THE SOCIETY OF HEAVEN by B. G. Wilkinson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 29, 1901

THE SOCIETY OF HEAVEN.

By B. G. Wilkinson

ELDER B. G. WILKINSON.

(Paris, France.)

Many times when Jesus was tempted to become discouraged, He would direct the thoughts of His mind to the joy that was set before Him, and then He would press on, with rejoicing, to the cross and the shame which He was to endure. With the eye of faith He saw himself brought back again to His Father’s house. His Father, whom He had left that He might come to earth, He beheld seated upon His throne and surrounded by a multitude of redeemed. Then the Saviour’s work became a pleasure, and His life breathed forth an inspiration upon those who surrounded Him.

By thus encouraging himself through God’s promises, Jesus has placed an example before the human race. And why should not this example be followed? It is natural for us all to plan for future pleasures. The only difference between Jesus’ method and ours is simply a difference of time. We labor hard to save a little money simply that we may enjoy some pleasure a little in the future. And, moreover, that pleasure does not have a long duration. Jesus, however, planned for a joy that was a little further distant, but a joy that would last throughout eternity. He has succeeded, and He calls upon us all to secure the same prize. What is it?

In the first place, it is a blessed hope. There are many kinds of hope in the world, but there is nothing which so greatly lightens the sorrows of life as does hope. To the merchant who is anxious lest his business fail and he become a pauper, hope brings a cheering assurance of future success. Hope stays the hand of him who, sinking in despair beneath his sorrows, is about to take his life, and bids him try again. Hope comes to the mother who stands, uncomforted, by the bedside of her dying child, and speaks to her of a new and better future, where she shall meet her child again. But how great is the Christian’s hope! It is not shrouded in any dark and uncertain future. It clasps hands with the great events of eternity, and lifts the veil upon a glorious scene. This is how the apostle describes it: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Oh, there is a God somewhere! I look out upon the sky, the stars, the sun, and I ask, Who made them? Who made the birds which fly in the air? Who made the men which walk upon the earth? Did the legislature of the United States, or Germany, or England, or all the nations combined?—No. Who made me? I have reason. Is it possible that He who made men with reason, does not himself have reason, and does not know our great longing to know Him?—Impossible. But who is He? He has spoken to us. He has talked directly to us, and said, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” He has told me who He is, but shall I never see Him?—Yes. He has spoken further, and has directed us to consider “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Can we imagine a more glorious future event than this? If He clothed the heavens and the earth with the beauty which we now see, when He shall appear, will He not clothe himself with much more splendor? Truly the heaven itself, with the glory which is now concealed, will break forth in all its grandeur.

I place before you the first members of the society of heaven, God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. If it is natural to desire to associate with the great of this earth, it ought to be a desire more intense to associate forever with God. He is a God of love; for while we were yet rebels against Him, He gave His only Son to die for us. He is merciful; for though we sin continually now, He does not strike us down. He is benevolent; for He sends the rain on the just and on the unjust. He appreciates good things; for He has clothed the heavens and the earth with beautiful colors and scenes, and the courts of His heavenly temple are filled with enchanting music. He is generous; for He opens the doors of His house, and with stretched-out arms bids us, through Jesus, become members of His family. Behold how lovable is our God! Who would not associate with Him? Who would not say with the psalmist, “In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” And in the near future this our God will gloriously appear. And as surely as He shall appear, so surely will He take, to associate with Him, those who have obeyed Him and associated with Him now.

“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Prov. 18:24. That friend is Jesus. Blessed are the redeemed, who shall have right to His society. The life which He lived upon earth was a constant record of how sweet it was to enjoy His company. The dead came forth from the tomb in response to His invitation. Mary, out of whom He had cast seven devils, sat at His feet, and followed Him with loving glances. Bitter tears flowed from the eyes of sinful Peter until he was restored to the Saviour’s company. If such was the pleasure in His company that they found who merited nothing from His hands but punishment, how great will be the pleasure at the last when the redeemed, transformed into His image and character, have earned the right to associate with Him forever. Such was Jesus upon earth, and as such will He come again. This is the declaration of the eternal word of God, which cannot be broken. And who shall enjoy His society? “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 7:21. Let friends depart and relatives despise, but we cannot afford to lose the society of Jesus.

If God and Jesus were the only company which heaven offered, it would be glorious to live there. But other company is there. When Abraham, the friend of God, sat in the shade of a tree, three beings possessed of a politeness he had never seen elsewhere,—and he had come from the great cities of Babylon and Egypt,—visited him and partook of his hospitality. They were the angels of God. In this act they showed how friendly and sociable is their nature. What a stern rebuke this is to those who pride themselves upon being cold, stiff, distant, and unapproachable. These angels are also beautiful beings; for when John saw the messenger who led him through the scenes of glory, he says that he fell at his feet to worship him. The angels can sing most beautifully. The shepherds watching on the plains of Bethlehem heard them sing the anthem, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” And I fancy that often, as the saints of old gathered in some quiet place to sing their songs of praise to God, the angels joined their songs with their melodious voices. And as the messenger of God traversed the lonely plain, he might have heard, as Isaiah did, the choir of angels about him sing the joyful strains. What pleasure it will afford to be entertained by their great knowledge, as Daniel was by the one who said that there was none wiser than he in those things, save Michael the Prince. Beloved friends, behold the innumerable company of heavenly guests who always compass us about. And these also will come. “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.” Matt. 25:21.

Such are some of the members of the heavenly society. And what shall we say about the redeemed themselves? We shall see the loved and loving John, the earnest Paul, and the ardent Peter. There we can walk and talk with noble Daniel, with Isaiah, with Elijah, with the faithful Joseph, and with Moses. There is a glorious future before us. Let the rich of this earth roll by in their carriages, let the honored walk by with haughty step. Their society will continue for only a moment; but the society of heaven will never be broken. Let us confess that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, who look for a city whose builder and maker is God.