Philippians 1:23, "My desire is to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far."
The life of a believer is a journey through time toward eternity. Each day that passes, each trial endured, each breath drawn in this fallen world, moves the child of God one step nearer to the full enjoyment of what has been secured by sovereign grace--eternal life in the presence of Christ. For the person redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, the end is not loss, but gain. The grave is not a prison, but a passage. Death is not a defeat, but the door into everlasting joy--when faith gives way to sight, and hope blossoms into eternal delight. The Christian looks forward to this not with fear, but with longing. For to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. The anticipation of Heaven is not centered on what will be enjoyed there, but Who will be seen there. The glory of Heaven is not in its beauty only, but mainly in its King.
The true believer understands that Heaven is glorious, because Christ is there. Heaven is not merely rest, but fellowship--the unhindered communion of the saved sinner with his Savior. That which is begun now by faith, will be perfected in that day when we behold His face. The Christian's joy is not ultimately in a crown, but in the pierced hand that places it upon the brow. It is not the throne that satisfies, but the One who sits upon it.
The pathway to that glory is often darksome. God, in His wisdom and mercy, weaves sorrow and affliction into the lives of His people. Yet even the midnight of suffering, is governed by the hand of a loving Father, and every moment of pain has a divine purpose. The believer, upheld by the Spirit, walks through th
In C. H. Spurgeon's sermon titled "Your eyes will see the King in His beauty!", the central theological topic is the believer's anticipation of eternal life in the presence of Christ. Spurgeon articulates that death is not a defeat but a means of transition into everlasting joy, emphasizing that the true essence of heaven lies in communion with Christ rather than mere aesthetic values or rewards. He supports his arguments with Scripture references including Philippians 1:23, which underscores the believer's desire to be with Christ, as well as Isaiah 33:17 and Revelation 22:4, which promise the vision of the King in His glory. The practical significance of the sermon lies in encouraging believers to persevere through trials, framing suffering as part of a divine journey towards the ultimate fulfillment of seeing Christ face-to-face, thus cultivating a hope that transcends earthly struggles.
Key Quotes
“The end is not loss, but gain. The grave is not a prison, but a passage. Death is not a defeat, but the door into everlasting joy, where faith gives way to sight, and hope blossoms into eternal delight.”
“The glory of heaven is not in its beauty only, but mainly in its king.”
“The nearer we come to the end of our pilgrimage, the more clearly we see what truly matters. Not reputation. Not possessions. Not pleasure. Not earthly success. But Christ. Only Christ.”
“A sight of Christ now. Is heaven begun below? a sight of Him above, is heaven perfected.”
The Bible promises that believers will see the King in His beauty, as highlighted in Isaiah 33:17 and Revelation 22:4.
Isaiah 33:17 declares, 'Your eyes will see the King in His beauty,' which emphasizes the ultimate joy and fulfillment that awaits believers in heaven. This sight is not just a mere glance; it signifies a deep and personal communion with Christ, where His beauty in character and glory is fully unveiled. Similarly, Revelation 22:4 reinforces this promise by stating, 'They will see His face,' indicating that believers will have an intimate relationship with Christ in eternity, devoid of any barriers.
We know eternal life with Christ is true because the Bible assures that believers will be present with the Lord after death, as seen in Philippians 1:23.
Philippians 1:23 reveals the deep desire of Paul for eternal communion with Christ, affirming that to depart this life is to be with Him, which is 'better by far.' This scripture encapsulates the Christian hope in eternal life, rooted in the resurrection of Christ. The New Testament consistently affirms that death is not an end but rather a passage to fellowship with the Savior. For believers, this promise is secured by the blood of the Lamb, assuring us of our future joy in His presence, free from sin and sorrow.
The sight of Christ is vital for Christians as it signifies the ultimate fulfillment of their hopes and the essence of eternal joy.
The sight of Christ represents the culmination of a believer’s journey in faith, transitioning from hope to realization. According to Christian theology, the glory of heaven is not merely in its beauty but is fundamentally centered on being in the presence of Christ. Seeing Christ means the fulfillment of all that we yearn for: righteousness, joy, and communion. This motivates believers to endure trials and afflictions in this life, pressing on towards eternal life where they will see Him face to face, without veil or distance, resulting in the highest form of joy and satisfaction.
Revelation 22:4, Isaiah 33:17
Sermon Transcript
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Your eyes will see the King in His beauty. By Charles Spurgeon.
Philippians 1.23 My desire is to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
The life of a believer is a journey through time toward eternity. Each day passes. Each trial endured. Each breath drawn in this fallen world moves the child of God one step nearer to the full enjoyment of what has been secured by sovereign grace. Eternal life in the presence of Christ. for the person redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The end is not loss, but gain. The grave is not a prison, but a passage. Death is not a defeat, but the door into everlasting joy, where faith gives way to sight, and hope blossoms into eternal delight.
The Christian looks forward to this not with fear, but with longing, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The anticipation of heaven is not centered on what will be enjoyed there, but who will be seen there. The glory of heaven is not in its beauty only, but mainly in its king. The true believer understands that heaven is glorious, because Christ is there. Heaven is not merely rest, but fellowship, the unhindered communion of the saved sinner with his Savior. That which is begun now by faith will be perfected in that day when we behold his face.
The Christian joy is not ultimately in a crown, but in the pierced hand that places it upon the brow. It is not the throne that satisfies, but the One who sits upon it.
The pathway to that glory is often darksome. God, in His wisdom and mercy, weaves sorrow and affliction into the lives of His people. Yet even the midnight of suffering is governed by the hand of a loving Father, and every moment of pain has a divine purpose. The believer, upheld by the Spirit, walks through the valley with a steady gaze, trusting the one who leads. Every storm, every tear, every hardship is part of the journey toward the city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
This world will never satisfy the heart that has been awakened to the beauty of Christ. Earthly comforts, though sometimes enjoyed, cannot rival the riches of eternal life. The believer presses on, not because the path is easy, but because the destination is sure. He is going to a kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world, a place where righteousness dwells, a land where sin and sorrow are no more.
The nearer we come to the end of our pilgrimage, the more clearly we see what truly matters. Not reputation. Not possessions. Not pleasure. Not earthly success. But Christ. Only Christ. In Him is all our righteousness. All our hope. All our joy. In Him we live, and in Him we shall rise, and in Him we shall dwell forever.
The sight of Christ is the very heaven of heavens. To behold Him is the longing of every sanctified soul. Not merely shall we see His glory, we shall see Him, His person, His face, His smile. That is our portion forever. The King in His beauty. No veil. No cloud. No distance. Only the unveiled splendor of Incarnate Deity.
A sight of Christ now. Is heaven begun below? a sight of Him above, is heaven perfected.
They will see His face. Revelation 22, 4.
Your eyes will see the King in His beauty. Isaiah 33, 17.
About Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 — 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. His nickname is the "Prince of Preachers."
Pristine Grace functions as a digital library of preaching and teaching from many different men and ministries. I maintain a broad collection for research, study, and listening, and the presence of any preacher or message here should not be taken as a blanket endorsement of every doctrinal position expressed.
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