THE other day I was visiting a dear old woman who lives not far from me. She is very old (over eighty, I think), very feeble, and suffering. Her breathing is so bad that she cannot lie down, or even sit upright in bed, but is obliged to lean forward with her head bowed down, wrapped up in a large shawl to keep her warm. Yet, though so ill, she is happy and peaceful.
I read to her the beautiful verses in 2 Cor. 4:17, 1817For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17‑18): 2CO 4:17-1817For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17‑18) "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Also the first few verses of the next chapter, finishing with “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.”
Speaking to her a little of the wonderful glory which will so, over-balance all our suffering down here, that God can call it " light affliction," I went on to say what joy it would be for us when we see the Lord Jesus face to face.
Here she interrupted me, suddenly exclaiming in her feeble voice, with the words panted out, "And that will be the crowning of it all.”
How precious to the Lord's ear must have been those few words from the lips of His dear, suffering, aged child. Above and beyond the thought of the glory which awaited her, what crowned it all was the expectation of seeing His blessed face. And, oh! that this might be more true of all those who know Him, whether we are young, or old; may there be more heart-attachment to Himself, the blessed Lord Jesus, who is the altogether lovely One!
There, in the very center of all the glory of God, is our living, precious Saviour, and it is in His face that all the glory of God is shining. May each one of our hearts be more familiar with Him as He is up there, taken up with His beauty! Then shall we more enter into what the joy will be of seeing Him face to face, and being ourselves changed into His likeness, and then it will be true of us as the Scripture says, " Every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure " (1 John 3:33And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)). 1JO 3:33And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)
May each of our hearts echo the precious words of His dear suffering one, “And that will be the crowning of it all.”
H. L. M.