一月十日
有公义的冠冕为我存留（提后4:8）
疑惑的人哪！你常说：“我怕我永也不能进天堂。”不要怕，一切属神的人都能进去。我很喜欢一个临终的人所说的很稀罕的话，他说：“我不怕回家，我已打发一切先我而去；神的手指已在我的门闩上，我已预备妥当好让它进来。”有人对他说：“你不怕失去你的产业吗？”他说：“不，不。天堂上有一个冠冕，甚至天使加百列也不能戴的，除了我之外别人都戴不上。天堂上有一个宝座是使徒保罗所不能坐的，那宝座是为我所预备的，我必坐那宝座。”基督徒啊！这种思想是多么令人快乐呀！你的份也是确定的，“必另有一安息为神的子民存留。”“但我能不失去它吗？”不，那已经成了你的名分。若我已经是神的子民就不致失掉它。它是我的，像我亲自在那里是一样地确定。信徒啊！来，和我一块坐在尼波的顶上，看那迦南美地。你看到那在日光之下闪闪烁烁的小死河吗？你看见天城的高耸的楼阁吗？你看到那荣美之地和快乐的居民吗？你要知道，若你能飞渡到那边，你就能看到许多宫邸之中有一幢上面写着说：“这一幢为某人存留，专为他所预备。他必被提，与神永远同住。”可怜的疑惑的人啊！你看到那美好的基业吗？那是你的。若你已经信了主耶稣，若你已经悔罪，若你已经换了一个新心，你就是属主的一个子民，那里就有一个地方为你定下，有一个冠冕为你存留，有一架琴特为你预备。别人不能得你的份，那是在天堂上所为你保留的，不久你就可以得到，因为当被选的人聚集在一起的时候，宝座上是不会有一个空位的。
January
10
“There
is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” –2 Timothy 4:8
Doubting one! thou hast often said, “I fear I shall never enter
heaven.” Fear not! all the people of God shall enter there. I love the
quaint saying of a dying man, who exclaimed, “I have no fear of going
home; I have sent all before me; God’s finger is on the latch of my door, and I
am ready for Him to enter.” “But,” said one, “are you not
afraid lest you should miss your inheritance?” “Nay,” said he,
“nay; there is one crown in heaven which the angel Gabriel could not wear,
it will fit no head but mine. There is one throne in heaven which Paul the
apostle could not fill; it was made for me, and I shall have it.” O
Christian, what a joyous thought! thy portion is secure; “there remaineth
a rest.” “But cannot I forfeit it?” No, it is entailed. If I be
a child of God I shall not lose it. It is mine as securely as if I were there.
Come with me, believer, and let us sit upon the top of Nebo, and view the
goodly land, even Canaan. Seest thou that little river of death glistening in
the sunlight, and across it dost thou see the pinnacles of the eternal city?
Dost thou mark the pleasant country, and all its joyous inhabitants? Know,
then, that if thou couldst fly across thou wouldst see written upon one of its
many mansions, “This remaineth for such a one; preserved for him only. He
shall be caught up to dwell for ever with God.” Poor doubting one, see the
fair inheritance; it is thine. If thou believest in the Lord Jesus, if thou
hast repented of sin, if thou hast been renewed in heart, thou art one of the
Lord’s people, and there is a place reserved for thee, a crown laid up for
thee, a harp specially provided for thee. No one else shall have thy portion,
it is reserved in heaven for thee, and thou shalt have it ere long, for there
shall be no vacant thrones in glory when all the chosen are gathered in.
