Wednesday, February 23, 2011

"There"

"In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).
 
    David's exultant affirmation of the heart-thrilling joy of proximity to God was doubtless real, wonderful and fulfilling.  The Psalmist's heart was a trusting and often faithful place that his Lord found great pleasure in blessing, and in which He also found great blessing.
 
    Could we speak with David now, however, or could he add an addendum to his description of joy and pleasure in God, he would quickly tell us that the glory he knew during his earthly life was as nothing in comparison to his present experience in the heavenlies.  David was an Old Testament saint delivered into God's direct presence by the Lord Jesus Christ after He made atonement for sin (Ephesians 4:8).  One can only imagine the holy moment when the Psalmist first saw the Messiah of whom he so often prophesied, and then when the Lord Jesus escorted David into Heaven where "fullness of joy" and "pleasures forevermore" fill the spiritual atmosphere with the wonder that is God.
 
    We who live on the other side, as it were, of the cross, the resurrection and the indwelling Holy Spirit see glories during our earthly sojourn that David did not know.  Still, it is "through a glass darkly" that we view our Lord's ineffable glory (I Corinthians 13:12).  Sights and scenes and sensibilities await us that would cause our hearts to burst if revealed to us now, in our unglorified state.  As I told my son last night, "The first milli-moment we are There will make us wonder how we could have ever been hesitant about passing from earth to Heaven."  The living, infinite and eternal God awaits us there.  His direct presence, where "fullness of joy" abides, awaits us there.  The "pleasures forevermore" of His right hand await us there, that is, the pleasures of the Lord Jesus, who is Himself "on the right hand of God" (I Peter 3:22).
 
    There are great days ahead, great days in this life as our Lord is known, loved, trusted and obeyed in both blessing and challenge.  Even more, however - infinitely more - a great eternity is ahead.  God Himself is the greatness of that forever.  He is the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore purchased for us by the sorrow and agony of Calvary's suffering, forsakenness and death.  Our hearts were made and redeemed for Him, and only when His presence fills our both our internal and external environment will the true meaning of joy and pleasure be known.  Yes, David would tell us this just now, if he could.  Thankfully, the Word of God can and does...
 
"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
(Romans 8:18)
 
"Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world."
(John 17:24)
 

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