一月十日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/01/0110.mp3″]
“我必在肉体之外得见神。”(伯十九26)
请注意约伯在敬虔中所期望看见的——“我必得见神”,他并没有说:“我将见到圣徒们”,虽然见到他们也会带给他无以言喻的喜乐;但他却说:“我必得见神。”他也不是说:“我将见到珍珠门,碧玉街,并看到金冠冕。”而是说:“我必得见神。”这是天堂的一切和实质,是众圣徒喜乐的盼望。今天我们能凭信心看到祂,这是我们喜乐的缘由。信徒们也盼望在与祂交通和祷告时见到祂;但在天堂那里,我们会看到一个敞开而无遮掩的异象——我们必“得见祂的真体”,因而能像祂那样完全。有什么盼望比看见神更宝贵?也有人将这节经文念成:“我将在肉体中见到神”,认为是指基督“道成肉身”说的;在末后的日子,我们还要见祂的荣耀。不论如何,基督总是我们永恒异象的目标。世上没有一种喜乐胜过亲眼看见祂的喜乐。不要认为这种想法很狭窄。基督虽然是唯一喜乐的源头,但这源头是无限的。祂一切的属性都可作我们深思的题目。无论从那一个属性来看,祂都是无限的,祂的工作、祂的恩典、祂对我们的爱、祂一切的旨意与作为所彰显出来的荣耀,都可以成为一个万古常新的主题。列祖因远远看见神,就以为自己的欢乐说:“我自己要见祂,亲眼要看祂”(伯十九27)。试着了解这天上的福气,试想这对你是何等大的事:“你的眼目必见王的荣美”(赛三十三17)。当我们注目仰望神,一切属世的光辉,都会黯淡消逝;唯在主里,有一道永不衰退,永不消失的荣光——“我必得见神。”
Evening, January 10
Scripture: “In my flesh shall I see God.”(Job 19:26)
Mark the subject of Job’s devout anticipation “I shall see God.” He does not say, “I shall see the saints”—though doubtless that will be untold felicity—but, “I shall see God.” It is not—“I shall see the pearly gates, I shall behold the walls of jasper, I shall gaze upon the crowns of gold,” but “I shall see God.” This is the sum and substance of heaven, this is the joyful hope of all believers. It is their delight to see him now in the ordinances by faith. They love to behold him in communion and in prayer; but there in heaven they shall have an open and unclouded vision, and thus seeing “him as he is,” shall be made completely like him. Likeness to God—what can we wish for more? And a sight of God—what can we desire better? Some read the passage, “Yet, I shall see God in my flesh,” and find here an allusion to Christ, as the “Word made flesh,” and that glorious beholding of him which shall be the splendour of the latter days. Whether so or not it is certain that Christ shall be the object of our eternal vision; nor shall we ever want any joy beyond that of seeing him. Think not that this will be a narrow sphere for the mind to dwell in. It is but one source of delight, but that source is infinite. All his attributes shall be subjects for contemplation, and as he is infinite under each aspect, there is no fear of exhaustion. His works, his gifts, his love to us, and his glory in all his purposes, and in all his actions, these shall make a theme which will be ever new. The patriarch looked forward to this sight of God as a personal enjoyment. “Whom mine eye shall behold, and not another.” Take realizing views of heaven’s bliss; think what it will be to you. “Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty.” All earthly brightness fades and darkens as we gaze upon it, but here is a brightness which can never dim, a glory which can never fade—“I shall see God.”