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The gate of death, and the gate of glory, are one!
(John MacDuff,
"Meditations on the Glories of Heaven")
"TODAY you shall be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:43
The same moment in which I close my eyes on a
world of sin and suffering, I open them in glory!
The gate of death, and the gate of glory, are one!
The uncaged spirit will all at once fly upwards
to nestle in the golden eaves of Heaven!
Let me look forward, then, with bounding heart,
to the hour of death, as the hour of my entrance
into endless bliss; the birthday of eternity!
Oh, if there was "joy in heaven among the angels
of God" at the hour of conversion, what will it be
at the hour of glorification!
If God the Father even on earth has joy in seeing
His returning prodigal; what will it be when He
welcomes him to his everlasting home!
"He will rejoice over him with joy; He will rest in
His love; He will rejoice over him with singing!"
(Zeph. 3:17.)
The Redeemer utters His intercessory prayer over
the death bed on earth, "Father, I will that this
one whom you have given Me be with Me where
I am, to behold My glory."
The prayer is heard; the angels are sent down; and,
swift as lightning leaps from the cloud, THAT HOUR,
and forever, he is "with Jesus in paradise!"
"TODAY you shall be with Me in paradise."
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