the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:12.
Thus the Savior comforts us in His word in regard to the afflictions and persecutions of this present time. Verily, if there were no other reward, it would be a great reward even to see Him as He is and be His forever. "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11). We shall then see what we had not always here the courage to believe, namely, that ’"the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us when we shall see Him face to face." Even a look at Him as He is must change our whole nature and impart to us a heavenly and eternal transfiguration. How happy we shall be when we possess Him and behold Him forever! O ye men, why do ye look so inquisitively around on this earth where you are unable to find the One who alone can gladden your souls forever? Why do you not look in faith up to Him, whose look is able to make you everlastingly satisfied and happy? What great cause have not we who are called unto the heavenly inheritance to rejoice, thinking of our departure when we shall take possession of this inheritance? What great cause have not we for exultation! For the reward is indescribably great, greater than heaven itself. We rejoice intensely when we meet friends whom we have missed a long time or when we meet a man whose acquaintance we have long desired to make. How we shall rejoice when with our eyes we shall see Him before whom the angels fall upon their faces! What shall we find with Him and in Him? We shall meet all those who deserve to be known and to be loved and in whose company and intercourse the cherubs rejoice. How far away all enemies, temptations and sorrows will be! "In His presence is fulness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalms 16:11).
There we shall see His face.
And never, never sin;
There from the rivers of His grace,
Drink endless pleasures in.
The men of grace have found
Glory begun below:
Celestial fruit on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow.
