Chapter 243—Longing for Heaven and Home
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my
heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Psalm 84:2
.
Oh that the great interests of the world to come were appreciated! Why
is it that men are so unconcerned about the salvation of the soul when it was
purchased at such cost by the Son of God?
The heart of man may be the abode of the Holy Spirit. The peace of
Christ that passeth understanding may rest in your soul, and the transforming
power of His grace may work in your life, and fit you for the courts of glory.
But if brain and nerve and muscle are all employed in the service of self, you
are not making God and heaven the first consideration of your life....
If the eye is single, if it is directed heavenward, the light of heaven will
fill the soul, and earthly things will appear insignificant and uninviting. The
purpose of the heart will be changed, and the admonition of Jesus will be
heeded.... Your thoughts will be fixed upon the great rewards of eternity. All
your plans will be made in reference to the future, immortal life.... Bible
religion will be woven into your daily life.
Some who profess to have true religion sadly neglect the guide-book
given by God to point the way to heaven. They may read the Bible, but
merely reading God’s Word, as one would read words traced by a human
pen, will give only a superficial knowledge....
If we do not receive the religion of Christ by feeding upon the word of
God, we shall not be entitled to an entrance into the city of God. Having
lived on earthly food, having educated our tastes to love worldly things, we
would not be fitted for the heavenly courts; we could not appreciate the pure,
heavenly current that circulates in heaven. The voices of the angels and the
music of their harps would not satisfy us. The science of heaven would be as
an enigma to our minds. We need to hunger and thirst for the righteousness
of Christ; we need to be molded and fashioned by the transforming influence
of His grace, that we may be fitted for the society of heavenly angels.
In order to be at home in heaven, we must have heaven enshrined in our
hearts here.
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