Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-07-08
RECOGNITION HEREAFTER


fBy Rev. n. 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 souls
a consecrated void; hardly any but at
times are earnestly asking;3 ,isShau we
see these dear absent ones again, and
VIII there be some bond of recognition
between u.s."
Now, on this question we could hard
ly expect the word of God TO say much.
God would occupy us here with duty
rather than with speculation. however
tender and sacred. Not what heaven
Is, but how TO get to heaven, Is the
great problem before us. We are given
little OF description, much of direction.
No map of that golden city is pro
vided. bur on the narrow road the
cross eyer and anon is set up as
guidepost to poiut the wa But al.
though the burden of inspiration ,as
to do with the privileges and the re
qulremants of this world it gives Us
no empty consolation with reference to
them who are fallen asleep. In thu
first place, there is that peryading un
dertone which we detect everywhere.
We cannot explain it, we cannot point
il out; but somehow, open the Bible
where we may, it comforts US con-
corning our brother"
But, again. the recognition of those
we have known on earth is implied
in many of the fundamental declara-
lions of Ge6's word We are TO be
held accountable, for instance fer our
dealings with those around us. Can
it, then, be possible that we are not
to know those whom we have influ-
enced for good or iii:
Perhaps, however, the strongest OF
the indirect teachings of the Bible on
this point is to be found in those num-
berless similitudes which describe our
state, here and hereafter, as one Of
association. The kingdom Of heaven
is like 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-
Mon, a family, a 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
God" OF course, there would be no
significance in this statement If the
patriarehs are not to be known as
Abraham. Isaac and Jacob Again:
"Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac and Ja-
cob, and all the prophets in the king
dom of Cod Says St Paul to the
ssalonians: 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: NOV. re beseech
you, brethren, by the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering
together unto linl." And once more;
Il would not have you to be ignorant.
brethren. concerning them which are
asleep. that We 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 viii
suffice us TO turn from them now and
to consider only the further state
ment of our text. And were that state
ment alone it would be enough. for
1t tells us that the glorified body OF
our Lord was recognized, and he was
our first fruits, and as he rose so
shall we rise. There was. indeed,
about him an unearthly luster, but the
wounds were yet visible, the same eyes
looked out upon the apostles, the same
lips spoke to them. the same hands
blessed them. albeit wondrou3 glory
illumined all There was that about
him which dazzlcd and bewildered.
Not at first did Mary and his dis
cir know him. While they sought
the gardener or would 90 a-fishing or
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 I e Lord then doubling
Thomas believed; then repentant Peter
sank at his feet. In like mRnneT 1t
shall be with us and ours. We shall
be changed. For corruption there shall
be interruption; fer weakness, power;
for dishonor. glory; for the natural. the
spiritual body. And mayhap, too, the
unseen struggles and sufferings Of the
past shall be registered upon our faces,
and thus our real characters express
themselves: the things which were hid
den come abroad and the good deeds
done IN fseeret be forever rewarded
openly. But our Identity, our appear
ance. orr immortal individuality shall
yet remain and we be known to each
other by many infallible proofs. Abra
ham shall remain Abraham, Daniel
shall still be Daniel, the Good shep-
herd shall still call his sheep By name.
ana they who have met in this life
shall meet again in that. An Isaac