A fine Christian family had buried their young child. The day after the funeral they stood outside in the radiant sunshine and saw the glory of the trees' fall colours as they lit up the horizon. Looking at the supreme artistry of God our Father, they found themselves lost in wonder, love and praise.
It is a wonderful spiritual exercise to consider the spectacular things in the world around us. Look at the delicate beauty of a newly opened flower, the flaming skies as the sun rises or sets, the rugged beauties of the mountain ranges, a new mother gently caressing her first born child—and other scenes too beautiful to put in words.
As we reflect on the magnificent beauties of creation, the artistic skills of the Creator amaze us. We are called on in our first verse today to consider God's wonders. Surely scenes of our incredible world are enough to keep us spellbound with wonder and delight. We may even say that we are witnessing miracles as we consider the indescribably rich glories of our universe.
After a while pondering the magnificence of creation, we are to try and imagine how spectacular heaven and its glories really are. Our imaginations can run as fast and rich as possible and yet the reality of our future glory is well beyond our greatest thoughts.
When our redemption is complete—at the coming of Christ—we shall have glory beyond definition.
We struggle to make even the poorest of efforts to encompass what is ahead of God's chosen people. We attempt in vain to find words worthy of what is coming in the redemption our beloved Lord accomplished for His sheep.
Whatever sorrow or suffering is on your horizon today, do your best to lift up your eyes to the heavens and witness the glory of God in the daytime and night time skies. Listen to the song birds sing the praise of their Creator. Play the awesome music of Handel and Bach that was dedicated to the glory of God.
Take your church hymnal and read the words of some of the great authors such as Charles Wesley, Toplady, Cowper and so on. Let the rich language be a feast for you on the truths of the God Who made and redeemed you. Fill yourself with the tremendous realities that lie ahead of us and those things that trouble you "will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace" (H.H. Lemmel).
The Christian has an unspeakably glorious destination, and the wonderful beauties of this life fade away like the darkness at dawn as we ponder our future with the Lord.
As Paul assures us in our verse today, there is really no comparison between here and heaven. Today may your thoughts of heaven chase away the shadows of your sorrow.
