Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is it hand. Revelation 1:3.
When a real love for the Bible is awakened, and the student begins to realize how vast is the field and how precious its treasure, he will desire to seize upon every opportunity for acquainting himself with God’s Word. Its study will be restricted to no special time or place. And this continuous study is one of the best means of cultivating a love for the Scriptures. Let the student keep his Bible always with him. As you have opportunity, read a text and meditate upon it. While walking the streets, waiting at a railway station, waiting to meet an engagement, improve the opportunity to gain some precious thought from the treasure-house of truth.
The great motive powers of the soul are faith, hope, and love; and it is to these that Bible study, rightly pursued, appeals. The outward beauty of the Bible, the beauty of imagery and expression, is but the setting, as it were, for its real treasure—the beauty of holiness. In its record of the men who walked with God, we may catch glimpses of His glory. In the One “altogether lovely” we behold Him, of whom all beauty of earth and heaven is but a dim reflection…. As the student of the Bible beholds the Redeemer, there is awakened in the soul the mysterious power of faith, adoration, and love. Upon the vision of Christ the gaze is fixed, and the beholder grows into the likeness of that which he adores….
The springs of heavenly peace and joy unsealed in the soul by the words of Inspiration will become a mighty river of influence to bless all who come within its reach.—Education, 191, 192.
With God at Dawn p. 199
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Mary who is losing her sight. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Every evening when I was a child, I would sit on my grandfather’s daybed and listen to the stories that he would tell of his youthful adventures. There were still vast areas of woods and wild animals that roamed the Pennsylvanian countryside in those far-off days. He would tell of the many times that he would wade out into a stream and sleep on large, flat rocks that stuck out above the surface of the water. In this way, he could keep away from the mountain lions that prowled about. I had always lived in Michigan, so some of the things he described were difficult for me to visualize. I had never seen rocks large enough or flat enough to sleep on. One of the places he described was a valley between two mountains. The trains stopped for water there and huge, flat rocks sat in the river that ran along side of the tracks. I listened to the story about this place, but it seemed so unreal.
Eventually, I grew up, got married, and had a child. The story of the sleeping rocks was crowded into a corner of my mind. In the process of time, we moved to Pennsylvania. Some of Grandfather’s stories began to come to my mind. We moved to Tank, a tiny community of five houses. The people of that place said that it was named Tank because the trains used to stop at a water tank to fill the train’s reservoir with water in order to make the steam that the it needed to continue along its way. As we took a walk one day, we saw the remains of that old, crumbling water tank alongside what had been a railroad track. The track ran through this narrow valley in the Nescopeck mountains, right beside a river. As we stood on the bridge looking down into that river I suddenly noticed the large, flat rocks sticking out above the surface of the water. They were, indeed, large enough and flat enough to sleep on. With delight I looked upon the very stones that my grandfather had slept on so long ago. I wanted to stay there forever to feel close to the only person who took time for me when I was a little girl.
In the Bible, God has given us glimpses of a Heavenly Country, a wonderful country, a glorious country. It is hard for us to imagine the wonders and beauties of that place; for “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 Cor 2:9 Holy men of old were pointed to the reward of those who serve our Loving Saviour. John says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21:1-5
What a wonderful place to look forward to! Truly, in our Great Creator’s “presence is fullness of joy; at [His] right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Ps 16:11 How happy we will be! God’s Holy Word does not describe a reward where we will be sitting upon a cloud, strumming a harp, bored to death. No! That is what some people have been told so, naturally, they don’t want to go there. Isaiah tells us, We “shall build houses, and inhabit them; and [we] shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. [We] shall not build, and another inhabit; [we] shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock:” Isa 65:21-25 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” Isa 11: 6, 7
Think of it! We shall dwell in that peaceful land throughout all eternity and follow Jesus wherever He goes. (Rev 14:4) We will walk beside the river of life and eat fruit from the tree of life. “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” Rev 22:1-5
With awe, we will see Him in all His majesty and beauty. With joy, we will hear precious truths from His own lips. We will desire nothing better, for we shall have more than our heart can desire and be filled with all love and happiness and peace. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen!
Rose
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