Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

 January 10– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, Revised and Edited by W. C. Neff

“In my flesh will I see God.” 

—Job 19:26

Notice the subject of Job’s devout anticipation; he says, “I will see God.” He does not say, “I will see the saints”—though, no doubt, that will be untold joy—but he says, “I will see God.” It is not “I will see the pearly gates; I will behold the walls of jasper; I will gaze upon the crowns of gold,” but, rather, “I will see God.” This is the sum and substance of heaven. This is the joyful hope of all believers.

Even now it is their delight to see him in the ordinances by faith. They love to behold him in communion and in prayer, but there in heaven they will have an open and unclouded vision.  Thus, seeing “him as he is,” they will be made completely like him. Likeness to God: what more can we wish for? Can we possibly desire anything better?

Some read the passage, “Yet, I will see God in my flesh,” and find here an allusion to Christ as the “Word made flesh.” Whether it is or not, it is certain that Christ shall be the object of our eternal vision; we will have no greater joy than that of seeing him. This will be an infinite source of delight. All his attributes will be subjects for contemplation, and, since he is infinite under each aspect, there is no chance of exhaustion. His works, his gifts, his love to us, and his glory in all his purposes and in all his actions— these will make a theme which will be ever-new.

Job, that great patriarch, looked forward to his sight of God as a personal enjoyment: “whom my eye will behold, and not another.” So, think of heaven’s coming. Think what it will be to you. “Your eyes will 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 will see God!” [M&E]