(J.R. Miller)
In traveling to California, we passed over
hundreds of miles of the dreariest desert.
The hot sands glowed and burned under
the sun's rays. Rain scarcely ever falls,
and nothing grows on the arid wastes
except straggling sagebush and wild cacti.
On and on our train rolled, hour after hour,
amid choking dust and unrelieved desolation.
At length, however, we began to pass
into the first fringes of luxuriance, and
soon we were in the midst of the garden
splendors of Southern California--
flowers, fragrance, and fruit, masses
of roses and flowers of all kinds, orange
groves, clumps of ornamental trees,
vineyards, and palm trees. In an hour
we had left behind us the dreary desert--
and had entered the richest garden
luxuriance of the world!
It is just so with many Christians,
in leaving this poor world for Heaven.
Here on earth are trials, afflictions,
struggles, strifes, bitter tears,
disappointments, injustices,
hardships and cares.
Life seems all desert to these
desert toilers. No springs of fresh
water burst up along the way to
refresh them. Nothing grows
in the hot arid fields, to be
food for their heart hunger.
What must Heaven be to these
weary ones, when they enter it--
leaving forever behind them,
the dreary desolation of this world?
In an hour they will pass from the heat,
strife, and bitterness of earthly sorrow--
into the eternal blessedness, the perfect
love, and the unbroken joy of Heaven!
In traveling to California, we passed over
hundreds of miles of the dreariest desert.
The hot sands glowed and burned under
the sun's rays. Rain scarcely ever falls,
and nothing grows on the arid wastes
except straggling sagebush and wild cacti.
On and on our train rolled, hour after hour,
amid choking dust and unrelieved desolation.
At length, however, we began to pass
into the first fringes of luxuriance, and
soon we were in the midst of the garden
splendors of Southern California--
flowers, fragrance, and fruit, masses
of roses and flowers of all kinds, orange
groves, clumps of ornamental trees,
vineyards, and palm trees. In an hour
we had left behind us the dreary desert--
and had entered the richest garden
luxuriance of the world!
It is just so with many Christians,
in leaving this poor world for Heaven.
Here on earth are trials, afflictions,
struggles, strifes, bitter tears,
disappointments, injustices,
hardships and cares.
Life seems all desert to these
desert toilers. No springs of fresh
water burst up along the way to
refresh them. Nothing grows
in the hot arid fields, to be
food for their heart hunger.
What must Heaven be to these
weary ones, when they enter it--
leaving forever behind them,
the dreary desolation of this world?
In an hour they will pass from the heat,
strife, and bitterness of earthly sorrow--
into the eternal blessedness, the perfect
love, and the unbroken joy of Heaven!
"In YOUR presence is fullness of joy;
at YOUR right hand there are eternal
pleasures!" Psalm 16:11
at YOUR right hand there are eternal
pleasures!" Psalm 16:11
no ear has heard, and
no mind has imagined--
what GOD has prepared for
those who love HIM!"
1 Corinthians 2:9
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has published J.C. Ryle's insightful and challenging article,
"Profit and Loss".
GraceGems has published J.C. Ryle's insightful and challenging article,
"Profit and Loss".
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