Faith looks out of her window and sees the work of redemption accomplished. She needs no door backward, for she has not to go back to settle anything, even if she could. All the past has been settled in sin's judgment. All was done by Jesus on the tree.
"My soul looks back to see
The burden Thou didst bear
When hanging on th' accursed tree,
For all my guilt was there."
Hope keeps the door open forward; for she has bright expectations, and any moment she may be asked to step forward and lose herself in glorified realizations.
"To find each hope of glory gained,
Fulfilled each precious word;
And fully all to have attained
The image of our Lord."
Love spreads her table even now, spreads it here on the spot. She knows how to value both Faith's window and Hope's door. She could not do without either. But she has a present portion. We cannot go backward to the cross except by faith; we can only, in hope, anticipate the glory; but we can enjoy His love now, and so get a present foretaste of the very feast of heaven.
"And now my famished soul is fed,
A feast of love for me is spread;
I feast upon the children's bread,
O Lamb of God, through Thee."
Now notice how the blessed Spirit of God is bound up with all these—faith, hope, love.
Is it the sacrifice that through faith perfects the conscience forever? It is written: "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us." Heb. 10:15.
Is it hope that is set before us? We "abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Rom. 15:13.
Is it our present portion? "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom. 5:5.