August 29

The inheritance of the saints in light. - Colossians 1:12.

NOW are believers the “sons of God;” though the period of their manifestation is not arrived, though they are minors now, and under age, they are “heirs,” and they receive their remittances, and their supplies, and they have their trainings, and their attendants, and their preparations. Witness the language of the Apostle here: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Let us notice the inheritance itself.

Observe, first, Its character. It is spoken of as one common state. As there is one common salvation, so there is one common inheritance. An earthly inheritance is impaired and diminished by division, but it is otherwise here. Here the number of pensioners really adds to the happiness of every individual partaker. And if we consider its magnitude, how shall we estimate this inheritance? by what standard shall we judge it? Compared with this, what is the inheritance of the worldling, abounding with all the honours, riches, and pleasures of the earth? Compared with this, what the inheritance of the Jews in the land of Canaan- “a land flowing with milk and honey, and the glory of all lands?” What was the inheritance of Adam previous to his fall? what was Eden? what was the tree of knowledge, compared with the tree of life, in the midst of the paradise of God? What is the inheritance of angels? He who is their Lord is our elder Brother.

“Never did angels taste above

Redeeming grace and dying love.”

John, therefore, in the vision, saw the saints nearer the throne than the angels. What are we to think of that blessedness that it is intended to display-the value of that blood which purchased it, the blood of God-that blessedness which is designed to show in the ages to come, the exceeding riches of his grace-that blessedness which exhausts all the world of nature in furnishing images to express it-that blessedness which after all the Scriptures have told us concerning it, is glory that is to be revealed.

Observe, secondly, Its possessors. “It is the inheritance of the saints.” This is a term abused and ridiculed by many but it is the language of Scripture, and “God is not mocked.” The word simply means, holy beings. Of such importance is the possession of this attribute, that we are assured that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” The design of the gospel is to make us holy. We are not such by nature. “Therefore,” says the Apostle, “we are called to be saints.” This will apply to the external call by the Word, and to the internal call by the Spirit-the one requiring, the other producing it.

All God’s people are to be considered as saints: they partake of holiness now; they love holiness, but they are not completely holy: at present they are “encompassed with infirmities,” and “groan, being burdened,” but it will be otherwise at death. Then they will drop their imperfections; then they will join the “Spirits of just men made perfect;” then they will be “presented faultless” before the throne of God; then they will be as innocent as Adam in Paradise, as holy as the Son of God himself. For though “it doth not yet appear what we shall be,” we know that “when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

Observe, thirdly, The region in which it is to be enjoyed. “The inheritance of the saints in light.” Hell is darkness, “outer darkness,” where there is “weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.” The world is darkness, therefore our deliverance from it is represented as being “called out of darkness into marvellous light.” But the Church is light; all the members of it are “children of light and of the day;” they are “not of the night nor of the darkness.” And yet while they are here, they are able only to survey the dawning and the glimmering of the day.

Now we “walk by faith, not by sight;” now “who can understand his errors?” now how often do we mistake appearances for realities? now how often does evil cheat us under the notion of good? now how often are we baffled in our inquiries, turn which way we choose, in order to move on? now what is conjecture but a thorny maze? now how unable are we to discern our own privileges, and what distress arises from our doubts and fears? now how frequently we mistake our best friends for our enemies, and charge God with foolishness and unkindness, while his wisdom and goodness are peculiarly at work to advance our happiness. But-

“There is a land of pure delight,

Where saints immortal reign,

Infinite day excludes the night,

And pleasures banish pain.”

This is the “inheritance of the saints in light.” And heaven is light-all light; there is no darkness at all- perfect light; endless light. Our sun will “no more go down by day, nor our moon withdraw her shining, for God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.”