What an overwhelming sight! The same Jesus whom they despised and rejected is come down from heaven to deliver them, but they only think of Him as the One whom they have pierced. The glory which meets their eye at that moment is the glory of the love and compa.s.sion of the Crucified One. The result of looking is mourning. They get such a view of their sin against His love that they are filled with G.o.dly sorrow. When the eye of faith is turned to Jesus then the tears flow. Oh, how perfectly will all Satan's evil influence in man's heart be destroyed in the presence of Jesus.

"In that Day we have seen what has taken place at the beginning of that day, and now before it closes a fountain will be opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness."

[Footnote: Zech. xiii. 1.] With the opening of that fountain there is grace given to _use_ it, for G.o.d says, "I will pour upon them the spirit of grace." Many see the fountain now who never use it!

Precious fountain, of all things most precious to poor sinners such as you and me. No one but G.o.d's dear Son, and nothing but His atoning death on Calvary, could open that fountain. The fountain is still flowing--has it cleansed you?

Then the Kingdom of G.o.d is set up on earth. Who can tell the good news so well as these restored and converted ones?

The question is sometimes asked, Has the Gospel lost its power? Is Christianity a failure? No. The Gospel will yet be preached throughout the whole world. Who will be the preachers? Converted Jews, [Footnote: Isa.

lxi. 6] "a mighty angel, [Footnote: Rev. xiv. 6] and glorified saints, for they shall be priests of G.o.d." [Footnote: Rev. xx. 6]

What will be the result of their preaching? There will be a world-wide revival. "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." [Footnote: Hab. ii. 14]

When Christ comes to us now, it is to rule in the hearts of His people, but _then_ He will reign over a believing world without opposition, for Satan will be bound and Christ will take the Kingdom which is His by redemption, and His glory will be seen on Mount Zion. "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, G.o.d hath shined." [Footnote: Ps. 1. 2]

And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev.

xi. 15]

After reigning on earth for a thousand years there will be the Judgment of "the Great White Throne," [Footnote: Rev. xx. 11-15] when all those who had no part in the first resurrection will be raised, and all whose names are not "written in the Book of Life" will be "cast into the lake of fire."

"This is the second death."

Has your name been entered in the Book of Life?

One more glorious Vision of the Kingdom is unfolded before us, and the glory grows brighter and brighter, for it is "THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM."

"I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were pa.s.sed away and there was no more sea.... And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new...." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 1, 5] "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of G.o.d and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face and His name shall be in their foreheads.

"And there shall be no night there: and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord G.o.d giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." [Footnote: Rev. xxii. 3-5] How wonderful that G.o.d should promise us an abundant entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom. [Footnote: 2 Pet. i. 11] What does an abundant entrance mean? It means that we shall not, as it were, just creep into heaven by a side door, but that we shall have a grand welcome from the glorified ones there and from the Lord Himself, all the doors, as it were, being thrown wide open to receive us.

Are we preparing for it? A mother who was dying called her little daughter who was ten years old to her bedside and said tenderly, "I want you to learn this little prayer, 'O G.o.d, prepare me for all Thou art preparing for me.'" And the prayer was answered, for that little girl was Frances Ridley Havergal, who lived a consecrated life, and pa.s.sed away singing about the Lord whom she loved.

I must give you some words spoken by that holy man Samuel Rutherford who was persecuted and put into prison for Christ's sake. "I wonder many times," he said, "that ever a child of G.o.d should have a sad heart considering what the Lord is preparing for him. When we get Home above and enter into possession of our Brother's fair Kingdom, it will be like one step from prison to glory." These words came true, for soon after this he received notice to appear before his judges in court, but before the day of the trial came he died. So it was literally one step for him from prison to glory. His own account of it is given in the following lines----

"They've summoned me before them, Thither I may not come; My King says, Come up hither, My Lord says, Welcome Home."

What will it all be like? No words of ours can describe it, but G.o.d Himself tells us what He will be to us and what He will do for us in the Eternal Kingdom.

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of G.o.d is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and G.o.d Himself shall be with them, and be their G.o.d." [Footnote: Rev. xxi. 3-4]

"And G.o.d shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are pa.s.sed away."

The Crown of it all is that "G.o.d Himself shall be with them and be their G.o.d." [Footnote: 1 Cor. xv. 28] All creatures will say, "G.o.d is everything to me," for G.o.d will be "All in All."'

We have traced out some of the wonderful truths which G.o.d has revealed to us about Himself. "This is Life Eternal that they might know Thee, the only True G.o.d and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." [Footnote: St. John xvii. 3]

Apart from G.o.d, all is death and ruin for ever; to _know_ G.o.d, to _trust_ G.o.d, to _love_ G.o.d is Eternal Life.

The great question is, What is G.o.d to me? Can you say--"O G.o.d, THOU ART MY G.o.d"?