September 22

I am the Way.—John 14:6.

THE Christian is professedly a pilgrim, a pilgrim on his way to glory. He is seeking a better country, that is to say, a heavenly one. He looks upwards beyond the glittering starry skies, and sings,

"There is my house and portion fair, My treasure and my heart are there, And my abiding home."

To this world of happiness and rest, Jesus is the way. A clear description of that blessed world was never given, until Jesus was manifested in the flesh, and brought life and immortality to light by his gospel. He spoke of it in the most plain and familiar terms, called it his "father's house," the place of many mansions. And on some occasions, he referred to its purity, and its celestial glory. How splendid must the imperial palace of Jehovah be! —the seat of his heavenly court, the residence of his spiritual and glorious hosts, where he is seated on his high and lofty throne, in overwhelming splendour of eternal light. To dwell in the presence of God, is supreme felicity and eternal life. Here is fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore. Christ is the way also, because he only can confer the title to the possession of heaven. Heaven is the inheritance, and we become heirs, through the justifying grace of Jesus. By faith in his mediatorial work, we become the sons of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Jesus also imparts the meetness necessary to its enjoyment. Before it can be enjoyed, we must be made meet; this he effects by the cleansing power of his blood, as communicated by the sanctifying influences of his Holy Spirit. Thus he makes us partakers of his own nature, and renders it capable of participating in his glory. Then he is the way, as he is our glorious leader and example. He is the guide of his people, and he hath left us an example, that we should follow his steps. O yes, he as our forerunner, has gone before, and has opened a new and living way into the holiest place, and hath consecrated it for us, by his precious blood. No man can come to the possession of the Father's favour on earth, or the possession of the glory he bestows in heaven, but through him.