a foretaste of our heavenly employment

Posted : 27 Mar, 2013 05:52 AM

Psalm 119:44 So shall I keep Your law continually forever and ever.





The heaping up of so many words in this short verse, appears

to be the struggle of the soul to express the vehemency of its

longings to glorify its Savior. And, indeed, the Lord's return to

us, unsealing the lips of the dumb, and putting His word again

into their mouth, brings with it a fresh sense of constraining

obligation. This fresh occupation in His praise and service is

not only our present privilege, but an foretaste of our heavenly

employment, when the word will never more be taken out of

our mouth, but we shall "talk of His wondrous works" "forever

and ever." The defects in the constancy and extent of our

obedience (as far as our hearts are alive to the honor of God)

must ever be our grief and burden; and the prospect of its

completeness in a better world, is that, which renders the

anticipation of heaven so delightful. There we shall be blessed

with suitable feelings, and therefore be enabled to render

suitable obedience-even one unbroken consecration of all our

powers to His work. Then "shall we keep His law continually

forever and ever." Once admitted to the "throne of God," we

"shall serve Him day and night in His temple"-without sinwithout inconstancy-without weariness-without end! We speak

of heaven; but oh! to be there! To be engaged throughout

eternity in the service of love to a God of love! In one day's

continuance in the path of obedience even here, in the midst

of the defilement which stains our holiest services, how

sweetly do the moments roll away! But to be ever employed

for Him, in that place, where "there shall in no wise enter

anything that defiles"-this gives an emphasis and a dignity to

the heavenly joy, which may well stamp it as "unspeakable

and full of glory." May we not then encourage the hope, that

the Lord is making us meet for heaven, by the strength and

constancy of our desires to keep the laws of God? And is it

not evident, that heaven itself can afford no real delight to one, who feels the service of God on earth to be irksome? He

stands self-excluded by the constitution of his nature, by the

necessity of the case. He has no heart for heaven, no taste for

heaven, no capacity for enjoyment of heaven-"He that is

unjust, let him be unjust still; and he who is filthy, let him be

filthy still; and he who is righteous, let him be righteous still;

and he who is holy, let him be holy still."

Heavenly, gracious Father! who and what are we, that our

hearts should be made the unworthy recipients of Your grace?

that our will should be subdued into "the obedience of faith?"

and that we should be permitted to anticipate that blessed

period, when we shall "keep Your law continually, forever and

ever?" May this prospect realize the happiness of our present

obedience! May He, who has "bought us with a price" for His

glory, reign in our hearts, and live upon our lips; that each of

us may have His mark upon our foreheads- the seal of His

property in us, and of our obligation to Him-"Whose I am, and

whom I serve!



by

Charles Bridges

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