"He is Faithful that Promised."
"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."--REV. xxi. 3, 4.
The Vision and Fruition of God.
Glorious consummation! All the other glories of Heaven are but
emanations from this glory that excelleth. Here is the focus and centre
to which every ray of light converges. God is "all in all." Heaven
_without God_!--it would send a thrill of dismay through the burning
ranks of angels and archangels; it would dim every eye, and hush every
harp, and change the whitest robe into sackcloth. And shall I then,
indeed, "_see God_?" What! shall I gaze on these inscrutable glories,
and live? Yes, God himself shall be with them, and be their God: they
shall "_see his face_!" And not only the vision, but the _fruition_. Oh!
how does sin in my holiest moments damp the enjoyment of Him! It is the
"pure in heart" alone who can "see," far more, who can enjoy "God." Even
if he did reveal himself _now_, these eyes could never endure His
intolerable brightness. But _then_, with a heart purified from
corruption--a world where the taint of sin and the power of temptation
never enters--the soul again a bright mirror, reflecting the lost image
of the Godhead--all the affections devoted to their original high
destiny--the love of God the motive principle, the ruling passion--the
glory of God the undivided object and aim--the will no opposing or
antagonist bias,--man will, for the first time, know all the blessedness
of his chief end,--"to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever!"
"REMEMBER _THIS_ WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, UPON
WHICH THOU HAST CAUSED ME TO HOPE!"