To see the Savior as He is, in the splendors of His
glorified humanity is the highest and most attractive view which is
given of the Heavenly world. To see Him as He was, when He
tabernacled here below was a high privilege, one which prophets, and kings,
and righteous men of old, ardently desired. But to behold Him, clothed with
majesty divine, exalted above all blessing and praise, the object of celestial
adoration, all the heavenly hosts prostrate before His throne that will be a
blessed sight indeed!
Between the view that is enjoyed of the Redeemer's glory on
earth, and that which is realized by the redeemed in Heaven there is a threefold distinction:
In the first place, His glory, as seen here, is dark and
obscure but in Heaven it is clear and unclouded. The apostle speaks of our
beholding Him now imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror. It is by means of
certain indistinct mediums, such as the representations of His word and
ordinances; but He will be seen above, face to face!
In the second place, His glory is beheld here, only in separate
parts and portions. The things recorded of Him in the sacred writings are
studied one by one, and, by comparing them together, we form a general
estimate of His character. In some passages, we have an account of His
person; in others, of His offices; in others, of His love. And it is by
collecting these scattered fragments together, that our knowledge of Him
is now obtained.
So it was with the spouse in the book of Canticles. She
examined every part of His person by itself. His head was as fine gold;
His cheeks as a bed of spices; His lips like lilies dropping
sweet-smelling myrrh; His countenance was as Lebanon, excellent as the
cedars. And after having glanced at these several particulars she comes to the
conclusion that, "He is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely!"
It is thus, the Savior is seen here on earth; but how will it
be in Heaven? We shall see Him all at once complete and entire,
in one vast blaze of unobscured glory!
And, in the third place, the view we have of Christ on earth is
only in occasional glances. There are seasons in the experience of every
believer when he has to say with Job, "Behold I go forward but he is
not there; and backward but I cannot perceive him!" Or in the language
of the prophet, "Truly, you are a God who hides yourself!" But, precious truth!
the vision in Heaven will be perpetual; it will be altogether unbroken
and undisturbed.
[John MacDuff]
Isaiah 33:17 ... Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Isaiah 60:19 ... The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Matthew 5:8 ... Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.❤
✞✞✞
Isaiah 33:17 ... Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Isaiah 60:19 ... The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Matthew 5:8 ... Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.❤
