September 29, 2019

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind (Isa. 65:17).
 
    The margin reads, "Come upon the heart."  In the new earth the events of life in the former earth condition will not be remembered to come upon the heart; that is, to cause sadness, sorrow, disappointment, worry, or heartache.  But we shall certainly remember the way in which the Lord has led us through His loving providence and great mercy.
 
    We shall remember the story of the cross and our redemption.  Those who sing the new song before the throne will say, "Thou are worthy...:for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev. 5:9).
 
    In that blessed land we shall see things as God sees them.  What now appears to us to be merely a chain of meaningless and even cruel events will then appear in all its harmony as the providence of God leading on to our eternal joy.  "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. 21:4).  There will be no sorrow there, for Christ is there.  In the language of Bonar's sweet hymn:
                    
                                Christ Himself the living splendor,
                                Christ the sunlight, mild and tender;
                                Praises to the Lamb we render;
                                Ah, 'tis heaven at last!
 
                                Broken death's dread bands that bound us,
                                Life and victory around us;
                                Christ the King Himself hath crowned us;
                                Ah, 'tis heaven at last!
 
 
MEDITATION PRAYER:  "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness" (Ps. 30:4).