HOW many there are who Only appear to make heaven a place of refined, natural enjoyment, a place “where everlasting spring abides, and never-withering flowers,” where the ranks of its inhabitants are not thinned by disease, where no foe disturbs the rest, and no jarring note mars the music! Christ is not in their thoughts, for He has never found a place in their hearts.
Ask a true believer, “What will it be to be there?”
and he will answer, “Christ.” Christ will be seen, His voice will be heard; only those who love Him will surround the Lamb and sing His praises. Every true believer has fullest sympathy with the old saint who said, “I would rather have Christ in my chimney-corner than have all heaven without Him.” It is the blessed Person, to whom we owe our all, that will attract and engage our hearts there. The following incident related by another will illustrate this.
Mr.―was a man of much intelligence, vigor, and many engaging qualities. He had a loving wife and several bright, beautiful children; but with all these joys he had one dreadful trial―he was blind from his birth.
An eminent French surgeon while in this country called upon him, and examining the blind man with much interest and care, said to him, “Your blindness is wholly superficial; your eyes are naturally good; if I had operated upon them twenty years ago I think I could have given you sight; I may possibly be able to do so now, though it will cause you much pain.”
“I can bear that,” was the reply, “if you can but enable me to see.”
The surgeon operated upon him, and was gradually successful; first there were faint glimmerings of light, then more distinct vision. The blind father was handed a rose—he had smelt one before, but had never seen one; then he looked upon the face of his wife, who had been so true and faithful to him; and then his children were brought, whom he had so often fondled, and whose charming prattle had so frequently fallen upon his ears.
He then exclaimed, “Oh, why, I have seen all of these before inquiring for the man by whose skill I have been enabled to behold them! Show me the doctor.” And when he was pointed out to him, he embraced him with tears of gratitude and joy.
Dear reader, would the presence of Christ be heaven to you? Or, granting you the companionship of the fairest and best of earth’s great ones, the enjoyment of the most refined pleasures your mind could conceive―sights most enchanting, sounds most thrilling―would a Christless heaven satisfy you? If, as a poor, hopeless, guilty one, you have been given to know the saving value of His precious blood, to taste the reality of His dying love, nothing could satisfy you short of seeing His blessed face, and uniting with the myriads of His redeemed ones to sing His praises. Thank God, fellow-believer, that prospect is ours; and not far off the day when all shall be realized. Happy people!