is seen. No place like home. Thus when the Christian pilgrim
views by faith his mansion in the skies, the sight his fainting
strength renews and wings his speed to reach the prize. The
thought of home his spirit cheers. No more he grieves for troubles
past, nor any future trial he fears, so he may safe arrive
at last. Tis there, he says, I am to dwell
with Jesus in the realms of day. Then I shall bid my cares farewell, and he will wipe my tears away. Then I shall bid my cares farewell,
and he shall wipe my tears away. Amen. Amen. God bless you.