Afflictions are preparing for us a "more abundant entrance," a weightier crown,
a whiter robe, a sweeter rest, a home made doubly precious by a long exile and
many sufferings here below. However desperate our earthly warfare may be, it is
not forever. No, it is brief, very brief. Its end is near, very near.
And with
the end come triumph, and honor, and songs of victory. Then, too, there follows
peace, and the return of the war-worn soldier to his quiet dwelling. This is the
joy of the saint. He has fought a good fight, he has finished the course, he has
kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for him the crown of righteousness.
His battle is over, and then for him there are rest and home. Home! Yes, home!
And what a home for us to return to and abide in forever! A home prepared
before the foundation of the world. A home in the many mansions. A home nearest
the throne and heart of God. A home whose peace shall never be broken by the
sound of war or tempest. A home whose brightness shall never be overcast by the
remotest shadow of a cloud.
How solacing to the weary spirit to think of a resting-place so near, and that
resting-place our Father's house where we shall hunger no more, neither thirst
any more, where the sun shall not scorch us, nor any heat, where the Lamb that
is in the midst of the throne shall feed us and lead us to living fountains of
waters, and God Himself shall wipe away all tears from our eyes!
[Horatius Bonar]
✞✞✞
2 Peter 1:11 ... For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:7 ... I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Revelation 7:17 ... For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.❤
