Heavenly Employment

 

ŇAnd I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.Ó

(Revelation 7:14-15)

 

      What are GodŐs saints doing in heaven? What will be the employment of our souls in the eternal bliss of the inheritance awaiting us? The Scriptures speak sparingly with regard to these things. But some things are revealed.

 

      GodŐs saints in heaven are celebrating and adoring the perfections of God in Christ (Revelation 5:11-12; 7:11-12). There they who behold His face speak with unceasing astonishment of His holiness, power, wisdom, goodness, grace, faithfulness and love.

 

      GodŐs saints in heaven are delightfully employed in beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ (John 17:24). O my soul, what will it be to behold the glory of our Redeemer? We shall forever behold him as he is, with a constantly increasing knowledge of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Heaven is the Garden of God where the Rose of Sharon is in full bloom; and the fragrance of it perfumes the whole place. Heaven is to behold Christ forever, never taking our eyes off Him, and never wanting to.

 

      GodŐs saints in heaven are employed in the constant exercise of every spiritual grace: Faith — The saints in heaven believe God. Hope — Our brethren patiently wait in hope of the resurrection. Love — They truly love one another.

 

      GodŐs saints in heaven are employed in the unending worship of the Triune God (Revelation 7:14-15). They are engaged in prayer (Revelation 6:10). They sing the songs of grace to the praise of God. Electing, redeeming, regenerating, justifying, sanctifying, preserving grace is the constant theme of their song around the throne of God and the Lamb. GodŐs saints in heaven are engaged in constant, uninterrupted fellowship with one another and with the holy angels. A casual reading of the book of Revelation conveys the idea that GodŐs saints will forever discuss with one another and with the heavenly angels the wonders of covenant mercy, the ministry of the angelic hosts, redeeming love, saving grace and divine providence.

 

      May God the Holy Spirit teach me, and you, to live in this world engaged in the same employment. May he give us grace, day by day, to employ ourselves in celebrating and adoring our God in all the perfections of His Being, beholding His glory in the face of our crucified Redeemer, walking with one another in faith, hope and love, worshipping our great God. How blessed our appointed days would be, were they spent in such a way!

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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