Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isaiah 33:17.
If we desire to see the King in His beauty we must here behave worthily. We must outgrow our childishness. When provocation comes let us be silent. There are times when silence is eloquence. We are to reveal the patience and kindness and forbearance that will make us worthy of being called sons and daughters of God. We are to trust Him, and believe on Him, and rely upon Him. We are to follow in Christ’s steps. “If any man will come after me,” He says, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23)…. It may be a heavy cross to keep silent when you ought to. It may be a painful discipline, but let me assure you that silence does much more to overcome evil than a storm of angry words.
Here in this world we are to learn what we must be in order to have a place in the heavenly courts. We are to learn the lessons that Christ desires to teach us, that we may be prepared to be taken to the higher school in the courts above, where the Saviour will lead us beside the river of life, explaining to us many things that here we could not comprehend…. There we shall see the glory of God as we have never seen it here. We get but a glimpse of the glory now, because we do not follow on to know the Lord.
Every right principle, every truth learned in an earthly school, will advance us just that much in the heavenly school. As Christ walked and talked with His disciples during His ministry on this earth, so will He teach us in the school above, leading us beside the river of living waters, and revealing to us truths that in this life must remain hidden mysteries because of the limitations of the human mind, so marred by sin. In the heavenly school we shall have opportunity to attain, step by step, to the greatest heights of learning. There, as children of the heavenly King, we shall ever dwell with the members of the royal family; there we shall see the King in His beauty, and behold His matchless charms.
Long have we waited, but our hope is not to grow dim. If we can but see the King in His beauty we shall be forever blessed.
Maranatha p. 327
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Prayer Requests
—– please put Bob on your prayer list he is the elder at church an elderly guy. He is in the hospital loaded with cancer, refuses any treatments. . . .I have been having a horrible meltdown lately since Tom’s birthday. I need prayers to get over this. thanks M.
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Dear Friends,
One time some years ago, we had a thunder storm that had a tornado associated with it when it had been two counties to the west. We decided to go over to our camper which is parked next to our trailer park’s storm shelter just in case. That way if there was a tornado warning, we could go down into the shelter quickly.
As we were sitting at the table, reading, I suddenly noticed a stream of water flowing across the table toward my book. I said, “Now where did that come from?” Then I noticed that the window was leaking. Ron told me that the gutter around the window must have become full of dirt so the rain, instead of being routed away from the window, was pooling in the gutter and coming inside.
So it is in our lives. Our connection with Heaven can become clogged with sin without our even realizing it. Our lives are so busy that we often go through our daily routine with scarcely a thought heavenward. We must be shaken from our lethargy in order to save us. In love, our Good Shepherd sends something to awaken us. Then, when the “rain” begins to fall, we see that there is a problem.
Paul tells us, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Heb 12:5-15
Even though rain must fall in our lives to awaken us, God is merciful, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13 Our Great Redeemer watches carefully over us and provides us a Way of escape. Jesus is the “Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6) and as we keep our eye of faith upon Him, the trials and troubles we experience accomplish their needful work.
Moreover, our Loving Saviour does not leave us to go through the difficult times alone. He assures us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:31
Let us turn to God with our whole heart. Let us allow Him to change us into His image. Let us “Serve the LORD with gladness: (and ) come before his presence with singing” (Ps 100:2) in times of rain as well as in times when all is going well.
Rose