To Be With Christ

"Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads."  [Revelation 14:1]

The apostle John was privileged to look within the gates of heaven, and in describing what he saw, he begins by saying, "I looked, and behold, a Lamb!" This teaches us that the chief object of contemplation in the heavenly state is "the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world [John 1:29]." Nothing else attracted the apostle's attention so much as the person of that Divine Being, who has redeemed us by his blood. He is the theme of the songs of all glorified spirits and holy angels. Christian, here is joy for you; you have looked, and you have seen the Lamb. Through your tears, your eyes have seen the Lamb of God taking away your sins. Rejoice, then. In a little while, when your eyes shall have been wiped from tears, you will see the same Lamb exalted on his throne. It is the joy of your heart to hold daily fellowship with Jesus; you will have the same joy to a higher degree in heaven; you will enjoy the constant vision of his presence; you will dwell with him forever. "I looked, and behold, a Lamb!" Why, that Lamb is heaven itself; for as good Rutherford says, "Heaven and Christ are the same thing;" to be with Christ is to be in heaven, and to be in heaven is to be with Christ. That prisoner of the Lord very sweetly writes in one of his glowing letters--"O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without Thee, it would be a hell; and if I could be in hell, and have Thee still, it would be a heaven to me, for Thou Art all the heaven I want." It is true, is it not, Christian? Does not yoy soul say so?  "Not all the harps above can make a heavenly place, if God his residence remove, or but conceal his face."  All we need to make ourself blessed, supremely blessed, are "to be with Christ."  Hallelujah God bless