The Beauty of Earth and Heaven.
By John G. Matteson
All created things in Heaven and on the earth are the workmanship of God. The mighty and lovely works of God in creation, as well as his saving grace, are worthy of admiration. For this reason the Sabbath is a joyful memorial to us. “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” It is true that the Christian may remember God and his wonderful works every day; but on the Sabbath, when all work is laid aside, and the mind, through prayer and reading of the Scriptures, or in the assembly of the saints, is filled with devotional reflections and is brought under the mild influence of the Holy Spirit, this can be done more exclusively and with greater solemnity. If we then at the same time remember what our Saviour has done for us, that he has bought us with his precious blood to be unto him a peculiar people, and to dwell forever with him in the beautiful mansions in which he is now preparing room for those who love him, then the Sabbath becomes a blessed foretaste of that glorious rest which remains to the people of God, when all flesh shall come to worship before the Lord from one Sabbath to another. Isa. 66:22, 23. Thus we rejoice in a twofold manner every Sabbath, as we enjoy the peaceful rest of God’s holy day and commemorate his wonderful works in creation. 1. The earth contains many beautiful things. When this earth came from the hand of the Creator, it looked like a glorious palace. It was perfect in every respect. Through the curse pronounced because of transgression, it has been greatly marred. Yet there is beauty enough left in nature to fill our hearts with gratitude and praise to God, if our eyes are open to behold the works of the Lord. How friendlily the morning sun illuminates the earth, as it rises in majestic grandeur and looks down upon cities and farms, mountains and valleys, woods and prairies. Everything seems to be refreshed and to awaken to new life. Thousands of living creatures rejoice, and go forth to new activity. Truly, if the earth was full of righteousness, truth, and love, we might desire to live here always. God is good, and his mercy shines forth in all his works. 2. In Heaven everything is beautiful and glorious. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” 1 Cor. 2:9, 10. The Father sits on his throne of glory. All beauty and happiness are found in him. All power and wisdom and excellency proceed from him. All favor and mercy come from the Fountain of love. God is love. Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is seated with his Father on the glorious throne of universal dominion. He is the brightness of his Father’s glory and the express image of his person. Mighty angels worship and honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. Jesus still stands before the throne as a lamb slain. Rev. 5:6. He shines with a peculiar glory as High Priest in the heavenly temple. His presence in the sanctuary awakens joy in our hearts. Yet this joy is mingled with sorrow—sorrow on account of our sins which made him a victim, and joy on account of his salvation. His wounds shine with wonderful glory. How blessed it is through faith to behold Him who has enabled me to say, “I was dead, and am alive again; I was lost, and am found”—found by the Good Shepherd. “I would to be thy little lamb,
Saviour dear, Saviour dear!
Wilt thou take me as I am?
Hast thou room for me?
Wilt thou lead me all the day
In the strait and narrow way?
Shall I never, never stray,
Blessed One, from thee?” When a soul has found redemption through the blood of Jesus, and looks up to Heaven, holding sweet communion with Jesus, the treasures on high look very bright and attractive. And often blissful feelings are awakened when we sing with brethren and sisters:— “Well, the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home,
And I shall see his face.
Then with my Saviour, Brother, Friend,
A blest eternity I’ll spend,
Triumphant in his grace.” The glory of God lightens the heavenly city, and the Lamb is the light thereof. The paradise of God is there, and the beautiful tree of life is still in the midst of Eden. Rev. 2:7. The pure river of water of life flows clear as crystal from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And ten thousand bright angels surround the throne with their never-ceasing hallelujahs. There the brain shall not grow weary, nor the voice hoarse. The praise of God and the Lamb will sound every day in sweetest harmony. Innumerable voices will join in the ascription: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Soon the redeemed host will join with every creature in Heaven and on earth in ascribing “blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5:12, 13. 3. There is a great difference between the beauty of earth and that of Heaven. Heaven is free from the stains of sin. All things are perfect there; but here the rust of sin has eaten and destroyed until the beauty of earth is dimmed and mixed with abominations. a. The beauty and joy of earth are continually exposed to destructive changes and commotions. Mighty earthquakes and volcanic eruptions ruin men’s works and destroy their lives. Internal fires have nearly turned Iceland into a wilderness. Whole cities have been swallowed up by earthquakes in South America, and 20,000 human beings devoured in less than a minute. Inundations have immersed large tracts of land and destroyed life and property. Hurricanes have turned the fruitful field into a wilderness. Hailstones have broken down the grain and cut off the grass for miles, leaving nothing for man or beast but the black, naked earth. Then grasshoppers gather like terrible armies and attack one State after another. They cannot be numbered. One county in Minnesota paid $28,000 for 18,000 bushels of grasshoppers. Their treasury was exhausted, but not the grasshoppers. Curious and hitherto unknown diseases rage among man and beast. In many places the working animals are carried off, until the fields lie waste for want of animals to work them. Man has greatly corrupted and marred the handiwork of God. Sin and passion reign, and, as a consequence, the earth is full of pestilence and wretchedness. “How vain is all beneath the skies!
How transient every earthly bliss!
How slender all the fondest ties
That bind us to a world like this!” In Heaven there are no such changes. Its beauty never fades. Its peace and joy can never be disturbed by sin and misfortunes. b. The beauty of earth is also cut off from us by death. There is a great deficiency in earthly joys in this respect—they are short-lived. We are mortal creatures. “What is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Soon we must leave all—parents, children, wife, friends, house, and home. That which cost us years of hard toil is no more ours. The thought of death is not pleasant. Death is an enemy. 1 Cor. 15:26. It comes unbidden, like a reaper with his sickle gathering rich and poor, old and young, sick and well, into his storehouse. He will imprison all in the land of the enemy until He who has the keys of death and hades opens the heavy prison doors—until the mighty voice of the Life-giver in the last day shall awaken them from their long, deep slumber. “But though earth’s fairest blossoms die,
And all beneath the sky is vain,
There is a brighter world on high,
Beyond the reach of care and pain.” c. All the beauty of this earth shall soon pass away. The kingdoms of this world, with all their glory, must soon be broken to pieces together, and become like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor. “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” The last death-struggle of this poor, sin-cursed earth is drawing near. From generation to generation she has received man and beast—yes, all that she has produced—into her bosom. At last she must herself pass away like a moth-eaten garment. The earth shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Pet. 3:10. This cannot be said of the heavenly things. They are unchangeable. The kingdom of glory is an immovable kingdom. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Heb. 12:28. 4. The beauty of earth shall be restored. The Lord will create new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Pet. 3:13. Then shall all the earth be filled with the glory of the Lord. Num. 14:21. “And let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.” Ps. 72:19. “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Hab. 2:14. Then the tabernacle of God will be with men, “and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:3, 4. How glorious it will be to live on the earth when the Eden of God shall be restored, and the eternal city shall be the beautiful capitol of the kingdom of Heaven forever. 5. It is now high time to prepare for the coming kingdom. Sweet mercy will soon linger no more. The many wonderful events of which the prophets of God have spoken will soon be fulfilled. If we desire to be ready when the Master appears, we must not postpone our preparations. It is well for us to make decisions, but to delay carrying them out from week to week is dangerous. To-day is the day of mercy. Dear reader, prepare to meet thy God. We must be fully in earnest in our efforts. Our Saviour says: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24. It is not enough to seek. We must strive to enter in. We must learn to suffer with Jesus and deny self. The angels of God want to point to a people on the earth in the last days of whom they can say, “Here is the patience of the saints.” Let us therefore bear our cross without murmuring. Let us rather be thankful and praise God for his gracious providence. It causes pain to crucify the flesh, and to be chastened by the truth and Spirit of God. But it makes us partakers of the holiness of God and brings forth the blessed fruits of righteousness. We must also learn to work with Jesus. The harvest is great, the laborers few. There is a great work before us. The earth is yet to be lightened with the glory of the last message of mercy. There is no lack of spectators, but we need workmen—faithful servants who will watch and pray and be diligent in the work of the Lord until he comes. “Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” They must live and work for others, and must themselves be quickened together with Christ. They must die to the world and live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. Then the eternal glory of the new earth shall be ours, when all the beauty of this world has passed away.