337. The God Who Dwells Above, We Call

C.M.
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The God who dwells above, we call
 
Our Father and our Friend;
 
And, blessèd thought! His children all
 
Shall see Him in the end.
“Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high.” (Psalm 113:5)
“<<A Song of degrees.>> Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.” (Psalm 123:1)
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17)
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18)
“And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4)
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Though now dispersed, the day will come
 
When He who made us His
 
Will call us hence, and take us home
 
To see Him as He is.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” (1 John 3:1)
“As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed.” (2 Corinthians 6:9)
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Though now unknown, we then shall be
 
The sons of God confessed,
 
Those who disown us then shall see
 
How richly we are blest.
“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:23)
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Then let us, brethren, while on earth,
 
With foes and strangers mixed,
 
Be mindful of our heavenly birth,
 
Our thoughts on glory fixed.
“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” (John 17:11)
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5:1)
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
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That we should glorify Him here
 
Our Father’s purpose is:
 
Whene’er the Savior shall appear
 
He’ll fully own us His.
“That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6)
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)
“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” (Revelation 3:9)
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