MORNING MANNA           3-30-23
HOPE IN HEAVEN
“ For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”- Col.1:5
Many Christians have but little in hand — but they have much in hope. They have little on earth — but they have unsearchable wealth in Heaven. The present, is the worst state they will ever be in. All beyond death — is bright, beamy, and glorious. God has amply provided for them, and what he has provided is laid up securely in Heaven. Hence, Paul speaks of “the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven, whereof you heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:5). The Christian’s hope is a confident expectation of future good — but here hope is put for the object hoped for: the believer’s hope is . . .
produced by grace,
quickened by the promise, and
centers in invisible blessedness!

Let us notice —

First, The Christian’s hope. This consists in both freedom and possession. In freedom from . . .
all the pains which we now experience, both in mind and body;
all the hindrances which are so thickly strewed in our way in this present world;
all the fears which now beset, agitate, and harass us, day by day;
all the forebodings which often make our lives bitter and gloomy;
all sin which is now our plague, disease, and torment;
all our needs, and all possibility of needing — for God will fully supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Oh, what a mercy it will be to enjoy such freedom, and to possess the inward consciousness that it will be enjoyed forever!

The Christian will not only be free from all that is painful and distressing — but he will also possess . . .
perfect, settled, and everlasting peace;
sinless faculties and immortal powers with which to serve and enjoy God forever;
permanent, perpetual, and uninterrupted joy;
the presence and enjoyment of Jesus — we shall see Him, be with Him, and be like Him;
ALL that we can consistently wish, desire, or pray for!

O glorious hope! O blessed prospect! It leaves us nothing to long for, nothing to desire!

Second, The Christian’s hope is laid up for him in Heaven.

It is laid up — that is, the substance of it is ready. It is laid up for us, therefore God appointed it for us. Jesus says it is a kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. If it is laid up for us, there our hearts and our affections should be.

It is laid up for us in Heaven. This betokens . . .
its excellency, being kept in so excellent a place;
its certainty and security, no thieves can break through to steal;
its nature, it is spiritual, holy, Heavenly.

It is laid up in Heaven for you. This shows . . .
that Jehovah knew all for whom he provided;
that a man may know whether he has a hope laid up in Heaven or not;
that well-instructed Christians do know and enjoy the fact.

What rich grace has God displayed, in providing an inheritance in Heaven for us, and preparing us for that inheritance.

Thirdly, The means by which he becomes acquainted with it, is the gospel. God’s gospel is the good news that he has given unto us eternal life. It contains the promise that all who believe in Jesus shall possess that life. It assures us, that all who sincerely desire it and earnestly seek for it — shall find it. It is called the Word of truth because it is the true Word, or every Word of it is truth; because Christ, who is the truth, is its author, object, and end.

Have we received the gospel? Did we understand it as informing us that God had made glorious provision for us in Heaven? Did it beget hope in our hearts that we would possess the kingdom promised to believers? Do we feel satisfied that the gospel is the true Word, and that every jot and tittle of it must be accomplished?

What a mercy it is . . .
when comforts run short,
when trials press sore,
when a dreary winter of affliction sets in

 — to remember that we have a priceless inheritance — an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us — pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!

How this blessed hope should . . .
quicken our zeal,
animate our spirits, and
raise us above fear and despondency.

It is not what we have now — but what we shall have in Heaven — which should affect us. The poor in this world, if rich in faith — are heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him. Oh, for clear views, bright evidences, and a steady hope of everlasting joys! Now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be — but when Jesus shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Our glorious inheritance is vast beyond calculation, it is safe beyond the possibility of failure — but we must pass over Jordan to possess it. It is on the other side of the river, in the promised land. Let us, therefore, gird up the loins of our minds, he sober, and hope steadily for the grace that is to he brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ, The wilderness will soon be passed, the storms of life will soon subside — and then eternal calm and unclouded sunshine, will soon be our happy, endless portion. All glory to free grace!–James Smith, 1855

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA                   3-26-23

CHANGED

The following is an article I wrote about seven years ago. I am repeating it because I need it. Hopefully you will need it also.- HDS

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. “–2 Cor. 3:18

I met Major Ian Thomas in Jackson, Tn. more than 40 years ago and was greatly impressed. You can check out his biography on Wikipedia and I suspect you will be impressed also. I met him at a time in my life when I was running myself ragged trying to serve the Lord and in great need of learning what he speaks about in the following comments.

After surrendering to preach at the age of 15 he later started a “slum club” down in the East End of London “out of a sheer desire to win souls, to go out and get them. I was a windmill of activity until, at the age of nineteen, every moment of my day was packed tight with doing things. Thus by the age of nineteen, I had been reduced to a state of complete exhaustion spiritually, until I felt that there was no point going on.”

Listen carefully to what he says next, “Then, one night in November, that year, just at midnight, I got down on my knees before God, and I just wept in sheer despair. I said, ‘With all my heart I have wanted to serve Thee. I have tried to my uttermost and I am a hopeless failure.’ That night things happened. The Lord seemed to make plain to me that night, through my tears of bitterness: ‘You see, for seven years, with utmost sincerity, you have been trying to live for Me, on My behalf, the life that I have been waiting for seven years to live through you.'” Thomas later reflected: “I got up the next morning to an entirely different Christian life, but I want to emphasize this: I had not received one iota more than I had already had for seven years!”

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA            3-25-23

HEREAFTER

“ Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”- John 13:7

This was the Lord’s response to Peter’s question as to why Jesus was washing their feet. But the Lord’s answer also applies to a great many things in life. At this moment some of you are going through troublesome trials and wondering “Why me? Why this? Why now? You are going through something you cannot understand. And when you read God’s promise that “All things work together for good” in Rom.8:28 you fail to see how anything good could come out of something so bad. So you keep asking the “Why?” questions. 
If you are a student of the Bible you know it could be due to a number of things, but you can’t figure it out. And that raises another question- “ What shall I do?” Fortunately the Bible gives us the answer.

First, we are to walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) – “The just shall live by faith”(Rom. 1:17). As someone said, ‘We are to trust God’s heart when we cannot trace His hand.

Second, we are to wait upon the Lord. God is working whether you see it or not, and He is working with eternity in view. Although you can’t understand the trials you are going through “thou shall know hereafter”. In eternity you shall acknowledge that promise, apprehend the purpose, admire His wisdom, and adore His work.

In the end we shall realize that “ He hath done all things well”(Mark 7:37). Until then we can rest our weary soul upon this promise,”.. My grace is sufficient for thee:“(2 Cor. 12:9). As has been said, “If God brings you to it He will bring you through it”. God cannot lie and He will not fail! – HDS

David  Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 
Humble, Tx.