Mexico Missouri message., 1910-10-06
Some Glimpses
of Heaven

Ezra that have been revealed to
kdBN us in the Bible about
NyWIK Heaven. Gods Book de-
~ votes great many pages
to the rules of right living
in this world, even though our sojourn
here is so short. It's aim is to show
us the way to Heaven; but only few
sentences are devoted to the descrip
ton of the eternal home of Gods peo-
pie. The Bible says enough to pique
our curiosity, to excite speculation, to
sharpen a spiritual appetite, but not
enough to lift the sublime mystery
which overhangs 1t. A few things,
however, are made quite clear to us.
In the first place, It is not merely
a condition; it is locality. 1t is dis
tinctly bounded, or else such words as
walls" or gates" would be fantasy.
stars, "the Lamb is the lamp thereof"
There is something beautifully sug-
| gestive in the many-sidedness of
Heaven, with gates of entrance from
every point of the compass. This en-
phasizes the catholiclty of the many
mansions" into which all the redeemed
shall enter, from all regions of the
globe, and from every denomination of
Christendom. They all shall come in
through Jesus Christ, yet by many
gateways.
Heaven assuredly is to be home,
and it's occupants one vast household
of love. No one will be lonesome, or
complain of the lack of congenial So
ciety. Shall we know each other
there? Most assuredly we shall; for
Gods word never hints that our identi-
ty shall be destroyed by the process
called death. We shall be the same
persons, even II the external condi-
tons become different, when the nat
ural body becomes a spiritual body.
PauI's Sure Expectation.
Paul expected to depart and to be
with Christ, and still to be Paul after
he arrived there. With what delight
he expects also to greet his spiritual
children in glory! The veteran soul
winner exclaims: what is our joy
or crown of rejoicing? Are not even
ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ at his coming?" This would
be solemn nonsense II Paul did not
hope to recognize his Thessalonian
converts in Heaven.
When Cyneas, the ambassador of
Pyrrhus, returned from his visit to
Rome in the days of her glory, he re-
ported to his sovereign that he had
seen Commonwealth of kings" So
will 1t be in Heaven, where every hair
of redeeming grace will be as a king
and priest unto God; and divine adop-
ton shall make everyone member Of
the royal family. What comfort that
we will never be obliged to pull up
our tentpoles in quest of a pleasanter
residence! Heaven will have no mo
wing day"
One Of the best evidences of the en-
tirely sanctified condition Of Christians
in that world will be that God can
trust us there with complete happi.
ness and unalloyed prosperity.
never met with Christian who could
be trusted in this world; even Paul
needed a thorn in the flesh to keep
him humble. There is not one of us
whose religion might not soon decay
If exposed to the blazing heat Of con-
slant sunshine. Nothing would ruin
us sooner than to be allowed always
to have our own way. But in Heaven
It seems likely that we can bear to be
perpetually healthy, perpetually pros
: porous, perpetually happy, without the
need Of watchfulness or the fear Of
falling.
Truly Happy Christian.
Happy is that follower of Christ
whose life-work is kept up so steadily
. to the line that he is ready to leave it
at a moments notice. The leagues to
that world of rest-Ehere the holiest
activities are restful-are few and
short. Happy is he who, amid the
busiest service Of his Master and his
fellow-men, is always listening for
the footballs this side of the golden
gate, and for the voice of invitation to
, hasten home! A true life is just a
tarrying in the earthly tent for Christ
J until we go into the mansions with
, Christ.
Let us be sure that no one of us
J will get even a glimpse of Heavens
glory, or taste OF its Joys, unless we
! are ready for it by life of obedience
/ to Jesus Christ. There may be many
+ who will knock at the gate and cry,
! Lord, open to u.s." and find, when II
is too late, that they have shut that
4 gate against themselves.
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