The moment after our friends say we are dead,.
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(J. R. Miller, "http://www.gracegems.org/Miller/glimpses_of_the_heavenly_life.htm" Glimpses of the Heavenly Life" 1908)
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 there 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 5:6
Whatever else heaven may mean to us, it will,
first of all, mean being with Christ! Here we
see Him only by faith, ofttimes 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 3:2
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 Thes. 4:17-18
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