11. Of what are we who will live in the presence of God assured? Psalm 16:11; Psalm 36:8.
NOTE: ‘I want to tell you that Heaven is worth winning. It should be the aim of your life to fit yourself for association with the redeemed, with holy angels, and with Jesus, the world’s Redeemer. If we could have but one view of the celestial city, we would never wish to dwell on earth again. There are beautiful landscapes on earth, and I enjoy all these prospects of loveliness in nature. I associate them with the Creator. But I know that, if I love God, and keep His commandments, there is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory reserved in Heaven for me. This earth, purified with fire, then will be much more beautiful. The grass will be living green, and will never wither. There will be roses and lilies, and all kinds of flowers there. They will never blight or fade, or lose their beauty and fragrance. The lion we should much dread and fear here will then lie down with the lamb, and everything in the New Earth will be peace and harmony. The trees of the New Earth will be straight and lofty, without deformity. The saints will have crowns of glory upon their heads, and harps of gold in their hands. They will play upon the golden harps, and sing redeeming love, and make melody unto God. Their former trials and suffering in this world will be forgotten and lost amid the glories of the New Earth. Let all that is beautiful in our earthly home remind us of the crystal river and green fields, the waving trees and the living fountains, the shining city and the white-robed singers, of our heavenly home, that world of beauty which no artist can picture and no mortal tongue describe. Let your imagination picture the home of the saved, and remember that it will be more glorious than your brightest imagination can portray. Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it.’ Maranatha, page 355.
12. How does the Word of God explain that what God has in store for those who love Him is far more wonderful that our human imagination can conceive? 1 Corinthians 2:9. Compare Isaiah 64:4. Consider Matthew 25:21.
NOTE: ‘Long have we waited for our Saviour’s return. But none the less sure is the promise. Soon we shall be in our promised home. There Jesus will lead us beside the living stream flowing from the throne of God and will explain to us the dark providences through which on this earth He brought us in order to perfect our characters. There we shall behold with undimmed vision the beauties of Eden restored. Casting at the feet of the Redeemer the crowns that He has placed on our heads and touching our golden harps, we shall fill all heaven with praise to Him that sitteth on the throne. Let all that is beautiful in our earthly home remind us of the crystal river and green fields, the waving trees and the living fountains, the shining city and the white-robed singers, of our heavenly home, that world of beauty which no artist can picture, no mortal tongue describe. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”’ The Adventist Home, pages 544-545.
‘In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called “a country.” Hebrews 11:14-16. There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home. “My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” “They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: ... Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 32:18; 60:18; 65:21, 22. There, “the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.” “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; ... and a little child shall lead them.” “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” saith the Lord. Isaiah 35:1; 55:13; 11:6, 9.’ Darkness Before Dawn, page 61.
‘Who will be among the happy throng that will sing praise around the throne of God? Who will serve God, whatever may be the consequences? I see in Jesus matchless charms. Let us lift up the Man of Calvary. If those who are burdened with sin will come and give their hearts to Jesus, and then go forth to gather sheaves for Him, what joy will be theirs by and by. Although glory will be given to Jesus for full redemption, there will be those in heaven who will say to the co-workers with God, “I never would have had the light if you had not opened the word of God to me. I never would have accepted the truth if you had not manifested Christ in your life.” God would have us co-labourers with Himself, that, when the pearly gates of the city of God shall be swung back upon their glittering hinges, He may say to us, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”’ Signs of the Times, August 4, 1890.
‘For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.’ Isaiah 65:17.
When we stand with the Saviour on that blissful, happy shore,
And our weary pilgrim days are left behind,
Shall we pause one brief moment and recall the cross we bore?
Or will aught of this world’s grief e’er come to mind?
Chorus
Never for a moment, when the work on earth is done,
Never for a moment, when the crown of life is won,
Shall we think of the trials and the hardships we have borne;
All will be forgotten on that golden morn.
When the wealth of the kingdom is presented to our view,
And the King invites us all His joy to share,
Will the anguish of spirit in our struggles to be true
Worthy be with heaven’s glory to compare?
Chorus
Never for a moment, when the work on earth is done,
Never for a moment, when the crown of life is won,
Shall we think of the trials and the hardships we have borne;
All will be forgotten on that golden morn.
When we see safely gathered all whose burdens we have shared,
And the souls we helped to run the heavenly race,
Shall we then be regretful for the moments that we spared,
Or despise the riches of His wondrous grace?
Chorus
Never for a moment, when the work on earth is done,
Never for a moment, when the crown of life is won,
Shall we think of the trials and the hardships we have borne;
All will be forgotten on that golden morn.
Pastor Joseph Harker
‘For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’
Romans 8:18.