Morning, August 9
Go To Evening Reading
“The city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in
it.”
Revelation 21:23
Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all
creature comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes
never wear out, neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no medicine
to heal diseases, “for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.” They need no sleep to recruit their frames—they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly praise him in his temple.
They need no social relationship to minister comfort, and whatever
happiness they may derive from association with their fellows is not
essential to their bliss, for their Lord’s society is enough for their largest desires. They need no teachers
there; they doubtless commune with one another concerning the things
of God, but they do not require this by way of instruction; they shall
all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at the king’s gate, but they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon the
friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon him
alone. Here we must have the help of our companions, but there they
find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look to the meat which
perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth, but there
they find everything in God. We use the bucket to fetch us water from
the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their
lips down to the living water. Here the angels bring us blessings,
but we shall want no messengers from heaven then. They shall need
no Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there they
shall see him face to face. Oh! what a blessed time shall that be when we shall
have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the bare
arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not his creatures;
the Lord, and not his works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall
then have attained the perfection of bliss.