10 AUGUST (UNDATED SERMON)
Now, and then
‘For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.’ 1 Corinthians 13:12
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Exodus 33:12–23
It would be an inconvenience for us to know here as much as we shall know in heaven. No doubt we have sometimes thought that if we had better ears, it would be a great blessing. We have wished we could hear ten miles away; but probably we should be no better off; we might hear too much and the sounds might drown each other. Probably our sight is not as good as we wish it were, but a large increase of ocular power might not be of any use to us. Our natural organs are fitted for our present sphere of being, and our mental faculties are, in the case of most of us, properly adapted to our moral requirements. If we knew more of our own sinfulness, we might be driven to despair; if we knew more of God’s glory, we might die of terror; if we had more understanding, unless we had equivalent capacity to employ it, we might be filled with conceit and tormented with ambition. But up there we shall have our minds and our systems strengthened to receive more, without the damage that would come to us here from overleaping the boundaries of order, supremely appointed and divinely regulated.
We cannot here drink the wine of the kingdom; it is too strong for us; but up there we shall drink it new in our heavenly Father’s kingdom, without fear of the intoxications of pride or the staggerings of passions. We shall know even as we are known. Besides, dear friends, the atmosphere of heaven is so much clearer than this, that I do not wonder we can see better there. Here there is the smoke of daily care, the constant dust of toil and the mist of trouble perpetually rising. We cannot be expected to see much in such a smoky atmosphere as this; but when we shall pass beyond, we shall find that no clouds ever gather round the sun to hide his everlasting brightness. There all is clear.
FOR MEDITATION: Consider some of the glories of heaven—the Saviour’s face will shine like the sun (Revelation 1:16); so will the righteous (Matthew 13:43). Heaven itself will be perfectly light, clear, transparent and pure (Revelation 21:11, 18, 21, 23–24; 22:1, 5). No wonder such sights overwhelmed the apostle John during his vision (Revelation 1:17; 22:8).
C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 230.
Now, and then
‘For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.’ 1 Corinthians 13:12
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Exodus 33:12–23
It would be an inconvenience for us to know here as much as we shall know in heaven. No doubt we have sometimes thought that if we had better ears, it would be a great blessing. We have wished we could hear ten miles away; but probably we should be no better off; we might hear too much and the sounds might drown each other. Probably our sight is not as good as we wish it were, but a large increase of ocular power might not be of any use to us. Our natural organs are fitted for our present sphere of being, and our mental faculties are, in the case of most of us, properly adapted to our moral requirements. If we knew more of our own sinfulness, we might be driven to despair; if we knew more of God’s glory, we might die of terror; if we had more understanding, unless we had equivalent capacity to employ it, we might be filled with conceit and tormented with ambition. But up there we shall have our minds and our systems strengthened to receive more, without the damage that would come to us here from overleaping the boundaries of order, supremely appointed and divinely regulated.
We cannot here drink the wine of the kingdom; it is too strong for us; but up there we shall drink it new in our heavenly Father’s kingdom, without fear of the intoxications of pride or the staggerings of passions. We shall know even as we are known. Besides, dear friends, the atmosphere of heaven is so much clearer than this, that I do not wonder we can see better there. Here there is the smoke of daily care, the constant dust of toil and the mist of trouble perpetually rising. We cannot be expected to see much in such a smoky atmosphere as this; but when we shall pass beyond, we shall find that no clouds ever gather round the sun to hide his everlasting brightness. There all is clear.
FOR MEDITATION: Consider some of the glories of heaven—the Saviour’s face will shine like the sun (Revelation 1:16); so will the righteous (Matthew 13:43). Heaven itself will be perfectly light, clear, transparent and pure (Revelation 21:11, 18, 21, 23–24; 22:1, 5). No wonder such sights overwhelmed the apostle John during his vision (Revelation 1:17; 22:8).
C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 230.
10 AUGUST (UNDATED SERMON)
Now, and then
‘For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.’ 1 Corinthians 13:12
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Exodus 33:12–23
It would be an inconvenience for us to know here as much as we shall know in heaven. No doubt we have sometimes thought that if we had better ears, it would be a great blessing. We have wished we could hear ten miles away; but probably we should be no better off; we might hear too much and the sounds might drown each other. Probably our sight is not as good as we wish it were, but a large increase of ocular power might not be of any use to us. Our natural organs are fitted for our present sphere of being, and our mental faculties are, in the case of most of us, properly adapted to our moral requirements. If we knew more of our own sinfulness, we might be driven to despair; if we knew more of God’s glory, we might die of terror; if we had more understanding, unless we had equivalent capacity to employ it, we might be filled with conceit and tormented with ambition. But up there we shall have our minds and our systems strengthened to receive more, without the damage that would come to us here from overleaping the boundaries of order, supremely appointed and divinely regulated.
We cannot here drink the wine of the kingdom; it is too strong for us; but up there we shall drink it new in our heavenly Father’s kingdom, without fear of the intoxications of pride or the staggerings of passions. We shall know even as we are known. Besides, dear friends, the atmosphere of heaven is so much clearer than this, that I do not wonder we can see better there. Here there is the smoke of daily care, the constant dust of toil and the mist of trouble perpetually rising. We cannot be expected to see much in such a smoky atmosphere as this; but when we shall pass beyond, we shall find that no clouds ever gather round the sun to hide his everlasting brightness. There all is clear.
FOR MEDITATION: Consider some of the glories of heaven—the Saviour’s face will shine like the sun (Revelation 1:16); so will the righteous (Matthew 13:43). Heaven itself will be perfectly light, clear, transparent and pure (Revelation 21:11, 18, 21, 23–24; 22:1, 5). No wonder such sights overwhelmed the apostle John during his vision (Revelation 1:17; 22:8).
C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 230.
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