Edgar Stites wrote a truly uplifting
hymn of promise “Beulah Land”. His first
stanza reads, “I’ve reached the land of corn and wine, and all its riches
freely mine; here shines undimmed one blissful day, for all my night has passed
away.” Here Beulah Land refers to heaven,
but the concept of the richness of the Promised Land cannot be forgotten. God had told Moses that He would deliver the
Children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and take them to a land “flowing
with milk and honey”. Nearly 400 years
before God gave this promise to Moses, Isaac was reaping the fields of plenty
in the face of his enemies the Canaanites.
This land of Canaan was to be the
land of plenty where God would bring His people when the sins of the Canaanites
had become “full”. Until that time the
descendants of Abraham were to dwell as sojourners in the land of promise. While sojourning there we are told in Genesis
26 that Isaac reaped 100 fold of what he had sown in one year. Sadly, charlatans within the Christian
community have taught that every believer today is to reap similar prosperity
if they just follow prescribed practices or are “living right” with God. The truth is close but in an entirely
different direction. God told Paul that His grace was sufficient for all Paul
needed.
There is truly a harvest in this
life with Christ, but it is not promised as a physical harvest of
prosperity. It is promised as the real
blessings of His grace day by day. We spent
26 days alphabetizing just a small sample of these blessings. Jesus said that in this world we would have
tribulation, but to be of good cheer as He has overcome the world. Good cheer is a reaped blessing of
grace. The author of Hebrews says to be
content with such things as we have for He has said, “I will never leave you or
forsake you.” Contentment and the
assurance of God’s presence and care are great crops to reap of the grace of
God.
And still there is heaven to
come. Paul said that if in this life
only we have hope in Christ we are to be pitied. But there is more to come. Edgar Stites proclaims, “O Beulah Land, sweet
Beulah Land, as on thy highest mount I stand, I look away across the sea where
mansions are prepared for me, and view the shining glory shore, my heaven, my
home forever more.” We have the fullness
of the abundance of God’s grace in this world, and that is wonderful. But, we also have heaven to come. That is abundant grace upon abundant grace.
You
may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,
available
here:
No comments:
Post a Comment