Evening, February 7
Go To Morning Reading
“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up
hither.”
Revelation 11:12
Without considering these words in their prophetical connection, let
us regard them as the invitation of our great Forerunner to his sanctified
people. In due time there shall be heard “a great voice from heaven” to every believer, saying, “Come up hither.” This should be to the saints the subject of joyful anticipation . Instead of dreading the time when we shall leave this world to go
unto the Father, we should be panting for the hour of our emancipation.
Our song should be—
“My heart is with him on his throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
‘Rise up and come away.’”
We are not called down to the grave, but up to the skies. Our heaven-born
spirits should long for their native air. Yet should the celestial
summons be the object of patient waiting . Our God knows best when to bid us “Come up hither.” We must not wish to antedate the period of our departure. I know
that strong love will make us cry,
“O Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,
And land us all in heaven;”
but patience must have her perfect work. God ordains with accurate
wisdom the most fitting time for the redeemed to abide below. Surely,
if there could be regrets in heaven, the saints might mourn that they
did not live longer here to do more good. Oh, for more sheaves for
my Lord’s garner! more jewels for his crown! But how, unless there be more
work? True, there is the other side of it, that, living so briefly,
our sins are the fewer; but oh! when we are fully serving God, and
he is giving us to scatter precious seed, and reap a hundredfold,
we would even say it is well for us to abide where we are. Whether
our Master shall say “go,” or “stay,” let us be equally well pleased so long as he indulges us with his
presence.