They Shall See His Face

"When you get to heaven, Billy, what do you want to see most?" a Christian teacher asked one of her first graders.

Billy thought for a moment. There was much his little heart longed for. He had heard the blessed land with its beauties, its treasures, its delicacies, spoken of frequently.

"Please, teacher," the little fellow replied, "I want to see the lions, the mansions, and the angels, but most of all I want to see Jesus."

Fanny J. Crosby, the hymn writer, expresses the same longing in these words:

"Through the gates to the city, in a robe of spotless white, He will lead me where no tears shall ever fall; In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight; But I long to meet my Savior first of all."

What Christian heart has not filled with the same desire? In the midst of life's turmoil and stresses have you not also longed to see your Savior?

The precious promise to the redeemed is, "The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it;.....and they shall see his face." Revelation 22:3,4.

Yes, Jesus will be there, and He "shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters." (Revelation 7:17.) We shall be like Him at his appearing (1John 3:2), and we shall be with Him throughout the ages of eternity.

Of the redeemed, the author of Revelation says, "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." Revelation 14:4. It was a wonderful privilege the disciples of Jesus enjoyed as they lived with him during His three year ministry on earth. They saw His mighty healing power. They listened to the words of life as they fell from His lips and penetrated their hearts.

The prospect before us is even more glorious. Not for three brief years will we be with Christ, but throughout eternity. The disciples were forced to witness His scourging and crucifixion. You and I may witness His coronation - His glorious rule as King of kings and Lord of lords. They had hoped to see Him end the iron rule of Rome. We will see Him end the reign of sin.

The disciples could follow Jesus over only a comparatively few square miles, but you and I have the prospect of following our Lord from planet to planet.We may follow Him "whithersoever he goeth."

There are some sobering facts we must not lose sight of, some conditions for entry to heaven as outlined in this passage: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8. If we expect to see Him in the hereafter, our hearts must be pure here. The blood of the Lamb must cleanse our hearts now if we hope to see Him then. Sin must be confessed and forsaken. Only clean men and women can see, and have fellowship with, a holy Savior.

If you and I expect to "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" in the earth made new, we must begin following Him now in this earth.