Heaven Shall Terminate All The Afflictions Of The Righteous!

The last pang, and groan, and tear!

(J.A. James, "Afflictions")

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The Christian also looks to the end of afflictions! 

The end may sometimes come in this world. 

In reference to this, the utmost that the believer 

can be sure of is that they will end in GOD'S time. 

They may last for his whole life.
The sickness which afflicts his body 

   may be unto death.
The loss which he has sustained in his 

   property may be irreparable, and poverty 

   may go down with him to the grave.
The trial which beclouds and distresses 

   his spirits may be his lot for life.

But on the other hand, they may not! 

GOD may be bringing him 

"through fire and through water 

to bring him out into a wealthy 

place." (Psalm 66:12)

But the Christian leaves all this in the hand 

of GOD, and endeavors to maintain a hope 

which shall save him from despondency--

checked at the same time by a reverence 

that guards him from unwarranted 

presumption.

But if the end of the trial should 

not come in this world--

it will come in the next world, 

when they will not only forever cease, 

but leave an eternal blessing behind! 

"I reckon that the sufferings of the present 

time are not worthy to be compared with 

the glory which shall be revealed in us!" 

(Romans 8:18)

"Our light affliction, which is but for 

a moment, works for us a far more 

exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" 

(2 Corinthians 4:17)

Four things are set forth in these passages:

1. Our afflictions will have a termination! 

This is sweet. They are to end--

they are not to last forever! 

The last pang, and groan, 

and tear are at hand--

and how near, the Christian never knows!

2. Our afflictions are not to end like 

those of the brute creation--

in the grave merely, but in Heaven! 

The last pang, and groan, and tear 

are to usher in that blessed state 

of which it is so beautifully said, 

"The LAMB who is in the midst of 

the throne shall feed them, and shall 

lead them unto living fountains of waters--

and GOD shall wipe away all tears 

from their eyes!" (Revelation 7:17)

Heaven shall terminate all 

the afflictions of the righteous!

3. Heaven is so glorious, that the first 

view of its scenes, and the first moment 

of its enjoyment--

shall make amends for the longest life 

of the most protracted and intense 

sufferings!

4. The sufferings of our earthly pilgrimage 

will enhance and increase the felicities of Heaven!
Their submissive endurance;
the graces which they call into exercise;
the sanctification which they promote;
the heavenly temper which they cultivate--
will be the means of ripening the spirit, 

and making it fit for its eternal inheritance!

Every tear that is shed,
every groan that is heaved,
every loss that is sustained,
every moment of suffering that is endured,
every disappointment that is experienced, 

which is borne with patience, with resignation, 

with unwearied holiness--

will not only be followed with millions 

of ages of ineffable felicity, but will 

prepare the soul for its enjoyment, and 

add something to its weight and its luster!

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