The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-23
Preparing For Our Heavenly Home

rTepdIiuE cOT Our heavenly home rs
BY MOS R. WELLS.
In the first place we need to remem~
Der that heaven Is our home, and not
this earth. Those that are most IA
miliar with the migratory birds declare
that their sole business in the northern
ATTITUDES seems to be the rearing Of q
family. Az soon as the young birds
"a fly the parents turn their thoughts
southwark again, to the dear. warm,
sunny homeland. Thus. to the Chris
tan, Earth seems only his nesting
place, where he form his character, and
strengthens its wings for a fight to the
better country beyond the cold and e
storms.
Such thoughts Of heaven as often
come to the Christian fill his life with
joyful anticipations. We are like the
old woman il the poorhouse, whom tbs
minister found with q face quite rar
diant with delight. When asked the
cause Of her joy she answered: "Oh,
sir, y was jrst thinking what a change
it will be from the poorhouse to heay.f
en-" 1t will, indeed, be a blessed
change, al the thought may well fill
US with rapture in the midst of earth's
greatest tails.
1t is well that only the outlines OF
heaven are shown us; the full reality
would aus US tolose our hold on earth
and it's duties. A traveller relates how,
on returning to France from India, the
sailors of his ship became quite incapa-
BILE of performing their tasks: They
gazed loLgingly at the approaching
shores, they put on their best clothes,
some talked volubly, others wept-
They had to obtain, accordingly, in
deed, to the customs Of the Fort,
other set of sailors to bring the ship to
shore. SO it would be with US, could
we see more distinctly the enchanting
shores of heaven. Z
But, none the less, we are very fool
ish if we do not get ready for heaven,
if we forget it, if we do not in some
way relate all our living to this great
and permanent change that is sure to
come. Heaven" said Beecher, Ito be
a place of happiness, must be a place
Of activity" We can prepare for heav-
en-, then, by accustoming ourselves to
heavenly activities. And what are
they?
First, friendships. Are the assecia-
tons in which we most delight those
with the meek, the holy, the loving, the
faithful, whose is sure to be the king
dom Of heaven? Then we are prepar-
ing ourselves for the companionship OF
heaven.
Next, ambitions. Are our hopes, U
aims, our strivings, centred on wealth
or luxury or worldly fame? These all
pass away like a breath, even if we
gain them. Only one ambition has issue
in heaven, the ambition to win Gods
approval. That is the permanent riches
and ease and fame.
Then, employments. We DO not
know just what we are to do in heaven.
but we know that we may best prepare
ourselves for our work there by doing
the work here that God picks out for
us-and no other work. And if, in hum
BILE dependency on Gods leading, we do
that work He will bring us some day
into the glad realization Of this picture
drawn by the poet Workman: {,
Oh, crowns and thrones and sapphires,
Ye glisten in the light?
'Ye cannot fash too far your joy,
Ye cannot blaze too bright;
And some day God shall bid me well
Where the great visions shine;
The sight of the Lord and all He is
Shall be the worlds and min