“They will see His face!” Revelation 22:4

John says that in heaven, “we shall be like Christ—for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2. While we look upon the brightness of our Master’s face—its beauty is imprinted upon us! Looking upon Christ—makes us like Him!

Paul teaches the same remarkable truth: “We all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory!” 2 Corinthians 3:18. This transformation is not a heavenly matter alone—it will be completed there, when, all veils removed—we shall look directly into the face of Christ; but it is something for our earthly life too. It begins here, and it goes on, the likeness coming out ever more and more fully and clearly—as we know more and more about Christ.

Companionship with Him, communion with Him, looking into His face—prints upon us His likeness! Every day, if we live as we should—some new line of His beauty comes out on our faces!

One day we shall slip away from these scenes of earth. Our eyes shall be closed on all familiar things. Next moment—O rapture! they will be opened on the unveiled face of Jesus Christ! That is what ‘death’ will be to you—if you are God’s child. You may now dread death—but it is only going to look at your Redeemer’s face!

The bliss of heaven will be largely—in being with Christ, in seeing His face, in enjoying His companionship. What bliss it will be in heaven—to look into Christ’s face of love—and to have His smile!

To see the face of Christ is also a token of high honor. Not many people are admitted to the presence of an earthly king. Only his favorites and those high in rank have this privilege. But in heaven, all of Christ’s servants shall see His face. That is, they shall be admitted to the closest fellowship and shall have all the privileges of intimate friends!

What a blessed moment it will be—when we are ushered into the presence of Christ! No wonder Paul says, “To depart and be with Christ—is very far better!” ( J. R. Miller, 1903)

False teaching and errors regarding spiritual truths are not anything new–they have always existed. And, woe is unto the preacher who dares to denounce them. He is sure to be hated by the world and criticized. Stand for the truth and you will be accused of being too narrow minded, and unloving. So what shall we do? “Stand” is the answer and let the chips fall where they may. J. C. Ryle expressed the right attitude when he wrote this in 1878:

“Christian love does not consist in approving everybody’s religious opinions. Here is another most serious and growing delusion. There are many who pride themselves on never pronouncing others mistaken–whatever views they may hold. Your neighbor may be an Atheist, or a Buddhist, or a Roman Catholic, or a Mormonite, a Deist, or a Skeptic, a mere Formalist, or a thorough Antinomian. But the “love” of many says that you have no right to think him wrong! “If he is sincere–then it is uncharitable to think unfavorably of his spiritual condition!”

From such love–may I ever be delivered!

At this rate, the Apostles were wrong in going out to preach to the Gentiles!

At this rate, there is no use in missions!

At this rate, we had better close our Bibles, and shut up our churches!

At this rate, everybody is right–and nobody is wrong!

At this rate, everybody is going to Heaven–and nobody is going to Hell!

Such love is a monstrous caricature! To say that all are equally right in their opinions–though their opinions flatly contradict one another; to say that all are equally in the way to Heaven–though their doctrinal sentiments are as opposite as black and white–this is not Scriptural love. Love like this pours contempt on the Bible, and talks as if God had not given us a written standard of truth. Love like this, confuses all our notions of Heaven, and would fill it with a discordant inharmonious rabble.

True love does not think everybody right in doctrine. True love cries, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world!” 1 John 4:1. “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” 2 John 1:10 ” (Scripture references changed to KJV).

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.–Psalm 37:3

We often sing “Trust and obey for there’s no other way” and truer words were never spoken. Charles Spurgeon put it like this:

“Trust and do are words which go well together, in the order in which the Holy Spirit has placed them. We should have faith, and that faith should work. Trust in God sets us upon holy doing: we trust God for good, and then we do good. We do not sit still because we trust, but we arouse ourselves and expect the LORD to work through us and by us. It is not ours to worry and do evil but to trust and do good. We neither trust without doing nor do without trusting. Adversaries would root us out if they could; but by trusting and doing we dwell in the land. We will not go into Egypt, but we will remain in Immanuel’s land-the providence of God, the Canaan of covenant love. We are not so easily to be got rid of as the LORD’s enemies suppose. They cannot thrust us Out nor stamp us out: where God has given us a name and a place, there we abide. But what about the supply of our necessities? The LORD has put a “verily” into this promise. As sure as God is true, His people shall be fed. It is theirs to trust and to do, and it is the LORD’s to do according to their trust. If not fed by ravens, or fed by an Obadiah, or fed by a widow, yet they shall be fed somehow. Away, ye fears!”