Isaiah 33:17 Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Do you ask what are the waving outlines of this "land of far distances" that begins directly a man begins to live a Christly life, and that stretches away after death into the Infinite? I answer — I. UNENDING EXISTENCE. II. UNDECAYING ACTIVITY. Our work here is bounded by many things. 1. There is the finishing of the enterprise. 2. There is the failure of our powers. 3. There is the ceasing of inclination.Sometimes fuel has not been added to fire of flickering motive; sometimes fellow-workers have been cold, unwelcome, or harshly discouraging; sometimes repeated failure and mocking disappointments have driven a man back from seeking his own higher education or the world's welfare, and "desire ceases," and there is an end of work. But in contrast with all this that is of the earth earthy, the true worker for himself and for others, yearns after and will inherit "a land of far distances." There the work will never be completed, for a universe is the sphere of labour, eternity is the period, and the infinite the problem. Labour — the putting forth of power: sacrificial labour — the putting forth of power in the spirit of the Lamb, who is the central life of the heavenly world; this is the far-reaching hope of every Christly soul. And this without the decay of powers, for then will be fulfilled the promise of perpetual morning dew, immortal youth, a world without pain, and never needing a night. Nor will want of inclination bring these occupations to an end, for there is realised the full power of the quenchless inspiration of love to the Lamb who was slain. So, for our highest, noblest labours, there is a limitless hope. III. UNFETTERED THOUGHT. For the inquirer this human life is not "a land of far distances." Thinkers often weep in their sense of mental poverty. But we are to believe in the lifting of veil after veil as we go on through the ages, till the fair face of Truth shall be seen in Divinest beauty. IV. UNBOUNDED AFFECTIONS. (U. R. Thomas, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.WEB: Your eyes will see the king in his beauty. They will see a distant land. |
    |