November 26

The more we prize something good the harder we work to have it. If a prince should lose a penny and one should bring him news that it has been found, it is such a petty thing that he would not care whether it were true or not. But if his kingdom lay at stake in battle and a report comes that his army has defeated the enemy, he would long to have this message confirmed.

Is heaven worth so little that you can be satisfied with a few probabilities and uncertain maybes that you will ever get there? You must despise the blessed peace if you are no more interested in your right to it than that. When Ahab advanced his army against Ramoth-gilead, Micaiah prophesied victory--"Go, and prosper" (1 Kings 22:15). But the king had good reason to suspect that Micaiah's words were empty of truth and rebuked him: "And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?" (1 Kings 22:16).

If you have some hope of heaven, and you believe that your eternal happiness or misery depends on it, you must search your heart by the light of God's Word. And after an impartial review of what you read there, command your conscience to tell you the naked truth--what your spiritual standing is and whether or not you may hope that salvation is yours.

When Peter heard about Christ's resurrection he did not fully believe; but he ran as fast as he could and looked into the sepulcher, proving how dearly he loved his Lord. Thus, Christian, even if the promise of eternal life has not yet produced such an assurance of hope that you can enjoy it without doubting, you can show your appreciation of it by trying to strengthen your hope and put away all doubt of it.

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