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(Maria Sandberg, "Glimpses of Heaven!" 1880)
"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 22:5
While in this world, our weary bodies require the refreshment of sleep; and our merciful God has graciously given to us this sweet restorer of strength. Often we have retired to rest, overcome with fatigue and anxiety, perhaps distressed with pain--but sleep has taken away these feelings, and we have risen the next day in health and peace, to serve our God with joyfulness.
On a bed of sickness, this text has often been a source of comfort to the
believer, "There shall be no night there!" (Maria Sandberg, "Glimpses of Heaven!" 1880)
"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 22:5
While in this world, our weary bodies require the refreshment of sleep; and our merciful God has graciously given to us this sweet restorer of strength. Often we have retired to rest, overcome with fatigue and anxiety, perhaps distressed with pain--but sleep has taken away these feelings, and we have risen the next day in health and peace, to serve our God with joyfulness.
But there will be no night in Heaven, because there will be no need . . .
of rest from labor,
of relief from pain,
of solace and refreshment under fatigue.
The former state of things will have fully passed away, and one eternal unclouded day will have dawned upon us! Our spirits will then be made perfect--and at the resurrection our glorified bodies will rise, no more to be a clog upon our souls' enjoyment.
A night of pain and wakefulness,
is often a time in which God teaches His people. In the midst of active
employment, the soul is not at leisure for reflection; and in the short periods
devoted to retirement for prayer and meditation--the thoughts are often
strangely distracted by what has gone before, or by the anticipation of coming
events. But in a night of weariness and pain, there seems to be a rest
from outward things; the soul is brought to a stand before God--it must think,
it must reflect, it must examine itself, and ask if all is safe for
eternity--if it is in Christ, if it is prepared to die.
Blessed result of pain--if led thereby to seek the Lord Jesus, and find rest in Him! Blessed result of pain--if led thereby to meditate on Heaven's eternal day of rest!
"There shall be no night there!" No wearisome hours of discipline--no learning the dark intricacies and windings of our heart, and the deceitfulness of sin. There shall be no night there--no night of error, no darkness of soul, no dark unbelieving thoughts of God, and of His ways; but all will be clear, bright and shining to all eternity! The way by which the Lord our God has led us, will then be seen. The retrospect will be clear--we will see that our path has been a safe and right one, and we will glorify our gracious God! "And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation." Psalm 107:7
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Blessed result of pain--if led thereby to seek the Lord Jesus, and find rest in Him! Blessed result of pain--if led thereby to meditate on Heaven's eternal day of rest!
"There shall be no night there!" No wearisome hours of discipline--no learning the dark intricacies and windings of our heart, and the deceitfulness of sin. There shall be no night there--no night of error, no darkness of soul, no dark unbelieving thoughts of God, and of His ways; but all will be clear, bright and shining to all eternity! The way by which the Lord our God has led us, will then be seen. The retrospect will be clear--we will see that our path has been a safe and right one, and we will glorify our gracious God! "And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation." Psalm 107:7
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