I often hear statements that seem to indicate that our goal is also Heaven, and heaven is used as a motivation for persevering with little or no mention of Christ. I believe that many of us think more about Heaven and our own glorified bodies than we do about being with Christ. This is even true in regard to life here on earth.
Thomas Goodwin Once said:
"If I were to go to heaven, and find that Christ was not there, I would leave immediately, for heaven would be hell to me without Christ."Richard Sibbs said:
It is better to be in any place with Christ than to be in heaven itself without him. All delicacies without Christ are but as a funeral banquet. Where the master of the feast is away, there is nothing but solemnness. What is all without Christ? I say the joys of heaven are not the joys of heaven without Christ; he is the very heaven of heaven.
True love is carried to the person. It is adulterous love, to love the thing, or the gift, more than the person. St Paul loved the person of Christ, because he felt sweet experience that Christ loved him, his love was but a reflection of Christ's love first. He loved to see Christ, to embrace him, and enjoy him that had done so much and suffered so much for his soul, that had forgiven him so many sins, etc.
I believe that one danger that is plauging the modern Christian church, yes, even the reformed church, is a subtle slip into a "me" centered faith. It is subtle; however, we can detect in our words, if we listen carefully enough. We should desire to be more Christ-like so that our lives would reflect His power and beauty and we would be better equipped to minister to others; not so that we can feel better about our progress in the faith.
During a recent worship service a thought came to mind and I wrote it down. I do not normally take notes or write during the preaching of a sermon; but this was one of those thoughts that I could not let go of and borrowed my husbands pen. The thought was,
"The most miserable day on earth,when you are in Christ, is far better than the best day on earth if you are without Him."
I fear many don't really understand that and perhaps don't even like the sound of it.
Just some random thoughts.
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