THE DESIRE

 

OCTOBER 28

THE DESIRE

Having a desire to depart, and 

  to be with Christ; which is far better:

                                Philippians 1:23
 
Reader, do you at all sympathize with Paul?
Do you desire to leave the present scene
of conflict, sorrow, and sin?
Do you desire to depart from all that gratifies the flesh,
  and all that perplexes the soul,
   that you may be with Christ?
 
What a delightful assurance it is to the believer,
  that, "absent from the body and

    to be present with the Lord!"
 
To be with Christ, what does not this comprise?
Surely one may say, "It is all my salvation and all my desire!"
 
To be with Christ, what does not this exclude?
All sin, all sadness, all foes, all fears, all claims.
 
Well may Paul say, it is “far better."
 
Ah, how much better to be with Christ,
  than to be with the kindest relatives,
  the wisest friends, or
  in the most comfortable circumstances that this world can furnish!
 
To be with Christ,
  how far preferable to our present lot, 
  where we are surrounded by foes,
    annoyed by temptations,
    perplexed with disappointments,
     and made wretched by our sins!
 
To be with Christ, that is to be perfectly holy,
  perfectly happy, and
  for ever satisfied!
 
Now — we mourn his absence,
  sigh for his presence, and
  would give all we possess at times for
  one hour's heart-melting communion with him;
then,    we shall be
   always with him,
     exactly like him,
        and for ever praising him!
   always with him,
     exactly like him,
        and for ever praising him!
 
Better, surely it is, infinitely better,
  to be where Jesus is, to be with Jesus,
   than to be here where there is
   so much sin,
    so many dangers,
     such briers and thorns,
      such disease and death!
 
My soul, seek such large communications of grace from God,
 such fellowship with the Holy Spirit,
  that you may rise above all your doubts,
  fears, carnality, and fleshly attachments; and
  say right heartily with the Apostle, 
  "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better;"

 Yea, which is best of all!
 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

                              2 Corinthians 5:8
 

 JAMES SMITH 1869