Shall Not a Joint-Heir with Christ JESUS Greatly Rejoice?

"A door opened in heaven." -Revelation 4:1 [KJV]


Lord! give me, as Thou didst to Thy servant John, a call to "Come up hither," and by faith behold the glories which shall be revealed; and immediately I shall be in the spirit as he was, and so substantiate and realize, in present enjoyment, those felicities (-great happiness) in Jesus, that this evening my soul will be, by happy faith, in the very suburbs of that blessed city, "Which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God!"  Is it not true, Lord, that all Thy possessions are mine? And shall I not take the map of them from scripture, and look over them with holy rapture and delight?


Do men of the earth take pride in their lands and manors; the very holding of which is precarious, even in the moment of possession, and which begin to slide from under their feet, as soon as they enter upon them; and shall not an heir of God, a joint-heir with Christ, rejoice in having a kingdom which cannot be moved? Come, my soul, look within the veil, whither thy Fore-Runner is for thee entered, and now that God the Holy Ghost hath opened a door in heaven, behold what felicities are presenting themselves to thy view. Behold, amidst all the glories of the palace, how eminently Jesus, even thy Jesus, appears as a Lamb in the midst of the throne; and still as a Lamb that hath been slain; as if to testify the eternal unceasing efficacy of His blood and righteousness.


But what an innumerable host are these, which stand around the throne, and encircle the Redeemer! "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!" Mark that, my soul! They were once in the tribulated path that thou art now in; they were once sinners here below, as thou art now; and they owe all their advancement, not to their merit, but to divine bounty; not to works of righteousness which they have done, but to the same source as thou art now seeking acceptance from—the blood of the Lamb. Oh! precious soul-satisfying testimony, on a point of such infinite importance! Blessed, for ever blessed, be God the Holy Ghost, for first opening to the beloved apostle, this door in heaven, and for all the after-revelations of Jesus made by this condescending discovery to the church in all ages.


Often, my soul, look up, and behold the door still open; and often by faith look in, and behold thy Redeemer, and His redeemed, in "the spirits of just men made perfect." Realize these blessed things, and seek from thy Jesus, a strength of faith (for such a faith hath been given to some, and why not to thee?) as shall absolutely bring down the present enjoyment of heaven into thy soul, before the Lord shall finally and fully call thee up to the everlasting enjoyment of Him in glory. Blessed be God (my soul, do thou cry out with the apostle) "Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus!"


-preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)

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