Real Estate In Heaven

Heb 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

This is well. Our substance here is very unsubstantial; there is no substance in it.

But God has given us a promise of real estate in the gloryland, and that promise comes to our hearts with such full assurance of its certainty that we know in ourselves that we have an enduring substance there.

Yes, "we have" it even now.

They say, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," but we have our bird in the bush and in the hand, too.

Heaven is even now our own. We have the title deed of it, we have the earnest of it, we have the firstfruits of it.

We have heaven in price, in promise, and in principle; this we know not only by the hearing of the ear but "in ourselves"

Should not the thought of the better substance on the other side of Jordan reconcile us to present losses?

Our spending money we may lose, but our treasure is safe.

We have lost the shadows, but the substance remains, for our Savior lives, and the place which He has prepared for us abides.

There is a better land, a better substance, a better promise; and all this comes to us by a better covenant; wherefore, let us be in better spirits, and say unto the LORD, "Every day will I bless thee; and praise thy name for ever and ever."

~Charles Spurgeon~

Bread From Heaven!

John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Jesus was ever as faithful in His rebukes as He was gracious and tender in His consolations. 

A crowd flock around Him. They do not come with a desire to hear His words, or to follow Him as their Master.

They come only in hopes of temporal advantage. Nor does this escape His observation:

John 6:26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

John 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

He then, in answer to their inquiry, bids them believe on Him, as that which above all things the Father requires.

In their unbelief, they ask a sign. Forgetful of that marvelous exhibition of Divine power which they had of late witnessed in the feeding of the five thousand, they speak of Moses giving them manna in the desert, and would have Christ manifest some similar proof of His power.

Jesus does not grant their request, but reminds them of that other bread which the Father was now giving, and that of which all other was but the type and shadow:

John 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

John 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Taking the words in a mere natural sense, they ask that they may receive this: "LORD, evermore give us this bread."

Then Jesus points to Himself: "Earthly bread I have already given you; but for the nourishing of your souls you must feed on Me. I am the Bread of life; I am the living Bread that came down from Heaven...if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever."

It is evident that human hearts are tormented by unsatisfied longings, and cravings after a good which they never find.

If the most excellent creatures that God has made were all combined, they could never make the boast, "I have satisfied one soul."

One height gained, is but to open out the vision to one still higher. One blessing granted, only makes it plain that something still better must be given before Paradise be regained.

Hence the confession of the one who above all had made the experiment: "Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity!"

Hence the sorrowful complaint of the Prophet: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" 

Wisdom's children have discovered the secret: there is satisfaction, but it is only in God.

As the deer pants after the water-brooks so pants my soul after You, O God. My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land, where there is no water.

O satisfy us early with Your mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips; when I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the night watches.

It has pleased the Father that in Jesus should be laid up the fullness which can meet all our desires. 

For this reason does He speak of Himself as the Bread of life, and gives the assurance that whoever comes to Him shall never hunger; and he who believes on Him shall never thirst.

 ~George Everard~

Continual Guidance

Isa 58:11  And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
 
What aileth thee? Hast thou lost thy way? Art thou entangled in a dark wood and canst thou not find thy paths?

Stand still, and see the salvation of God. He knows the way, and He will direct thee in it if thou cry unto Him.

Every day brings its own perplexity. How sweet to feel that the guidance of the LORD is continual!

If we choose our own way or consult with flesh and blood we cast out the LORD's guidance; but if we abstain from self-will, then He will direct every step of our road, every hour of the day, and every day of the year, and every year of our life.

If we will but be guided, we shall be guided.

If we will commit our way unto the LORD, He will direct our course so that we shall not lose ourselves.

But note to whom this promise is made. Read the previous verse: "If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry."

We must feel for others and give them, not a few dry crusts, but such things as we ourselves would wish to receive.

If we show a tender care for our fellow-creatures in the hour of their need, then will the LORD attend to our necessities and make Himself our continual Guide.

Jesus is the Leader, not of misers, nor of those who oppress the poor, but of the kind and tenderhearted.

Such persons are pilgrims who shall never miss their way.

~Charles Spurgeon~

The CONTENTS Of That Cup Of Which Jesus Drank.

Every bitter ingredient was there, none was lacking.

What bodily suffering and extreme weariness through pain did He endure!

No limb of His sacred body, but had a share in the agony He bore.

Beyond this, what soul grief did He endure in the base ingratitude of a people whose every need and sorrow He had been ready to relieve!

What desolation of heart did He experience through the treachery of Judas, the denial of Peter, the desertion of the rest of His disciples!

What pangs must have rent His spirit when upon the cross He heard the reproaches that were cast upon Him!

What darkness of soul did He pass through when He uttered the cry, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 

Who can express, who can fathom one of these depths of untold woe?

~George Everard~

God's Will

 John 19:11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Nothing that is not God's will can come into the life of one who trusts and obeys God. This fact is enough to make our life one of ceaseless thanksgiving and joy.

For "God's will is the one hopeful, glad, and glorious thing in the world"; and it is working in the omnipotence for us all the time, with nothing to prevent it if we are surrendered and believing.

One who was passing through deep waters of affliction wrote to a friend: "Is it not a glorious thing to know that, no difference how unjust a thing may be, or how absolutely it may seem to be from Satan, by the time it reaches us it is God's will for us, and will work for good to us?

For all things work together for good to us who love God. And even of the betrayal, Christ said, "The cup which my Father gave me, shall I not drink it?"

We live charmed lives if we are living in the center of God's will. All the attacks that Satan, through others' sin, can hurl against us are not only powerless to harm us, but are turned into blessings on the way.

~H. W. S.~

In the center of the circle Of the Will of God I stand: There can come no second causes,  All must come from His dear hand.

All is well! for 'tis my Father Who my life hath planned.

Shall I pass through waves of sorrow? Then I know it will be best; Though I cannot tell the reason,

I can trust, and so am blest.

God is Love, and God is faithful, So in perfect Peace I rest.

With the shade and with the sunshine, With the joy and with the pain, Lord, I trust Thee! both are needed,
      
Each Thy wayward child to train, Earthly loss, did we but know it, Often means our heavenly gain.

~I. G. W.~

Go To The Mercy-Seat As A Little Child To A Mother's Knee!

Luke 9:29  And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

There is a transforming efficacy of true prayer! While Christ was praying, Divine light and glory came upon Him from above.

And so in another way, it is with the believer. Imagine a child of GOD who has had a difficult day of toil and anxiety.

He has been all day long in contact with the world, its turmoil, its business-and perchance he has been ruffled with the evil tempers or angry words of those he has met.

But the evening comes. He has a quiet half hour for communion with his Best Friend.

Then, as he dwells upon some sweet promise of the Word, as he rolls the burden of the day upon a Father in Heaven-there comes back a quiet joy, a calm peace into his soul.

A new strength is imparted, and a new view is taken of life's duties and temptations.

The discipline of heavenly wisdom is recognized, and instead of the jaded look and wearied spirit-there is power and life and gladness and hope found upspringing within the heart!

Never, never let the Christian be robbed of the comfort of prayer by the thought of being unfitted for its exercise.

You are tempted, it may be, to think that because the mind has been overstrained, and you are tired and weary-that therefore it is impossible to make the effort for prayer.

Let it be just the other way: "I need the quiet of my Father's presence to soothe this throbbing brow, to rest this fainting heart-and I must have it."

Then go to the mercy-seat as a little child to a mother's knee.

Your words need not be many, but let them be from your heart-to the heart of your Father in Heaven!

~George Everard~

He Will Return

                                                 
He left us, and yet we are not left orphans. He is our comfort, and He is gone; but we are not comfortless.

Our comfort is that He will come to us, and this is consolation enough to sustain us through His prolonged absence.

Jesus is already on His way: He says, "I come quickly": He rides posthaste toward us. He says, "I will come": and none can prevent His coming, or put it back for a quarter of an hour.

He specially says, "I will come to you"; and so He will. His coming is specially to and for His own people. 

This is meant to be their present comfort while they mourn that the Bridegroom doth not yet appear.

When we lose the joyful sense of His presence we mourn, but we may not sorrow as if there were no hope. 

Our LORD in a little wrath has hid Himself from us for a moment, but He will return in full favor.

He leaves us in a sense, but only in a sense. When He withdraws, He leaves a pledge behind that He will return.

O LORD, come quickly! There is no life in this earthly existence if Thou be gone. We sigh for the return of Thy sweet smile.

When wilt Thou come unto us? We are sure Thou wilt appear; but be Thou like a roe, or a young hart. Make no tarrying, O our GOD!

~Charles Spurgeon~

Grow Up

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
 
Yes, when the sun shines, the sick quit their chambers and walk abroad to breathe the fresh air.

When the sun brings spring and summer, the cattle quit their stalls and seek pasture on the higher Alps.

Even thus, when we have conscious fellowship with our LORD, we leave the stall of despondency and walk abroad in the fields of holy confidence.

We ascend to the mountains of joy and feed on sweet pasturage which grows nearer heaven than the provender of carnal men.

To "go forth" and to "grow up" is a double promise.

O my soul, be thou eager to enjoy both blessings! Why shouldst thou be a prisoner? Arise, and walk at liberty.

Jesus saith that His sheep shall go in and out and find pasture; go forth, then, and feed in the rich meadows of boundless love.

Why remain a babe in grace? Grow up.

Young calves grow fast, especially if they are stall fed; and thou hast the choice care of thy Redeemer.

Grow, then, in grace and in knowledge of thy LORD and Savior, Be neither straitened nor stunted.

The Sun of Righteousness has risen upon thee Answer to His beams as the buds to the natural sun.

Open thine heart; expand and grow up into Him in all things. 

~Charles Spurgeon~