Evening, July 12
Go To Morning Reading
“His heavenly kingdom.”
2 Timothy 4:18
Yonder city of the great King is a place of active service . Ransomed spirits serve him day and night in his temple. They never
cease to fulfil the good pleasure of their King. They always “rest,” so far as ease and freedom from care is concerned; and never “rest,” in the sense of indolence or inactivity. Jerusalem the golden is
the place of communion with all the people of God. We shall sit with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, in eternal fellowship. We shall hold high converse with the
noble host of the elect, all reigning with him who by his love and
his potent arm has brought them safely home. We shall not sing solos,
but in chorus shall we praise our King. Heaven is a place of victory realized . Whenever, Christian, thou hast achieved a victory over thy lusts—whenever after hard struggling, thou hast laid a temptation dead at
thy feet—thou hast in that hour a foretaste of the joy that awaits thee when
the Lord shall shortly tread Satan under thy feet, and thou shalt
find thyself more than conqueror through him who hath loved thee.
Paradise is a place of security . When you enjoy the full assurance of faith, you have the pledge
of that glorious security which shall be yours when you are a perfect
citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem. O my sweet home, Jerusalem, thou
happy harbour of my soul! Thanks, even now, to him whose love hath
taught me to long for thee; but louder thanks in eternity, when I
shall possess thee.
“My soul has tasted of the grapes,
And now it longs to go
Where my dear Lord his vineyard keeps
And all the clusters grow.
“Upon the true and living vine,
My famish'd soul would feast,
And banquet on the fruit divine,
An everlasting guest.”