Our Heaven Is To "Be With CHRIST!"

It is not the glory of the place--
it is the beauty of the person!
(Archibald Brown, "With Christ!")

"My desire is to depart and be with 
CHRIST, for that is far better!" 
Philippians 1:23

Paul does not say, "I have a desire 
to depart, and to be in Heaven." Oh no! 

It is far better than that. Nor is it, 
"I have a desire to depart and 
to be free of troubles."  No, it is, 

"My desire is to depart 
and be with CHRIST!"

"With CHRIST! With CHRIST!" This honey 
in the mouth, and the more often you 
turn it over, the sweeter it becomes!

Heaven is not merely a place of golden 
streets, and pinnacles glittering with 
the jewels. No! That is not enough for 
the believer. It is, "With CHRIST!" 

All the pearly gates, and all 
the seraphic praises--
fail to make the Heaven  
of our desire. Our Heaven 
is to "be with CHRIST!"  

It is not the glory of the place--
it is the beauty of the person!

"With CHRIST!" Oh, how shall I illustrate it? 
It is the magnet that makes the soul 
tremble, and will not let it rest until 
it points true towards it.

"With CHRIST!" Yes, that is the distant 
haven on which the mariner gazes as 
the ship rocks and reels, as the timbers 
creak, and as the storm blast whistles 
through the rigging.

"With CHRIST!" These words are 
the trumpet note that awakens all 
the heroism in a Christian's soul, 
and makes him willing to dash into 
the thickest part of the fray. 

He says, "I can fight my way through 
ten thousand foes, for on the other 
side it is with CHRIST!"

   ~  ~  ~  ~

You may want to read the whole of Archibald Brown's superb sermon, 
"With Christ!"