July 21

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life. John 10:27. 28.

Holy Writ tells us that all believers, when they die, according to the soul are at once with Christ, and after the Last Day both body and soul shall be with Christ, and they shall live with Him in eternal joy and glory. The life everlasting is life with Christ; even as Christ prayed: "Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am that they may behold My glory." In eternal life the aim of Christ's work, namely, "that

God may be all in all," will be fulfilled. He will be fully all in all in eternal life, when the image of God will be restored in man and the most intimate communion with God will be realized. In heaven there will be nothing to separate us from God. All the blessed will be entirely pure in heart, holy, and without blemish, with every evil root of sin eliminated from their natures. We shall see God face to face. God, the Fountain of all blessedness, will be in us and we in Him. And when the beams of His goodness and glory irradiate us, we shall be unspeakably enriched by Him. We shall associate with God and with the holy angels and with the many millions of the blessed. We shall know them and shall be with them one heart and one soul — one family of God. As God is infinitely happy, so we, too, shall be perfectly happy. Eternal life is joy in such abundance as to fill our entire being. Thus we read Psalms 16:11: "In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." On earth no joy is unalloyed. Here there are so many bitter regrets, hearts wounded with grief, losses and sickness and pain, disasters and deaths. But in the presence of God all sorrow and woe is over. The days of mourning are ended. The tears are wiped away. The former things are past and are no more remembered. The heavenly joy is abiding. This is the glorious rest that remaineth to the people of God. Let us labor to enter into it.

Prayer.

Almighty, everlasting God, who didst give Thine only Son to be a High Priest of good things to come, hereafter grant unto us, Thine unworthy servants, to share in the company of the blessed, to enjoy the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that Thou hast prepared for them that love Thee. May this bliss be ours for Christ's sake! Amen.

Innumerous choirs before the shining throne Their joyful anthems raise Till heaven's glad halls are echoing with the tone Of that great hymn of praise And all its host rejoices And all its blessed throng Unite their myriad voices In one eternal song.