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“Come, Ye Blessed”, December 26
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
.
Those who truly love God will desire so to improve the talents that He
has given them, that they may be a blessing to others. And by and by the
gates of heaven will be thrown wide open to admit them, and from the lips
of the King of Glory the benediction will fall upon their ear like richest
music, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world” (
Matthew 25:34
). Thus the
redeemed will be welcomed to the mansions that Jesus is preparing for
them. There their companions will not be the vile of earth, but those who
through divine aid have formed perfect characters. Every sinful tendency,
every imperfection, has been removed by the blood of Christ; and the
excellence and brightness of His glory, far exceeding the brightness of
the sun in its meridian splendor, is imparted to them. And the moral
beauty, the perfection of His character, shines through them in worth far
exceeding this outward splendor. They are without fault before the great
white throne, sharing the dignity and privileges of the angels.
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart
of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” In
view of the glorious inheritance which may be his, “What shall a man
give in exchange for his soul?” (
Matthew 16:26
). He may be poor; yet
he possesses in himself a wealth and dignity that the world could never
bestow. The soul, redeemed and cleansed from sin, with all its noble
powers dedicated to the service of God, is of surpassing worth.
To dwell forever in this home of the blest, to bear in soul, body, and
spirit, not the dark traces of sin and the curse, but the perfect likeness
of our Creator, and through ceaseless ages to advance in wisdom, in
knowledge, and in holiness, ever exploring new fields of thought, ever
finding new wonders and new glories, ever increasing in capacity to know
and to enjoy and to love, and knowing that there is still beyond us joy
and love and wisdom infinite—such is the object to which the Christian’s
hope is pointing.
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