As the natural sun sometimes sinks in clouds, so, occasionally, the Christian who has a bright rising, and a brighter meridian, sets in gloom. It is not always “light” at his evening-time; but this we know, that when the day of immortality breaks, the last vestige of earth’s shadows will for ever flee away. To the closing hour of time, Providence may be to him a baffling enigma: but ere the first hour has struck on heaven’s chronometer, all will be clear. My soul! “in God’s light thou shalt see light;” the Book of His decrees is a sealed book now,—“A great deep” is all the explanation thou canst often give to His judgments; the why and the wherefore He seems to keep from us, to test our faith, to discipline us in trustful submission, and lead us to say, “Thy will be done!” But rejoice in that hereafter-light which awaits thee! Now we see through a glass darkly; but then, face to face. In the great mirror of eternity all the events of this chequered scene will be reflected; the darkest of them will be seen to be bright with mercy,—the severest dispensations, “only the severer aspects of His love!” Pry not, then, too curiously; pronounce not too censoriously on God’s dealings with thee. Wait with patience till the grand day of disclosures; one confession shall then burst from every tongue, “Righteous art thou, O Lord!”
“REMEMBER THIS WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, UPON WHICH THOU HAST CAUSED ME TO HOPE!”
26th Day.
“He is Faithful that Promised.”
“I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”—John xiv. 3.
A Glorious Reunion.
If the meeting of a long absent friend, or brother, on earth, be a joyous event, what, my soul, must be the joy of thy union with this Brother of brothers, this Friend of friends! “I will come again!” Oh! what an errand of love, what a promised honour and dignity is this!—His saints to share, not His Heaven only, but His immediate presence. “Where I am, there ye shall be also!” “Father, I will (it was His dying wish,—a wondrous codicil in that testamentary prayer) that those whom Thou hast given me be with me where I am.” Happy reunion! Blessed Saviour, if Thy presence be so sweet on a sin-stricken earth, and when known only by the invisible eye of faith, what must be that presence in a sinless Heaven, unfolded in all its unutterable loveliness and glory! Happy reunion! it will be a meeting of the whole ransomed family—the Head with all its members—the Vine with all its branches—the Shepherd with all His flock—the Elder Brother with all His kinsmen. Oh, the joy, too, of mutual recognition among the death-divided—ties snapt asunder on earth, indissolubly renewed—severed friendships reunited—the triumph of love complete—love binding brother with brother, and friend with friend, and all to the Elder Brother! My soul! what thinkest thou of this Heaven? Remember who it is that Jesus says shall sit with Him upon His throne,—“Him that overcometh.”