Republished from pg 80 The Bible Standard July 1878
THE Apostle says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love Him: but God hath revealed them unto us by His spirit.” The things so mysteriously hidden from the natural mind, are, nevertheless, “revealed” by the “spirit” in the prophecies of the Scripture; still, our minds, as believers, are not always in that advanced state that enables us to receive the indwelling spirit, so as through its teachings to receive and accept the teachings of Divine revelation, on questions of much interest.
Jesus said to His disciples, just before He went away, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” Moses wished to see God’s glory, but he was answered, “Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me and live.”
In our present state, faith is the test of our love to God, and is that by which we are and shall be justified, and for unbelief be condemned. The promises and oath of God are the basis on which faith is built. Faith trusts God to do all He has said, and embraces the idea that “He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” True, “we now see through a glass darkly,” but in due time, after we have walked by faith, we shall see all things clearly. If we could now see all that we wish to know, it is doubtful if we could “live” any more than Moses could, had his prayer to see God’s glory been answered.
The beloved disciple, John, had such a sight of his glorified Redeemer, on the Isle of Patmos, that he “fell at His feet as one dead.”
While the Scriptures give us sufficient light to show us there are inexhaustible treasures of joy in reserve for those who love God, and embrace His Son as their Life-giver, the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory is kept under a veil, till we are matured and ripe to enter into it. That the earth is the inheritance of the saints is clearly revealed to faith, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”-Matt. 5:5. and Psalm xxxvii, 11. It is to be their eternal possession: “The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.”- Prov. x. 30. The kingdom of God is to succeed the “wild beast” governments of men, and supersede them all, and “shall never be destroyed.” -Dan. vii. 14-18. “It shall stand for ever.” Dan. ii. 44. The saints, Christ’s tried and faithful servants, are” to possess” it “forever and ever.”- Dan. vii. 18. Christ’s” dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth.” – Psalm. lxxii. 8. “The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David : and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever: and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”
