If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1

Have you ever visited a historic home and found a dark passageway leading into a bright room?  The great hymnist, Isaac Watts, once preached a sermon in which he said that death for believers is simply passing out of one little dusky room of our Father’s house into another that is fair and large, lightsome and glorious, and divinely entertaining.

He added:  “Oh, may the rays and splendors of my heavenly apartment shoot far downward and gild the dark entry with such a cheerful beam as to banish every fear when I am called to pass through.”

Some of heaven’s sweetest realities are experienced in advance by those on the way to heaven. We should remember that all our problems are temporary; they will not survive our departure from earth. All our blessings are eternal; they only grow richer with the passing of time. Even death itself, by God’s grace, is just a dusky passage to a sunny room. Whatever you’re facing today, keep an eternal perspective, and enjoy heaven on the way to heaven.(Turning Point)

The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets before we reach the heav’nly fiends or walk the golden streets.
Isaac Watts

The Apostle Paul was a chosen vessel to bear the name of Christ, to carry it up and down in the world. Indeed, his spirit was full of Christ. He desired to know nothing but Christ, to preach nothing but Christ, to be found in none but Christ. The very name of Christ was delightful to him. He seeks to magnify Christ in all of his epistles—–. He does not only make Him great but he makes Him all. There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all. That is, there is no privilege in the one to commend them to God, and there is no lack of anything in the other to hinder them from God. Let men be what they will in their outward respects, what is that to God? Let them be never so mean in regard of all outward things, that can never hinder them from the enjoyment of God, for God does not look at these things, but Christ is all and in all to them.

As far as God sees Christ in anyone He accepts them. If Christ is not there, no matter what they have, He does not regard them. Christ is all in all, even in the esteem of the Father Himself. He was the delight of the Father from all eternity, Prov.8:30, and the Father undertook infinite contentment in Him upon His willingness to undertake this blessed work of the redemption of mankind. God the Father is infinitely satisfied in Christ. He is all in all to Him. Surely if Christ is an object sufficient for the satisfaction of the Father, much more, then, is He an object sufficient for the satisfaction of any soul.( Jeremiah Burroughs, 1657).

We talk a lot about serving God, but do we really understand what all that implies? Many years ago, a preacher by the name of A.T. Pierson made a statement that helps us put it in the proper perspective. He said:

Whatever is done for God, without respect of its comparative character as related to other acts, is service, and only that is service. Service is, comprehensively speaking, doing the will of God. He is the object. All is for Him, for His sake, as unto the Lord, not as unto man. Hence, even the humblest act of humblest disciple acquires a certain divine quality by its being done with reference to Him.

The supreme test of service is this: ‘For whom am I doing this?’ Much that we call service to Christ is not such at all….If we are doing this for Christ, we shall not care for human reward or even recognition. Our work must again be tested by three propositions: Is it work from God, as given us to do from Him; for God, as finding in Him its secret of power; and with God, as only a part of His work in which we engage as co-workers with Him.”

[Andrew] first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, “We have found the Messiah”—John 1:41

Country music artist Tim McGraw’s hit single “Live Like You Were Dying” was a number one hit in 2004. It tells the story of a man faced with a terminal disease and how he chooses to spend his final days on earth: sky diving, bull riding, fishing, and mountain climbing. At a deeper level, the song’s subject also begins to read the Bible and forgive everyone who had ever wronged him.

All of us are faced with the terminal disease called death that should keep us motivated to use our time wisely. But the Christian has an even more urgent deadline approaching: the Rapture of the church when Jesus Christ returns to call those who are His to meet Him in the sky. The Bible says that event could happen today. If you lived today as if it were your last day on earth, what would you do differently? Most important, who would you tell about Jesus? Who would you urge to repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness if you knew that Jesus’ return was just a few hours away?

The truth is, His return is nearer now than it was yesterday–and it could be today. Who is waiting for you to share the good news of the Gospel with them before it is too late?  –Turning Point

Beware of the urgent crowding out the important.
Charles E. Hummel

“The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide”   (Psalm 37:31).

Put the law into the heart, and the whole man is right. This is where the law should be; for then it lies, like the tables of stone in the ark, in the place appointed for it. In the head it puzzles, on the back it burdens, in the heart it upholds.

What a choice word is here used, “the law of his God”! When we know the LORD as our own God His law becomes liberty to us. God with us in covenant makes us eager to obey His will and walk in His commands. Is the precept my Father’s precept? Then I delight in it.

We are here guaranteed that obedient-hearted man shall be sustained in every step that he takes. He will do that which is right, and he shall therefore do that which is wise. Holy action is always the most prudent, though it may not at the time seem to be so, We are moving along the great highroad of God’s providence and grace when we keep to the way of His law. The Word of God has never misled a single soul yet; its plain directions to walk humbly, justly, lovingly, and in the fear of the LORD are as much words of wisdom to make our way prosperous as rules of holiness to keep our garments clean. He walks surely who walks righteously. (By Charles Spurgeon)