Seeing we Look for Such Things.
‐We look for‐—something. Who does not look ahead? Surely the men are few that can contentedly sit down without turning one glance to the future. Is it to them a scene of cloudless splendor they look forward? Or is it but a scene of starless night? Still men will look forward. Men are prone to contemplation; and what can furnish material for contemplation like the dim, shadowy unknown and impenetrable future? Men look—but, alas! how often when they reach the looked for, longed for, object—’tis gone.’ It seemed a substance—’twas a shade. It seemed a marble column, firm and high,
’Twas but a fleecy cloud that swept the sky. Thus men are deceived. Still they run their ceaseless race, hurrying on to pluck the withered roses and the lasting thorns. Thus are men disappointed, while they ‘look’ for ‘earthly wealth,’ careless about ‘treasures in Heaven;’ for earthly glory, regardless of the eternal glory that awaits the saint; for worldly honor, forgetful of that which cometh from God only. And as they weep over blighted hopes, and curse their helpless lot, well for them would it be could they uncover their blinded eyes and see that ‘passing away is written on the world, and all the world contains.’ We look; but not for things like these. O, no! we have chased earth’s phantoms and flowers till we can say: ‘All, all is vanity; and to it we would no longer be subject—for it we would no longer seek.’ Still we look! How can we avoid it? It is an element of our being. We could not eradicate it. But while the principle of hope in the worldling’s heart is twining around this world, with us it is not so; our anchor has been heaved up from the muddy bed, where once it dragged, and cast on better anchorage ground, far within the veil. Our cable is not wet by the heaving billows, nor chafed by the sunken rock. It is far beyond their reach, twining around the pillars of Jehovah’s throne. We look for things that God hath spoken of—‘things surpassing fable, and yet true,’—visions before whose brightness mortal eyes are blind—before whose glory all of earth is dimmed. ‘We look beyond’ the blasting of every earthly hope, the ruin of every earthly treasure; beyond the howl of the rich and the wail of the mighty; beyond the passing heavens and the melting earth; and lo! what glories greet our joyful eyes! From that conflagrant mass, nature’s vast wreck, another nobler, purer earth comes forth. Jehovah speaks, and heaven and earth are new! O! how all things will be changed! how glorious that change will be! Where earth once groaned and sighed, glad hills shall sing and forests clap their hands! Where toils were endured, triumphs shall be enjoyed! Where sighs burst forth, songs shall forever swell! Where gloom once gathered, glory now shall gild! Where thorns once grew fir trees shall cast their shade;
Where briars stood, the myrtle’s boughs shall spread;
Where pain now riots, pleasure shall bear sway—
Darkness shall pass and yield to perfect day.
Where curse doth wither and where sin doth stain,
God shall restore, and righteousness shall reign. ‘We look,’ and oh, what deep solemnity! what spotless purity—what perfect love—what holy joy, should prospects like ours inspire! God has ever had a faithful race of ‘pilgrims and strangers,’ of whom this blighted earth was never worthy, Heb. xi, 38; but when that brighter, holier, worthier world shall come, shall we be worthy of it? Shall we join the blood-washed band, who come through tribulation’s depths to Zion’s glory-gilded summit! ‘Seeing we look for such things,’ be diligent, that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless.—Herald of Gospel Liberty.