Then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12.
We shall know our friends, even as the disciples knew Jesus. They may have been deformed, diseased, or disfigured, in this mortal life, and they rise in perfect health and symmetry; yet in the glorified body their identity will be perfectly preserved. . . . In the face radiant with the light shining from the face of Jesus, we shall recognize the lineaments of those we love.
The redeemed will meet and recognize those whose attention they have directed to the uplifted Saviour. What blessed converse they have with these souls! “I was a sinner,” it will be said, “without God and without hope in the world, and you came to me and drew my attention to the precious Saviour as my only hope. . . .” Others will say, “I was a heathen in heathen lands. You left your friends and comfortable home and came to teach me how to find Jesus and believe in Him as the only true God. I demolished my idols and worshiped God, and now I see Him face to face. I am saved, eternally saved, ever to behold Him whom I love. . . .”
Others will express their gratitude to those who fed the hungry and clothed the naked. “When despair bound my soul in unbelief, the Lord sent you to me,” they say, “to speak words of hope and comfort. You brought me food for my physical necessities, and you opened to me the Word of God, awakening me to my spiritual needs. You treated me as a brother. You sympathized with me in my sorrows, and restored my bruised and wounded soul, so that I could grasp the hand of Christ that was reached out to save me. In my ignorance you taught me patiently that I had a Father in heaven who cared for me. You read to me the precious promises of God’s Word. You inspired in me the faith that He would save me. My heart was softened, subdued, broken, as I contemplated the sacrifice which Christ had made for me. . . . I am here, saved, eternally saved, ever to live in His presence and to praise Him who gave His life for me.”
What rejoicing there will be as these redeemed ones meet and greet those who have had a burden in their behalf! And those who have lived, not to please themselves, but to be a blessing to the unfortunate who have so few blessings–how their hearts will thrill with satisfaction!
Maranatha p. 303
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Prayer Requests
—–Going through very difficult days right now! Prayers would be greatly appreciated. Martha
—–Please pray for T who is battling addiction and guilt.
———-Please pray for Jan and husband because Jan has been in the hospital since the weekend. Pray that the Lord will be with this situation. E
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Dear Friends
As Eileen was getting into the car one Sabbath morning, her hat blew off in the strong Kansas wind. Placing her Bible on top of the car, she dashed off after it. Grabbing her hat, she ran back to the car for she did not want to be late. When she arrived at church she reached into the back seat to get her Bible. It was no where to be found. Eileen was puzzled. She was sure she had brought it. All during church she missed having it.
As soon as she got home, she began looking for her precious Bible. She couldn’t find it. Suddenly, she remembered where she had placed her Bible. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she realized that somewhere in the 17 mile drive to church her Bible had fallen off from the roof of the car. She was sure that she would never see it again.
With tears in her eyes, she told us of her plight. While I got dinner ready, Ron and Eileen jumped in the car and drove slowly along looking for a large book that might still be along the side of the road. About a mile and a half away, they entered the Interstate. Ron was sure that her Bible could not possibly have stayed on the rooftop that long, but up ahead, on the median of the highway, the saw Eileen’s Bible it’s pages flapping in the wind. Immediately, Ron pulled over onto the side of the road and Eileen jumped out and rescued her Bible. It’s pages were ruffled, but unhurt. With some careful smoothing, we could hardly tell the trauma it had received that morning.
Later, as we were talking about this experience, Eileen commented how much this was like the story of Mary and Joseph when they took twelve year old Jesus to the temple. Just as through carelessness and inattention, Mary and Joseph had lost sight of their Precious Son, so because of Eileen’s carelessness she had lost His Word. Just as they had had to search for Him for three long and frightening days before they found Him again, so she had to search carefully for her Bible.
“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:41-49
How often we, too, lose sight of our Precious Saviour through neglect of Bible study and prayer. How much loss we suffer from these times of neglect. How plainly we put ourselves into temptation’s path and fail miserably. How easy it is to allow the allurements of this world to take our focus off from ” the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14 How many times, we, too, must retrace our steps to find Him again.
May we ever keep our eyes on our blessed Saviour following Him every step of the way. May we hide His Word in our hearts that we might not lose sight of our Glorious Redeemer and so fall into sin. (Ps 119:9-12) May we so live our life that we will be able to declare as did Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2Tim 4:7, 8
Rose
We shall Recognize Each Other