Evening
Time: 4:33 PM PST
"His heavenly kingdom." --2 Timothy 4:18
Yonder city of the great King is a place of active service. Ransomed
spirits serve Him day and night in His temple. They never cease to fulfil the
good pleasure of their King. They always "rest," so far as ease and freedom from
care is concerned; and never "rest," in the sense of indolence or inactivity.
Jerusalem the golden is the place of communion with all the people of
God. We shall sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in eternal fellowship. We
shall hold high converse with the noble host of the elect, all reigning with Him
who by His love and His potent arm has brought them safely home. We shall not
sing solos, but in chorus shall we praise our King. Heaven is a place of
victory realized. Whenever, Christian, thou hast achieved a victory over
thy lusts--whenever after hard struggling, thou hast laid a temptation dead at
thy feet--thou hast in that hour a foretaste of the joy that awaits thee when
the Lord shall shortly tread Satan under thy feet, and thou shalt find thyself
more than conqueror through Him who hath loved thee. Paradise is a place of
security. When you enjoy the full assurance of faith, you have the pledge
of that glorious security which shall be yours when you are a perfect citizen of
the heavenly Jerusalem. O my sweet home, Jerusalem, thou happy harbour of my
soul! Thanks, even now, to Him whose love hath taught me to long for Thee; but
louder thanks in eternity, when I shall possess thee.
"My soul has tasted of the grapes,
And now it longs to go
Where my dear Lord His vineyard keeps
And all the clusters grow.
"Upon the true and living vine,
My famish'd soul would feast,
And banquet on the fruit divine,
An everlasting guest."