THE CONCLUSION

 

NOVEMBER 16

THE CONCLUSION

 
"The harvest is past,
     the summer is ended,
         and we are not saved."     Jeremiah 8:20
 
 
Hitherto, we have had the aged Christian for our companion;
  but this book may be read by an aged sinner,
   and old unbeliever.
 
Ah, there are many such,
  some of whom are uttering these words.
 
 
"Harvest pasted!"   What, did you sleep in harvest?
 
"Summer ended!"    What, have you squandered life away?
 
"We are not saved!"    What, have you neglected the one thing needful?
 
Poor old man!    Poor old woman!
 
What folly you have been guilty of!
What a sin you have perpetrated.
 
You have lived, only to insult God!
You have so lived,  so as to deplore the course
   you have pursued to all eternity.
 
 
But, yet there is hope.
 
If harvest is past, if summer is ended,
   life is not extinct,
   and while there is life there is hope.
 
You may yet be saved.
 
But there is not a moment to be lost.
 
The blood of Jesus will wash out the sins of
   threescore years and ten.
 
The righteousness of Jesus will justify a sinner 
   trembling on the borders of the grave. 
 
The Spirit of God can take away the stony heart,
  and give the heart of flesh, even at the eleventh hour.
 
 
But immediate application is necessary.
 
Cry mightily to God,
   that he would give you his Holy Spirit.
Receive into thy heart God's message of mercy.
Withdraw thy dependence from all,
  and everything, within thee and without thee,
   and depend on Christ alone.
 
 
Jesus still invites thee to come to him.
O linger not!
Jesus is yet willing to receive you.
O delay not one moment!
Yield not to discouragement.
 
Say not,
  "There is no hope for me!" 
 
There is; there is.
There is hope,
  there is mercy for thee,
  if thou seekest it.
 
Seek it at once.
Seek and thou shalt find.
 
 Flee, flee, flee to Jesus!
 
This moment flee!
 
For heavens sake,
   for thy soul's sake, flee!
 
 
"Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 
For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
                                Luke 11:9-10
 
JAMES SMITH 1869
 
 
With this “The Conclusion” we finish the devotional by James Smith.
If you have enjoyed and learn from James Smith’s devotional, please leave a comment.
MORE James Smith to come.

THE INVITATION

 

NOVEMBER 15

THE INVITATION

 
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,

   Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 

    prepared for you from the foundation of the world." 

                                                          Matthew 25:34
 
 
What a glorious privilege this will be!
Blessed of his Father!
Yes, all whom the Father has blessed with divine instruction,
  with a saving interest in his own glorious person, and
  with his Holy Spirit to prepare them for glory.
 
Blessed? 
Yes, the Father blessed them with all spiritual blessings,
  in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
 
To them, the Father, in his good pleasure, gave the kingdom;
  and they by his Word and ordinances,
  by his Spirit and his providences,
  had been preparing for the kingdom; and now Jesus,
  as the King of kings and Lord of lords,
  invites them to come and take possession of the kingdom.
 
 
It is a state, in which Jesus will reign,
  from which Satan will be expelled,
  into which sin, or sorrow, or suffering,
     can never enter.
 
It is a state, in which holiness is perfect,
  happiness is complete, and
  everlasting honours are conferred.
 
It is a state, in which we shall always
  see the King's face,
  enjoy the King's presence, and
  rejoice in the King's favour.
O how different to the present!
 
Wearied fellow-traveler, look forward and
  anticipate this glorious event.
 
How glorious the person,
  how great the dignity,
  how sweet the voice,
    of him who gives the invitation!
 
How rich the grace,
  how free the love,
  how sovereign the mercy,
  which confers such honor,
    such happiness on us!
 
Well may we exclaim,
   "He raiseth the poor out of the dust, and
    lifteth up the begger from the dunghill,
    to set them among the princes, and
     to make them inherit the throne of glory!"
 
 
Are you fearful, feeble, timid, and
  prone to wander from the Lord?
 
Fear not. Feed his hungry, clothe his naked,
  visit his sick, in a word,
  show kindness to his tried ones for his sake,
  and soon, perhaps very soon,
  you will hear him say,
"'COME, INHERIT THE KINDOM.”
 
 
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
   pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32
 
 
 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE CONTRAST

 

NOVEMBER 14

 

THE CONTRAST

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this 

  present time are not worthy to be compared 

  with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

                                              Romans 8:18
 
Look at many of the Lord's people now;
with sickly bodies, they groan, being burdened.
 
With pressing needs,

   they sigh for relief.
 
Tormented by inbred sin,

   they weep and long to be free.
 
Harassed by Satan, 

   they pant for deliverance.
 
They hunger, they thirst, they suffer, 

  they mourn, they pray, they doubt, 

     they fear, they hope, they strive, 

         they struggle.
They pass through great tribulation. 

Every day is more or less a day of trial; and 

  what with family troubles, business troubles, 

    church troubles, and soul troubles,

 they are ready to exclaim,

 "I loathe it! I loathe it! I would not live always!"
 
When you have taken a full view of them
  as sufferers,
   as sojourners,
    as cross-bearers,
passing over the howling desert;
then look up and see what and 

  where they are now.

 
"They before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

 
How is it possible for the contrast 

  to be more complete, 

  between the present and future state, 

  of many of the Lord's poor tried people? 

Now, the eye of carnal reason would say,

  "They are the most miserable of all men." 

Then, every 0ne will acknowledge that 

  they are the most happy, 

    most blessed of all men!

Look away then, my brother, 

  from all that tries thee, and pains thee,

  and grieves thy heart; and 

  look forward to the period when thou shalt 

    be before God's throne, 

   the companion of the Lamb and

    his glorified and happy company.
 
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 

  worketh for us a far more exceeding 

   and eternal weight of glory." 

                                2 Corinthians 4:16-18

JAMES SMITH 1869

THE OBJECT

 

NOVEMBER 13

THE OBJECT
 
"Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty:
  they shall behold the land that is very far off."
                                               Isaiah 33:17
 
 
Few things try the true Christian,
   more than his lack of the presence of Christ.
 
If we can but realize that Jesus is with us,
  if his love is shed abroad in our hearts, and
  the light of his countenance shines upon us,
   then we are happy and all is well.
 
But often, very often, and for long seasons,
  we have to walk by faith and not by sight.
 
Believing when we do not see,
  when we do not feel,
  when we do not enjoy.
 
Jesus has won our love.
He has taken away our hearts.
So that, if we do not enjoy him,
  we are not satisfied with anything.
 
Consequently, one of the great attractions
  of THE BETTER LAND is,
  that there we "shall see the King in his beauty;"
"we shall see him as he is;"
"and so shall we ever be with the Lord!"
 
 
What will the first sight of Jesus be!
 
What joy, what unutterable pleasure will it impart!
 
Blessed be God, there will never be a last sight of him! 
 
Suppose such a thing:
  why it would silence the harps of angels, and
  stop the songs of saints.
 
Heaven would be clothed with sackcloth, and
  the only sound heard within its
  crystal walls would be weeping, wailing,
    and indescribable sounds of woe.
 
To see Jesus for the last time!
O terrible thought!
 But it cannot be;
  through millions of ages 
  we shall gaze on his beauties,
  and eternity will be occupied in admiring,
     adoring, and enjoying his infinite glories.
 
 
Yes, Jesus will be the object that will
fix the eye,
nourish the heart, and
tune the tongue forever!
 
I shall see him
whose head was crowned with thorns,
whose face was marred more than any man's,
whose heart was broken by extreme agony and pain.
 
But how different then!
Crowned with glory!
Robed in majesty!
Infinitely happy!
 
 
"And they shall see his face; and
  his name shall be in their foreheads." Revelation 22:4
 

JAMES SMITH 1869

THE SERVICE

 

NOVEMBER 11

 

THE SERVICE
 
"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and
  serve him day and night in his temple: and
  he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."
                                                     Revelation 7:15
 
It will be temple-service in "THE BETTER LAND,"
  becoming the dignity and purity of our priestly character.
 
Here we serve God;  but how imperfectly, how fitfully,
  how unfitting his dignity and glory!
 
Our weakness is so great, our interruptions are so many, and
  the sin that easily besets us is so powerful, 
  that we feel ashamed of our best services.
 
 
In looking back upon life, now we are arrived

 at its evening,
   how little we have done for God, and
  how imperfect is all that we have done.
 
We feel ashamed of it; we are sorry that we have done so little,
  and done that so badly.
 
And now, compassed with infirmities,
  waiting for our dismissal, what can we do?
 
Satan whispers, "You are too old to be useful." 
 
But not so, we may do something still.
 
We may speak for Jesus to those who visit us;
  we may write a line occasionally to those who do not,
  with a view to honor his dear name.
We can suffer patiently, in order to glorify Jesus.
We may seek grace, that by our pains and weakness,
  by our prayers and praises,
  by our patience and perseverance,
  by our watching and waiting,
     we may glorify him.
 
And soon, very soon, we shall be raised,
  where we shall serve him with gladness and great joy,
  without weariness or interruption,
    without infirmity or defect!
 
 
How delightful is the thought,
  that we shall still serve our God,
  that we shall still be employed by and for Jesus!
 
Much of our happiness here on earth,
  has arisen from our service,
  for we have found that
 "in keeping his commandments there is a great reward;" and
much of our happiness above,
  will doubtless arise from our holy service.
As to the nature of that service, we are not informed,
  nor is it necessary for us to know;
  for we shall be willing to do anything, or be anything, for Jesus.
 
 
"And there shall be no more curse: 

  but the throne of God and 

  of the Lamb shall be in it; and 

  his servants shall serve him." 

                               Revelation 22:3
 
 
 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE SONG

 

NOVEMBER 10

 

THE SONG

 
" And they sung a new song, saying, 

  Thou art worthy to take the book,
  and to open the seals thereof: 

  for thou wast slain,
  and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood

  out of every kindred,  and tongue, and 

  people, and nation."     Revelation 5:9
 
They sung a new song before the heavenly throne.
 
It is always new, because accompanied with new joys, and
  arising from new thoughts and new views of Jesus.
 
It is pleasant to sing of Jesus, and to sing to Jesus now;
  but what will it be above?
 
Here, want of knowledge,
  or want of voice,
  or want of suitable feelings, often prevent our singing,
  or enjoying what we sing;
  but there the knowledge will be perfect,
  the voice will be sweet, and
  the heart will be always in tune.
 
Our recollections of the past,
  what we were, where we were,
  what we deserved, and
  what we were doomed to suffer; and
  what Jesus did for us,
  suffered for us, and conferred on us,
  will fill us with lively and everlasting gratitude.
 
And then the presence of Jesus,
  the glories of Jesus, and
  the communications made by Jesus,
  will keep that gratitude alive and vigorous for ever.
 
Aged Christian, Jesus loves to hear
  thy tremulous voice sing his praises now;
  do not give over singing,
  if thou canst raise a note,
  but continue to praise his dear and ever-blessed name.
 
O that we praised him more!
Oh that our hearts were always in tune to praise him!
 
It is not so much the voice, 
  as the heart that is out of tune.
 
But let us rejoice in this,
  that we have an eternity before us,
  in which we shall for ever praise and
  bless our Savior's dear and adorable name.
 
There, in the city of saints,
  in the mansion of glory,
  in our Father's house,
  in that "BETTER LAND," 
  we shall all unite to praise the Father,
  for his free, sovereign, and glorious grace;
  the Son, for his precious blood,
  perfect righteousness, and all-prevailing intercession;
   and the Holy Spirit,
   for his quickening, comforting, and sanctifying operations.
 
 
" And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and
  the first begotten of the dead, and
   the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from
   our sins in his own blood, 
 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and
  his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
     Amen."                                          Revelation 1:5-6
 
 
 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE CROWN

 

NOVEMBER 9

THE CROWN

"In that day shall the LORD of hosts
  be for a crown of glory, and
  for a diadem of beauty,
  unto the residue of his people.”
          Isaiah 28:5
 

Everything "in the better land" is in harmony:
  If we have an inheritance,
    it contains a city;
  if we dwell in a city,
    we shall live in a mansion;
  if we live in a mansion,
 we will wear white robes;
  and if we wear white robes,
 we will have a crown.
 

Not a crown of myrtle, or laurel or bay,

  like those awarded in the Grecian games; 

  but a diadem, a gemmed crown.

Their crown is called "a crown of righteousness;"

  because the righteousness of Jesus purchased it, 

  and being graciously promised to the overcomer, 

  God in righteousness confers it.

It is called "a crown of life;"

  it will be the crown of an endless existence; 

  that which sheds luster and glory up on it. 

It is promised to all who patiently endure, 

  and perseveringly overcome the temptations 

     of the present state.

It is called also "a crown of glory;"

  "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, 

   ye shall receive a crown of glory 

       that fadeth not away."

Men strive for a corruptible crown,

   but we an incorruptible. 

Never were such crowns seen,

  as those which Jesus will place 

  on the heads of his people; and they, 

  as if they felt unworthy to wear them, 

  will, in the ardor of their devotion, 

  cast them at his feet.

As if crowns of glory were alone fit to form 

  a pavement for the feet of the Lamb to walk on!

What will it be to wear a crown of righteousness, 

  a crown of life, 

    a crown of glory, 

       an incorruptible crown?

We must enjoy it, to know it; 

  and blessed be God, 

  through free and sovereign grace, 

  we hope to finish the good fight, 

  to endure temptations and 

  to fill up the character assigned us, and 

  then receive from the hands, 

  the once nail-pierced hands of Jesus,

  our crown, and wear it to his praise forever.

The circlets of righteousness, life, and glory, 

  will forever adorn those brows, 

  which were not ashamed to confess Christ, 

  and help forward his cause on earth.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: 

  for when he is tried, he shall receive 

  the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised 

  to them that love him."           James 1:12

 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE WHITE ROBES

 

NOVEMBER 8

THE WHITE ROBES

"I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”     Revelation 7:9

Here on earth we are often clad in sable,
and called to mourn and weep;
but "in the better land" we shall be clothed
in white robes and carry branches of palm in our hands.
 

The white robe indicates acquittal from all charges.

Here we have many things laid to our charge,
 Satan and our consciences often accuse us;
 but there we shall not only be justified from all things,
 but our very garments will witness that
 we are faultless before the throne of God.
 

The white robe indicates victory,
 and then we shall have gained the final victory
 over the great red dragon, that old serpent,
 the devil, who deceives the whole world.
 

We shall have conquered every inbred lust 

  and every fleshly principle.

The victory will be complete and final!

The shield will be hung up in the hall of glory,
 and the weapons for ever grounded at
 the feet of our all-conquering King.

The last enemy, Death, will be destroyed then.
 
 
The white robes indicate purity too,
  and those who wear them are 

  purified from every stain.

They have washed their robes, and
 made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Jesus has purified and cleansed them with
  the washing of water by the Word,
  and they are without spot,
  or wrinkle, or any such thing.
 

The white robes are the wedding robes,
  and being clothed in them shews that
  the bride has made herself ready,
  and is waiting for the nuptial ceremony.

In robes of snowy white,
  will Jesus wed his Church.
 

The white robes also are the emblem of praise,
  and praise will be the constant and
  pleasing employment of our souls for ever.

The heart, like a crystal fountain,
  will send forth streams of gratitude, love, 

  adoration, and praise before the 

  throne of God and the Lamb for ever
 
 
"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis
  which have not defiled their garments; and
  they shall walk with me in white:
    for they are worthy.”
                                           Revelation 3:4

 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE HABITATION

 

NOVEMBER 7

THE HABITATION

"My people shall dwell in a peaceable 

  habitation, and in sure dwellings, 

    and in quiet resting places;" 
                                           Isaiah 32:18

 
Here many of the Lord's people have 

  but a poor cottage,
  some a mere hovel, and
  some have been obliged to hide themselves
  from persecution in dens and caves of the earth;
  how many wants are felt,
  wishes indulged,
  and desires ungratified below.
 
But in Heaven, 

  the poorest saint will have a mansion,
  a magnificent dwelling-place,
  in comparison with which the imperial palaces of earth
  will look poor and mean.

The dignity of our nature, when raised to
  the exact resemblance of Jesus, will be consulted,
  and no wish for an alteration will ever arise,
   no desire for a change will ever be felt.
 
 
Look around thee, aged Christian, 

  at thy inconveniences,
  at the many causes of discomfort;
  they will soon be left behind thee, and
  thou wilt inhabit a mansion prepared by Jesus.
 
Look at all thy comforts, 

  at the provision made to satisfy thee;
  and then look up, and
  remember that you will soon be in a mansion;
  a mansion to which the most splendid of 

  earthly palaces will bear no more resemblance,
  then the light of the glow-worm at evening does 

    to the light of the sun at noon.
 
Blessed, thrice blessed Jesus,
 what love is thine!
Not only to die for our sins, quicken my souls,
  And make us happy in time,
  but to go and prepare a mansion for us,
   a mansion in thy Father's house!
 
 
Believer, no longer complain of thy lot;
   no more think thy trials heavy,
   or thy privations great;
   it is but a little while,
   and thy beloved Lord will call to thee, saying, 

"Come up hither, and enter into the joy of thy Lord."

What joy is that!
  What tongue can tell,
  what heart can conceive,
  what the joy of the Lord is!

But, however pure it’s nature,
  however exquisite its sweetness,
  however vast its degree,
  it will be ours, and ours very soon!

Joy of Jesus! thou art my portion after death,
 and then for ever!

"He led them forth by the right way, 

that they might go to a city of habitation."

                                      Psalm 107:7

 JAMES SMITH 1869

THE HOME

 

NOVEMBER 6



THE HOME

"Let not your heart be troubled: 

ye believe in God, 
believe also in me. 

In my Father's house are many mansions: 
if it were not so, I would have told you. 
I go to prepare a place for you.

                                                  John 14:1,2

How familiar with Heaven!

How well acquainted with that "BETTER LAND"

   must Jesus be!
He calls it "MY FATHER’S HOUSE." 
Sweet view of our eternal residence!
 
Dying is but 'going home.
  Going home to our Father.
  Going to our Father's house.

And shall we fear this? 

Fear it! Can we do anything other than desire it?

 
Do we not wish to go home and see our Father? 

We shall not be strangers there,
 so many of our Christian friends 

  have gone home before us.

And if they were not, 

how can we not feel strange where JESUS is!
 
"I leave the world," said Jesus,
"and go unto the Father." 

Such should be our language, in the prospect of death.

O that, with child-like simplicity, 

  we could receive into our minds 

     the testimony of God's Word!

O that we could view death and Heaven just 

  as the Scriptures represent them!

Where would our doubts and fears be then?

What would become of our reluctance to leave the world then?

 
Then, if we speak of departed relatives, 

  who died in the faith of Jesus, 

  we should use similar language to that 

  of Judah before Joseph in reference to Benjamin, 

   "The youngest is this day with our Father!"

We would no longer talk of losing friends or relatives.

Oh no! We should speak of them as 

  being in our Father's house, or 

     of being with our Father!

Is God my Father?" Yes, assuredly, 

  If I believe in Jesus;
  for "you are all the children of God, 

       by faith in Christ Jesus!"

Is God my Father?

Unquestionably he is, if I love the Lord’s people, 

  for “We know that we have passed from death unto life, 

    because we love the brethren.”

My soul, I charge thee, 

  in future to look to Heaven, 

    simply as thy Father's house!

For we know that if our earthly house 

  of this tabernacle were dissolved, 

  we have a building of God, 

  an house not made with hands, 

   eternal in the heavens. 

                              2 Corinthians 5:1

 JAMES SMITH 1869