January 10

Morning

From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing. — 2 Tim 4:8 BSB

Doubting one! You’ve often said, “I’m afraid I’ll never make it to heaven.” Fear not! All of God’s people will enter there. I love the old saying of a dying man who exclaimed, “I’m not afraid of going home; I’ve sent everything ahead of me; God’s hand is on the door, and I’m ready for Him to enter.” Someone asked, “Aren’t you afraid you’ll miss your inheritance?” “No,” he replied, “there’s a crown in heaven that even the angel Gabriel can’t wear—it’s made just for me. There’s a throne that the apostle Paul couldn’t fill—it was made for me, and I’ll have it.”

O Christian, what a joyful thought! Your inheritance is secure—“there remains a rest.” “But could I lose it?” No—it’s certain. If you’re a child of God, you won’t lose it. It’s yours as surely as if you were already there! Come with me, believer, let’s climb to the top of Nebo and look at the beautiful land—Canaan. See the little river of death sparkling in the sunlight, and beyond it, can you see the peaks of the eternal city? Do you notice the pleasant country and all its joyful inhabitants? Know this: if you could cross over, you’d see written on one of its many mansions, “Reserved for this one, kept just for him.” You will be brought up to live forever with God.

Doubting soul, look at your lovely inheritance—it’s yours! If you believe in the Lord Jesus, if you’ve repented of your sins, and if your heart has been made new, you are one of God’s people. There is a place reserved for you, a crown laid up for you, a harp prepared just for you. No one else will take your place—it’s reserved in heaven for you. And before long, you will have it, for there will be no empty thrones in glory when all the chosen are gathered in.

Evening

Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. — Job 19:26 BSB

Look at Job’s devout anticipation: “I shall see God.” He doesn’t say, “I shall see the saints,” though that will certainly be a great joy, but “I shall see God.” He doesn’t say, “I shall see the pearly gates, the walls of jasper, or the crowns of gold,” but “I shall see God.” This is the essence of heaven; this is the great hope of all believers. We delight to see Him now through the ordinances and by faith. We love to behold Him in prayer and communion. But in heaven, we will see Him face to face, and as we see Him “as He is,” we will become fully like Him. To be like God—what more could we wish for? And to see God—what could be better?

Some interpret the verse to mean, “I shall see God in my flesh,” understanding it as a reference to Christ, the “Word made flesh,” whose glorious return will be the splendor of the latter days. Whether or not this is the case, it is certain that Christ will be the focus of our eternal vision. And we will never need anything beyond the joy of seeing Him. Don’t think that this will be too narrow for your mind. Although there is only one source of delight, that source is infinite. Every one of His attributes will be a subject for our contemplation, and because He is infinite in every way, we will never exhaust the depths of His glory. His works, His gifts, His love for us, and His glory in everything He does will provide an ever-new theme for our joy.

Job looked forward to this sight of God as a personal experience: “My own eyes will see Him—not another.” Think deeply about what this will mean for you personally. “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty!” All earthly beauty fades with time, but this is a beauty that will never grow dim—a glory that will never fade. “I shall see God.”