Morning, January 29
Go To Evening Reading
“The things which are not seen.”
2 Corinthians 4:18
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking
forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it
be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our
love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of
faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin
and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker
of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the
believer’s enlightened eye can see death’s river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained
on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within
the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand
of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with him, and
made to sit together with him on his throne, even as he has overcome
and has sat down with the Father on his throne. The thought of this
future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of
the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows
of earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! death is but a narrow stream, and
thou shalt soon have forded it. Time, how short—eternity, how long! Death, how brief—immortality, how endless! Methinks I even now eat of Eshcol’s clusters, and sip of the well which is within the gate. The road
is so, so short! I shall soon be there.
“When the world my heart is rending
With its heaviest storm of care,
My glad thoughts to heaven ascending,
Find a refuge from despair.
Faith’s bright vision shall sustain me
Till life’s pilgrimage is past;
Fears may vex and troubles pain me,
I shall reach my home at last.”