Design of the Divine Artist

"We know that all things work together for good
 to those who love God, to those who are the called
 according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

In this present world, you may never see how the death 
of your husband is for good. Many go all their lives without 
having the 'mystifying characters' of the sad event deciphered
—and the secret workings of God's love laid open. They die 
in ignorance of His plans—though not of His purposes. 

The 'finished side' of the embroidery may never be turned to 
you here; and looking only at the tangled threads and dark 
colors of the 'back part'—all now appears to be in confusion!

But when the 'front view' shall be seen; and the design of the divine artist 
; and all the connections of the finely 
embroidered piece shall be pointed out; and the coloring 
shall be shown in the light of eternity—with what adoring 
wonder, delight, and gratitude will you exclaim, as the 
'whole picture' bursts upon your sight, "O the depth of 
the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How 
unsearchable are His methods! How unfathomable are 
His ways! All things have worked together for my good!"

You shall trace together the providential events of your 
earthly history. You shall learn why you were united—and 
why separated. You shall see the wisdom and goodness 
of those events, which once appeared so dark, and drew 
so many tears from your eyes. You shall indulge in 
reminiscences, all of which will furnish . . .
  new occasions of wonder;
  new motives to praise; and
  new sources of delight!

You shall point one another to the vista of everlasting 
ages opening before you, through which an endless 
succession of joys are advancing to meet you! And 
then, filled with a pure, unearthly love for each other, 
you shall fall down before the throne of the Lamb, 
and feel every other affection absorbed in supreme, 
adoring love to Him! 

Such a scene is before you! And since it is—then bear 
your sorrows, afflicted widow—for in what felicities 
are they to result—and how soon! 

"And we know that all things work together for good
 to those who love God, to those who are the called
 according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Muckle Kate Not a very ordinary name! But then, Muckle Kate, or Big Kate, or Kate-Mhor, or Kate of Lochcarron was not a very ordinary woman! The actual day of her salvation is difficult to trace to its sunrising, but being such a glorious day as it was, we simply wish to relate something of what shone forth in the redeemed life of that "ill-looking woman without any beauty in the sight of God or man." Muckle Kate was born and lived in Lochcarron in the county of Ross-shire. By the time she had lived her life to its eighty-fifth year she had well-earned the reputation of having committed every known sin against the Law of God with the exception murder. Speaking after the manner of men, if it took "Grace Abounding" to save a hardened sinner like John Bunyan, it was going to take "Grace Much More Abounding" to save Muckle Kate. However, Grace is Sovereign and cannot be thwarted when God sends it on the errand of salvation, and even the method used in bri
Read more
  Severance from Christ is death   to the Church. A Christless Church is a headless trunk. We may retain the doctrine and ethic of the New Testament, but, nevertheless, amputation of the Head means death. Even a partial severance of connection involves paraylsis - loss of spiritual power and loss of spiritual feeling. II.  INTERNALLY, THE CHURCH IS THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. It is filled with Christ. He is not only the Head above it; he is the life within it. He does not only teach, bless, command, and lead from without; he inspires his people and lives in his Church. Christ fills " all  in all;"  i.e.  the Spirit that was in Jesus of Nazareth is in the whole universe, inspiring all creation and all providence with wisdom and goodness, purity and grace. The same Spirit is in the Church. As yet, unhappily, the Church is not filled with Christ. Though Christ is received into the heart of Christians, every door within is not yet flung open to the gracious Guest. But in the perfect
Read more

Church discipline

Once from the pulpit, at an ordination of elders, the late Rev. M. M'Cheyne made the following declaration. "When I first entered upon the work of the ministry among you, I was exceedingly ignorant of the vast importance of church discipline. I thought that my great, and almost only, work was to pray and preach. I saw your souls to be so precious, and the time so short, that I devoted all my time and care and strength to labour in word and doctrine. When cases of discipline were brought before me and the elders, I regarded them with something like abhorrence. It was a duty I shrank from; and I may truly say it nearly drove me from the work of the ministry among you altogether. But it pleased God, who teaches His servants in another way than man teaches, to bless some of the cases of discipline to the manifest and undeniable conversion of the souls of those under our care; and from that hour a new light broke in upon my mind, and I saw that if preaching be an ordinance of Chri
Read more