Consider the nearness of eternal things. Think of that for a minute. Heaven and hell are not places far away. You may be in heaven before the clock ticks again, it is so near. Oh, that we, instead of trifling about such things because they seem so far away, would solemnly realize them, since they are so very near! This very day, before the sun goes down, some hearer now sitting in this place may see the realities of heaven or hell. Think of that, and let eternal things impress you all the more because they lie so near. – Copied
Always remember what the Lord said about the covetous rich man – “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, THOU FOOL, THIS NIGHT THY SOUL SHALL BE REQUIRED OF THEE: THEN WHOSE SHALL THOSE THINGS BE, WHICH THOU HAST PROVIDED? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21).
Let me give you two brief but absolutely necessary ingredients for peace and assurance within your heart that all is well between you and a thrice holy God. (1) There must be all confidence in the person, the blood and the righteousness of Christ, and (2) there must be no confidence whatsoever in the flesh. These two things are vital and without them there can be no real certainty in the soul of everlasting salvation.
—Pastor Jim Byrd
THIS IS THE PLACE!
If there is a place on this earth that is more valuable than any other place, or a place that we ought to visit more often for its virtue than any other, it is the place where God is glorified, Christ is exalted, sinners are saved, and God’s people are edified. It is the place where God humbles sinners and leaves them with no hope of salvation but by His grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the place where Christ and His righteousness has the preeminence and man’s self-proclaimed righteousness is totally excluded. It is the place of true worship by the people of God in spirit and in truth. It is the place where the Gospel is preached and the Word of God is taught without compromise. Let each of us ask ourselves this question – Can others (my family, my children, my friends and acquaintances) tell from my life how precious, valuable, and virtuous I hold this place in my heart? The psalmist wrote – “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4). – Pastor Bill Parker
Prayer is not a law duty to an absolute God, but a gracious intercourse with a covenant God not practiced that He may love us, but because He loves us; not to make us His children, but because we are His children. It should be performed always in this faith. If there be infirmities in it, such as wandering, coldness, or the like, we are to remember that we are not heard for the beauty of our prayers, nor answered for the fervency of them. That which makes our persons accepted obtains acceptance for our services also. We and all we do are only accepted in the Beloved. "For through HIM [Jesus Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph. 2:18). Our access is through Jesus Christ. Trusting to His finished salvation we enter into the presence of the Father and guided by the Holy Spirit we pray in faith. Whatever we ask in the Son's name, we know that we have the petitions which He desired of Him. This spiritualizes prayer, and puts glory upon it, because there is heavenly fellowship with God in it, with the Father through the Son, by the one Spirit. – William Romaine
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