The Mankato free press., 1912-07-19
heavenly plane by the change Of the
First Resurrection.

heavenly pane Oy tue cnange or tn6
First Resurrection.
How many of us have during the
! week said with reference to our fell
lowship in spirit with the Lord. 1T is
good to be here! But oh, dear breth-
rem. ! am sure that voice the senti.
ment of everyone present when l say.
1t will be better to be there! oh, So
much better! When by Gods grace
we shall reach that Heavenly shore
and participate in the joys of that
greater and better Convention. 1.-THE
General Assembly Of the Church of the
First-borns," 1t will be better than
this grand Conventions: and will seek
| to enumerate some Of the reasons why
think it will be So
Enter Into the Joys of the Lord.
a. The joys Of our present Conven-
! ton are merely fOretaste of the nar.
feet glory We will experience when we
enter into the joys of the Lord-be-
yond the veil. Now we know in part
the wondrous things of our Heavenly
Fathers character and Plan. and Of
our Redeemer's love and sympathy,
and of each others love and sympathy;
then we shall know even as we are
known. is the guarantee of the inspired
Apostle.
Now we see as through an obscure
glass the things which the natural eye
cannot see nor hear, neither can enter
into the heart of the natural man. but
which God has revealed unto us by
His Spirit. But they are still more or
! less obscure to us. We cannot weigh
nor appreciate the wonderful glories
which God has in reservation for US.
but then we shall see Him face to
face, as st. Paul declares.
(2) AS we meet here today as New
Creatures in Christ, we seek to know
each other as God knows us, not after
the flesh, but after the spirit But for
all that we experience difficulties. 1t
Is often difficult for us to entirely over
look the flesh Of our fellows. as they
no doubt have difficulty in overlooking
our blemishes in the flesh. But oh.
what will it be to be there. All the
imperfections and weaknesses Of the
flesh, against With we r:ust now fight
all these will tl,'n lie gone.
Have we not the promise. 1--WE shall
be like Him. for we shall see Him as
He isT' Have we not the promise
again that. Sown in weakness, we
shall be raised in power; sown in dis
honor, we shall he raised in glory;
sown an animal body we shall be rails
ed a spirit body? Have we not the
further promise respecting that glo-
rious resurrection change. which shall!
lift us completely out of the human
and into the divine nature. that 1--WE
must all be changed" "for flesh and
blood cannot inherit the Kingdom Of
God?" q Corinthians XIV. so. 51.)
Further TriaIs-Further BattIings.
g. Another difference between this
Convention and the great one promised
in our text is that we shall go from
here to our homes to engage afresh in
warfare with sin within and without
to continue our warfare as good SOL
diers of Jesus Christ under the Cap
! taincy of our Redeemer. We shall go
| from here realizing that our trials and
testings are not yet ended, that the
"cup" which the Father hath poured
for us we have not yet drained.
We shall go forth from here remem-
bering that we ''have not yet resisted
unto blood. striving against sin" and
! fighting 1.-The good fight of faith" We
| shall return to our homes with the
! thought that we still have need of the
Scriptural exhortation. Watch, and
''stand fast; "Quit you like men,; PUT
on the whole armor that We may be
able to stand in the evil day, and. hav-
! ing done all. to stand"
| We will go from here realizing that
! in all probability this season of refresh
ment we have enjoyed has been part
! of the Fathers good providence for us
whereby we shall be the stronger, the
| more courageous. the better prepared
| for further trials, besetments. difficult
ties and conflicts with the world. the
flesh and the Adversary.
! But when we reach the glorious Con-
vention mentioned by the Apostle. all
the fightings and trials and testings
will be in the past. For us. therefore.
there will be no more signing. no more
crying. no more dying. no more fight
ings. no more crosses. no more suffer-
ings. but instead. life eternal. Joy
eternal. glory. honor and immortality
at our dear Redeemer's right hand of
! favor Well do l know that this hope