December 30, 2019

        For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14).
 
    Stand on the seashore and look at the endless expanse, float over it, fly over it, and it seems to cover the entire earth as it did at the world's first dawn.  Lord Byron wrote:
 
                                Time writes no wrinkle on thine azure brow;
                                Such as creation's dawn behold, thou rollest now.
 
     As the waters once covered the earth in darkness, so the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth with light and joy.
 
    The margin of our text pictures that future even more wonderfully--"For the earth shall be filled by knowing the glory of the Lord" "The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity" (Isa. 33:24).  They shall know the glory of the Lord in forgiveness.  They shall know that glory of the Lord in fulfilling His promises, for they have come from earthly wanderings to celestial homes, from dens and prisons to joys and mansions, out from iron doors and in through pearly gates.  They are home at last, and home forever.  Then shall their peace be as a river, and their righteousness as the waves of the sea (Isa. 48:18).  Peace, righteousness, knowledge--worldwide and forever!
 
    It is those who have this knowledge of God who are the real optimists.  They are looking forward to something better than this world had ever known.  Then, and then only, will the blessed ones be able to truly sing, "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."
 
                                Thus the vision of God's future--
                                        All the world in Christ is blest;
                                Something higher than the highest,
                                        Something better than the best.
 
 
MEDITATION PRAYER:  "I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works" (Ps. 145:5).