Saturday, February 6, 2010

One special crown

These past few weeks, following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, my heart has been aching for all of the people who lost loved ones and are still without homes, food and proper care.

Despite their extremely difficult living conditions, I see that there are so many surviving victims who have an unshakable faith, a knowledge that God is there with them and will see them through. A certainty that their loved ones who have perished are indeed with Jesus. Many people don't have that certainty and it's a blessing to know the glory of salvation. It's a blessing to have no doubt of where we are headed after our journey here ends.

The following words from Charles Spurgeon have to do with exactly that and I thought I would share them with you today.

O, doubting Christian, you have often said, "I'm afraid I'll never enter heaven". Fear not! All the people of God will enter.

I love the refreshing statement of a dying man who exclaimed, "I have no fear of going home. I've sent everything ahead of me. God's finger is on the latch of my door and I'm ready for Him to enter."

Yet, he was asked "Are you not afraid you may miss your inheritance?"

"No", he responded, "there is one crown in heaven the angel Gabriel cannot wear. It will fit no one's head but mine. And there is one throne in heaven the apostle Paul could not fill. It was made for me - and I will have it!"

If you could fly across the eternal city, you would see written upon one of its many mansions these words: "This is reserved for someone special and is being held for him alone. Someday he will be caught up to dwell with God forever."

Poor doubting soul, look at your wonderful inheritance. It is yours - if you believe in the Lord Jesus, if you have repented of your sin, if your heart has been renewed. You are one of the Lord's people and there is a place reserved for you. A crown has been stored up for you and a harp has been especially provided for you.

No one else will take what is yours, for it is reserved in heaven for you. And throughout eternity it will be yours, for there will be no vacant thrones in glory once all of God's chosen have been gathered in.

Don't you love the way Charles Spurgeon puts it? I hope this ministers to even just one person who may have needed to read this today. God loves you and has a special place and a special crown reserved just for you!

Sweet blessings!

{hugs}