Tuesday, April 19, 2011

what must we do in the holy place?

This question Christian presented to the men escorting he and Hopeful into the Celestial City. Their response is lengthy, but absolutely fantastic.

You must receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for the King by the way. In that place you must wear crowns of gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and visions of the Holy One, for "there you shall see him as he is." There also shall you serve Him continually with praise, with shouting, and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the world, though with much difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy your friends again that are gone thither before you, and there you shall with joy receive even everyone that follows into the holy place after you. There also you shall be clothed with glory and majesty, and put into an equipage fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When He shall come with sound of trumpets in the clouds, as upon wings of the wind, you shall come with Him...Also when He shall again return to the City, you shall go too with sound of trumpet, and be ever with Him. (Bunyan, John pp.186-187, emphasis mine)

Now we don't know exactly everything awaiting for us in heaven. Part of the beauty lies in the unknown blessings ready to be given us when we arrive. But what we do know is clearly worth celebrating and praising God for. Good Friday is on Friday with Easter on Sunday. Because of the events from that weekend nearly 2,000 years ago, the above description far greater than a wishful thought. It is the hope and guaranteed reward for all who are in Christ.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the reminder of ALL we have to look forward to.

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