The Pilgrim Path---First Corinthians 2: 9 

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”---

WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED…

Hopefully there have been those unforgettable times when the amazing God of Glory has gotten hold of you concerning “endless life.” Eternity is right there---a breath away. I well remember being impressed by some Scripture that had been taught me by A. J. Perteet and Jake Guest. Some of it was based upon the Psalms. I was reflecting upon some texts while sitting upon some concrete slab pieces that the county had used to “fill-in” this creek bed at the bottom of my street. This lot was beside Mr. Kirkpatrick’s house. Trucks could come in and drop a load of broken concrete, rock, old gravel from projects---it would stop erosion along the edge of the street my cousin lived on. I could climb up on this “mess” before the county sorted it out---and have a fine old time. Well, those men must have asked the LORD to make me “think” about what I had heard---I really did. “What is man---that God is mindful of him?” Mr. Perteet owned an RCA Entertainment Center (that is what they called it at the time---fancy name for an electronics store & TV place). Mr. Guest was a Postman. They made it clear to me that the God-man Jesus---was the Truth of God in human form---the only mediator between God and men. There was no doubt in their mind that man is an eternal being. Only two destinations ahead of him: Either Heaven or Hell. Life is short---death is sure. Sin the cause, Christ the cure! Those men poured a great deal into me---that is still bearing fruit. They decided to make a difference for eternity----specifically in the lives of young boys (some loud and unruly ones). Well, the rewards are as they say, “out of this world!” The BEST is yet to come!

Help us LORD, show children, and young people---by how we live and give---that eternity matters (they are always watching and evaluating).

From Stephen Charnock: Life is a flower soon withered, a vapor soon vanishing, or a smoke soon disappearing. The strongest man is but compacted dust. Let the consideration of God’s eternity turn our love from the world and momentary pleasures to an everlasting God…

From St. Basil of Caesarea (died AD 379): We don’t reckon greatness consists in having renowned ancestors, bulging muscles, beauty, social prominence , honor (though bestowed by the whole world), political power even, not any other human quality anyone might speak of. We don’t think such things are even worth praying for, and we don’t have a high opinion of those who enjoy them. No, our hopes march forward to the future; all the things we do are geared towards getting ourselves ready for the “next” life. Therefore, our considered judgment is that whatever contributes to “that” life, we should love and pursue as strongly as we can. The rest is irrelevant. What exactly the future life is, and what sort of life we shall live in it, would divert us too far from our present purpose. Those of a more mature age, rather than youngsters like you, would be a more suitable audience. Even so, I may perhaps be able to convince you of the following. If we could review and condense all the happiness there has ever been on earth, since human beings first existed, and if we collected it all together in a single place, it still would not be equal in value to the slightest foretaste of the future life! In fact, the absolute entirety of good things attainable in this present life is like mere shadows and dreams, compared to the good things of the next life. Or here’s a better way of putting it: to the degree that the soul is more valuable than the body, so vast is the gulf between present and future blessedness!

From Thomas Watson: He who is in love with God never rests till he has a part in him. He prefers him before estate and life. If we love him, we cannot but be fearful of dishonoring him. Let us be lovers of God and inflame our love to him. Consider all the benefits he bestows on us. We cannot but love him! Eye has not seen all God has prepared for them that love him! Labor to know him in all his excellencies, holiness, wisdom, love, and truth. If we knew him more, our hearts would be fired with love to him. Meditate much on God and his word. Beg that your love might burn on the altar of your heart---he will not deny you such a request.

HYMN

O God, the Rock of Ages, who evermore hast been,

What time the tempest rages, our dwelling place serene:

Before thy first creations, O LORD, the same as now,

To endless generations The Everlasting Thou!

Our years are like the shadows on sunny hills that lie,

Or grasses in the meadows that blossom but to die;

Asleep, a dream, a story by strangers quickly told,

An unremaining glory of things that soon are old.

LORD, crown our faith’s endeavor with beauty and with grace,

Till, clothed in light forever, we see thee face to face:

A joy no language measures; a fountain brimming o’er;

An endless flow of pleasures; an ocean without shore.

Based on Psalm 90 / Edward H. Bickersteth, 1860

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason