“And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us….” (Deuteronomy 1.25.)
Introduction. As the goodness of Canaan was known by the fruit brought from there by the spies, we who are the Lord’s beloved may know something of heaven by certain blessings brought to us. I shall present some views of heaven, then show you how a Christian enjoys a foretaste of them.
(1) Heaven as a place of security. Heaven is a place where we shall never sin—where faults shall be unknown—where we shall not need to be always on guard. There is no fear of slipping or turning away there. Those who have committed their souls to Christ’s keeping shall find him a faithful keeper. Have you never reflected on the doctrine of perseverance? Has God brought you to a sense of your security in Christ? If so, you have had some enjoyments that perfect saints have above. I resign the pulpit if I cannot preach the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. A gospel that pardons me and then casts me to hell is abhorrent to reason and to God.
(2) Heaven as a place of perfect rest. There I shall rest from my constant and perpetual labors, though they are much loved. Heaven is the target of the arrow of existence. That rest you have at times enjoyed with Christ is one grape of the cluster you will have hereafter. This idea of rest will suit some idle professors. I can almost forgive a drunkard, but a lazy man there is little pardon for.
(3) Heaven as a place of uninterrupted service. Do you know what is the deliciousness of work? Laboring for God is the highest delight a mortal can know. O, how blessed it will be to flap the wing for ever and never feel it flag! Labor for Christ is a blissful foretaste of heaven.
(4) Heaven as a place of complete victory. This is the battlefield; there is the triumphal procession. This is the land of the sword and spear; that is the land of the wreath and crown. What a thrill when death shall be slain—when Satan shall be dragged captive at the chariot wheels of Christ! Did you ever wrestle with temptation and overcome? That was a foretaste of heaven.
(5) Heaven as a state of acceptance with God. Blessed saints enjoy perfect peace with God. There have been bright days with some of us, when we felt that our sins were all pardoned and could never be mentioned again. The cream of all joys is to know we are accepted in God’s sight. That I, who once heard the voice of his anger, now listen to his notes of love: this is joy worth worlds!
(6) Heaven as a state of great and glorious manifestations. You look in the Bible and see the face of Christ as in a mirror darkly; soon you shall see him face to face. You expect heaven as a place of peculiar manifestations. But have you not had some even in this vale of tears? Have you not by faith beheld him as the Judge and Prince? Therein you have had foretastes of heaven.
(7) Heaven as the idea of most hallowed and blissful communion. Communion! This is the flower of language, the honeycomb of words. Give me for my constant text and joy, communion: with Christ’s sufferings and shame, with Christ in death, resurrection, and ascension. To be in heaven is to sit at Jesus’ feet. You have done it on earth? Then you know what heaven is.
Selection from Conclusion. “Cherish, then, these foretastes, of whatever kind they may have been in your individual case…Keep your foretaste just as God has given it to you.”
