Grace in Fulfilled Promises

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.  

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