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January 17
Morning
Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. — Rev 14:1 BSB
The apostle John was given the incredible privilege of seeing into heaven, and when he described what he saw, he started with, “I looked, and there before me was the Lamb!” This shows us that the central focus in heaven is Jesus, “the Lamb of God.” Nothing captured John’s attention more than seeing the One who redeemed us by His blood. Jesus is the focus of the songs sung by all the saints and angels in heaven.
Christian, this is great news for you! You’ve already seen the Lamb—through the eyes of faith, you’ve seen Jesus taking away your sins. Rejoice! Soon, when your tears are wiped away, you’ll see that same Lamb exalted on His throne. If it’s your joy to have fellowship with Jesus now, you’ll have an even greater joy in heaven—you’ll be in His presence forever! “I looked, and there before me was the Lamb!”
That Lamb is heaven. As the old preacher Rutherford once said, “Heaven and Christ are the same thing!” Being with Christ means being in heaven, and being in heaven means being with Christ. Rutherford wrote in one of his letters, “O my Lord Jesus, if I could be in heaven without You, it would be hell to me; but if I could be in hell and still have You, it would be heaven, for You are all the heaven I need.” Isn’t that true for you, Christian? Doesn’t your soul say the same?
“No harps or songs above
Can make a heavenly place,
If God removes His love
Or hides His smiling face.”
All you need to be truly happy, to be blessed beyond measure, is to be with Christ.
Evening
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. — 2 Sam 11:2 BSB
It was at that moment that David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Whether we’re at home or out and about, we’re always exposed to things that can lead us astray. The dangers of temptation are there from the morning until the evening. Those who are protected are kept by God’s grace, but woe to anyone who walks out into the world—or even in their own house—unprepared. Those who think they’re safe are often the most vulnerable. Self-confidence is Sin’s armor-bearer.
David should have been out fighting for the Lord, but instead, he stayed in Jerusalem, indulging in a life of luxury. He got out of bed in the late afternoon. Idleness and comfort are often tools of the devil, bringing in more temptation. In stagnant waters, harmful creatures thrive, and neglected soil quickly becomes overgrown with weeds. Oh, how we need the love of Jesus to keep us active and useful!
When I see King David lazily getting up at the end of the day, only to fall into temptation, I’m reminded to be on guard and to keep watch over my heart. Maybe David had gone up to the roof for some quiet time to pray. If that’s the case, it’s a warning to us that no place—no matter how private—can be considered free from temptation.
Since our hearts are like dry tinder and temptation is everywhere, we need to stay alert. Even on the rooftops, Satan can find a way in, and even if we could block him out, our own sinful hearts are enough to ruin us without God’s grace.
Reader, beware of evening temptations. Don’t be too comfortable just because the sun has set—sin is still active. We need a watchman for the night, just as we need one for the day. O Holy Spirit, keep us from all evil tonight. Amen.