Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-23
RECOGNITION HEREAFTER.
BY ReK. II. Al. Barb

BY Rev. II. N. Barbour
Behold My hands and My feet, that
it is l Myself.-St. Luke, XIV, part of
80.
The above words suggest the sub.
ject of our recognition of departed
loved ones in the world to come. This
subject is of interest at all times, and
touches well nigh every one. Hardly
any there are but have buried their
dead; hardly any but have shut off
from the daily activities of their soul,
a consecrated void; hardly any but at
times are earnestly asking: Shall we
see these dear absent ones again, and
will there be some bond of recognition
between u.s."
Perhaps, however, the strongest OF
the indirect teachings of the Bible on
this point is to be found in those mum,
berless smilitudes which describe ouI
state, here and hereafter, as one Ct
association. The kingdom of heaven
Is like a net cast into the sea and
inclosing a great multitude of fishes.
1t is like a supper furnished with
guests. 1t is a fellowship, a commu.
nion family, household. Surely,
knit together by such ties, the men,
bers of that kingdom must know each
other.
But we are not left to mere infer
ences and implications. The Bible as
serts directly the doctrine of mutual
recognition hereafter. MANY Shall
come from the east and from the west,
and shall sit down with Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom Of
Cod" OF course, there would be no
significance in this statement if the
patriarchs are not to be known as
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Againl
''Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac and Ja-
cob, and all the prophets in the king.
dom of God" Says st. raul to tina
Thessalonians: What is our hope or
joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not
even ye in the presence of our Lord
Jesus Christ at his coming" Again
he says to them: "Now we beseecl
you, brethren, by the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering
together unto him" And once more;
81 would not have you to be ignorant
brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not as others
who have no hope" The hope refer
red to here is obviously that of meet
ing again. Many more illusions OF
like character might be drawn from
the Epistles of st. Paul. But it wi
suffice us to turn from them now AID
to consider only the further state,
ment of our text. And We're that state
ment alone it would be enough, for
1t tells us that the glorified body oi
our Lord was recognized and he was
our first fruits, and as he rose 50
shall we rise. There was, indeed
about him an unearthly luster, but the
wounds We're yet visible, the same eyes
looked out upon the apostles, the same
lips spoke to them, the same hands
blessed them, albeit a wondrous glory
illumined all. There was that about
him which dazzled and bewildered
Not at first did Mary and his dis
ciples know him. While they sought
the gardener or would go a-hshing OF
walked sorrowful and hopeless by the
wayside their eyes were darkened; but
when they turned their spiritual gaze
upon him then they knew him. Then
Mary said, "Rabboni;" then st. John
cried, 1T is the Lord" then doubtinq
Thomas believed; then repentant Peter
sank at his feet. In like manner Il
shall be with us and ours. We shall
be changed. For corruption there shall
be interruption; for weakness, power
for dishonor, glory; for the natural the
spiritual body. And mayhap, too, tn,
unseen struggles and sufferings of tbs
past shall be registered upon our faces
and thus our real characters express
themselves the things which We're hid
den come abroad, and the good deed,
done in secret be forever rewarded
openly. But our identity, our appear
ance, our immortal individuality shall
yet remain and we be known to each
, other by many infallible proofs. Abra,
ham shall remain Abraham. Danid
shall still be Daniel, the Good Sheu
; herd shall still call b. sheep by name
and they who haV, met In this lifi
shall meet again In that. An Isaac
shall rejoin Rebecca, a David shall o.
= to the child who could not come, IL
! him, Mary and a Martha shall greet
their brother, and the tears of
= Rachel weeping for her children shall
D he wiped away.