As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness (Ps. 17:15).
My maternal grandmother fell asleep in Christ at the age of 94, leaving a request that I preach her memorial sermon from this text. Since that day this promise has meant much to me. Those of this world have their interest in this world alone, but those of the world to come look for more.
As Christians we have a treasure that is twofold: God's presence here and His likeness hereafter. By faith we behold His face in righteousness now, for we are justified in the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 6:11). It is the "glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6) that shines in our hearts now. This is our heaven below, and it will be our heaven above also.
But seeing is not the end, only the beginning. Even here we are changed by looking. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). We may sleep awhile and then wake up, "changed, in a moment," to His likeness. "We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).
There is much in the best life here on earth that is unsatisfying. The fullest life here is incomplete, but when we awake with His likeness, we shall be satisfied at last.
A great Welsh preacher left carved on his tombstone his name, followed by these words: "who was satisfied in Jesus." That was his testimony in the Lord's service here. But what will it be there in the presence of the Lord!
MEDITATION PRAYER: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Ps. 16:10).
My maternal grandmother fell asleep in Christ at the age of 94, leaving a request that I preach her memorial sermon from this text. Since that day this promise has meant much to me. Those of this world have their interest in this world alone, but those of the world to come look for more.
As Christians we have a treasure that is twofold: God's presence here and His likeness hereafter. By faith we behold His face in righteousness now, for we are justified in the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 6:11). It is the "glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6) that shines in our hearts now. This is our heaven below, and it will be our heaven above also.
But seeing is not the end, only the beginning. Even here we are changed by looking. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). We may sleep awhile and then wake up, "changed, in a moment," to His likeness. "We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).
There is much in the best life here on earth that is unsatisfying. The fullest life here is incomplete, but when we awake with His likeness, we shall be satisfied at last.
A great Welsh preacher left carved on his tombstone his name, followed by these words: "who was satisfied in Jesus." That was his testimony in the Lord's service here. But what will it be there in the presence of the Lord!
MEDITATION PRAYER: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Ps. 16:10).
RSS Feed
