HEAVENLY ONES AND A HEAVENLY COUNTRY

L. McFarlane

1 Corinthians 15: 45–49; Hebrews 11: 13–16

There is one word in each of these passages we have read that I have particularly in mind to speak about and that is the word “heavenly”. Our beloved sister was a heavenly personality; she lived a long and fruitful life and her outlook was heavenly. Now that is a challenge to us this morning, dear friends, as to our outlook. We can gladly bear testimony to her conversation, how she was engaged with the things that are above where Christ is. Thank God, the work of God has been completed in her and she is now with Jesus her Saviour, which is far better.

So I thought we might see in these scriptures in their context that the first man belongs to the earth; his aspirations, his outlook, are earthly. But through the grace of God some of us have been taken up, mercifully taken up by God, so that we have a heavenly portion, the portion of the saints in light. We are pilgrims and sojourners here, soon to be with Jesus. I particularly would call attention to verse 48 of 1 Corinthians 15, “Such as he made of dust, such also those made of dust”. That is what we are in our natural condition. The word is, “For dust thou art; and unto dust shalt thou return”, Genesis 3: 19. If the Lord should tarry, that is the portion of everyone here; we return to dust. But it goes on to say, “Such as the heavenly one”, that is Jesus, “such also the heavenly ones”. Our attention is called to the blessed Person of Christ Jesus the heavenly One. Here He was in this scene, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He moved here in service to men and service to God, and in His committal He went to the cross, suffered and died. The beginning of this same chapter says, “Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures; and ... he was buried” (1 Corinthians 15: 3). We are about to bury our sister. But it goes on to say, “He was raised the third day”. I trust everyone within the sound of my voice has a link with that Man in the glory, the heavenly One. Well, “Such as the heavenly One, such also the heavenly ones”; what grace that persons like ourselves, with a sinful history, can be cleansed, can be sanctified, and can be thus designated as “heavenly ones”. Our beloved sister was here in our midst as such a person, her outlook entirely heavenly. Despite frailty in her latter days she had one object to speak about—Jesus.

May this be the portion of our hearts. Then, finally, the matter of faith comes into this second scripture. “All these died in faith” is a reference to those of the Old Testament who anticipated the coming of Jesus and the incoming of what was better. And yet they are an example for us, it says, “For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek their country”. We need clarity, clarity in testimony, dear friends. Let us show clearly where we belong. These persons, though they were not as favoured as we are, showed clearly that they sought their country. Later on it says, “a better, that is, a heavenly”.

May our hearts be encouraged. The dear bereaved family we would think of at this time and trust that in this hour of grief they may find the One who was so precious to our dear sister as a comfort for their own hearts. May He bless His word.