Colossians 1:5 The hope which is laid up for you in heaven.
Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy here. It will animate our hearts to think often of heaven, for all that we can desire is promised there. Here we are weary and toilworn, but yonder is the land of rest where the sweat of labour shall no more bedew the worker’s brow, and fatigue shall be for ever banished. To those who are weary and spent, the word “rest” is full of heaven. We are always in the field of battle; we are so tempted within, and so molested by foes without, that we have little or no peace; but in heaven we shall enjoy the victory, when the banner shall be waved aloft in triumph, and the sword shall be sheathed, and we shall hear our Captain say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We have suffered bereavement after bereavement, but we are going to the land of the immortal where graves are unknown things. Here sin is a constant grief to us, but there we shall be perfectly holy, for there shall by no means enter into that kingdom anything which defile th. Hemlock springs not up in the furrows of celestial fields. Oh! is it not joy, that you are not to be in banishment for ever, that you are not to dwell eternally in this wilderness, but shall soon inherit Canaan? Nevertheless let it never be said of us, that we are dreaming about the future and forgetting the present, let the future sanctify the present to highest uses. Through the Spirit of God the hope of heaven is the most potent force for the product of virtue; it is a fountain of joyous effort, it is the corner stone of cheerful holiness. The man who has this hope in him goes about his work with vigour, for the joy of the Lord is his strength. He fights against temptation with ardour, for the hope of the next world repels the fiery darts of the adversary. He can labour without present reward, for he looks for a reward in the world to come.
Purchase your own copy of Spurgeon’s classic Morning and Evening devotional
Spurgeon’s Morning Devotions <Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com>
Going home. What a glorious day that will be. I’ll meet you there, dear brother.
In the meantime, a free book for you:
http://www.ligonier.org/blog/john-calvin-heart-devotion-doctrine-and-doxology/
Reblogged this on The Narrowing Path and commented:
This is it. Our future hope, our glorious Saviour, our true home. Forever. My heart is filled with joy at the thought, and yet also with sorrow for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Please don’t be one who rejects eternal life with Christ.
Can’t wait to see you there, thanks for the book, you are amazing.
Greg
Hi Sherryn.
I have the Spurgeon devotional but I am more faithful in reading his Devotional Bible.
“Oh! is it not joy, that you are not to be in banishment for ever..?” Amen to my dear departed brother. I have more sermons by C.H.S. than any other preacher. His “Treasury of David” is priceless.
I have a link to the Morning and Evening Devotionals on my blog. One can find them in several places on the internet. I found them at Answers in Genesis.
Thank you for appealing to the lost souls out there my friend.
God’s blessings…
Oops…
I thought I was at the narrowing path and was going to compliment its author on a new look.
I’m always glad to see Mr. Spurgeon’s work anywhere.
Thanks for posting this.
No problem, been there and done that
Your brother in Christ; Greg
That’s nice to see Chris here on your blog Greg! He is a great companion on this narrow road! Chris, thanks for the heads up about the devotional Bible…I didn’t even know it existed! 🙂
Yea on of His responses was for you, He post it on my blog instead, He gave Me. Big oops
I told Him no problem I have been there and done that. Your responses are amazing you make
Me feel like I have known you forever, you have a gift (Exortation) Not only that you take the time
Out of your busy schedule to share, you have a very loving heart.
Greg
It is such a joy to be encouraging to my brothers and sisters in Christ. He put the love in my heart, I just share it. But particularly for you and your family right now, the Lord has very much placed it on my heart to care and offer my support. Plus, your regular Bible teaching is a great encouragement to me, and your witness in such difficult times shows me the presence of the Holy Spirit in this world on a daily basis. No need for wacky signs and wonders for me!
Being at home with my kids, and having had a chronic pain/fatigue syndrome for over 4 years has taught me much. The Lord has used it to build trust and dependence on Him, and he has given me time and amazing resources to study the Word of God, research what is happening in the church and eventually start my blog. I praise God that like you, he has given me something useful to do during a difficult time of life. Glad it is helpful to you, dear brother. Sherryn
Well I guess we are “Kindred Spirits” we are both going through the fire, and growing in Grace. And may God be Glorified.
Absolutely. When glorifying God is our desire, then we are truly siblings in the spirit!
I was thinking about this yesterday and realized that when we have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling in us, then it makes so much sense that true brothers and sisters are instantly recognizable and beloved to us. In them, we see the Spirit of our precious Saviour. What could inspire us to love the brethren more than that? I think it also helps me understand how God could love us despite our sin…with his own Spirit in us, and being clothed in the righteousness of his beloved Son, we whom He graciously saves are deemed acceptable to the Holy King of Heaven. That blows my mind!