The Journey of God's Ransomed People to Heaven

The Journey of God's Ransomed People to Heaven

"No lion  will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing, everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away!" (Isaiah 35:9-10).

It is a glorious privilege to have a saving interest in the Divine favor; or whatever be the toils of the Christian pilgrim, or the conflicts of his future salvation. The hope of victory animates the general in the midst of the contest; and the prospect of home comforts the pilgrim amidst the dangers of the journey.

1. The Character of the People Who Journey to Heaven. "The ransomed of the Lord." They were once captives. All sinners are the captives of satan, that formidable tyrant; he possesses their hearts, and keeps them in a state of dreadful, but voluntary bondage. "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:25-26).

They are slaves to their own corruptions and lusts, which bind them fast, and they are "sold under sin". They dream of liberty, but are the worst of slaves! "making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:23-24).

(a) They could not ransom themselves. The price was too great for such involvements to pay (Rev. 3:17).

(b) It was the work of an Almighty Saviour to ransom the captives. He alone could pay the price, even "the precious blood of Christ". Hence it is said, "He gave Himself a ransom for many". He is is called the Redeemer, and His people the redeemed." (Eph 1:7; Col. 1:14).

Remember, you ransomed ones, that your freedom was purchased by the amazing condescension, privations, sufferings, and death of the Lord Jesus. It was effected by Him who "opens the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sat in darkness out of the prison-house" (Isa. 42; Luke 4:18).

(c). They are ransomed to be the Lord's people. Now they are His property, His children, His servants, His jewels, His treasure. They are no longer slaves, but the Lord's freemen. They now love and serve Him, and promote His glory."Our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good!" (Titus 2:13-14).

2. The Nature of Their Journey. They are enlightened to know and feel their state of captivity. They therefore long for deliverance. They return to Go by repentance and faith in Christ, the great Ransomer.

More particularly:

3. The ransomed of the Lord are journeying towards Heaven - to the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. "We have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay" (1 Peter 1:4). It is the land of immortality where sickness shall never spread, languor or decay; over those heavenly mansions death will never hover.

4. They travel on, depending upon God. "The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). They feel themselves weak, but they depend upon the promises. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9).  They travel joyfully. "They will enter Zion with singing, songs of grateful praise to their great Deliverer. Songs of confidence in His power, love songs of joyful anticipation, and songs of ultimate triumph.

3. Its Blissful Termination. They will enter Zion where gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. They shall certainly arrive in Heaven and will finish their course with joy. What a blissful termination!

(a) Christian travelers shall receive a crown. It will be an incorruptible crown, not a fading laurel. No length of time will terminate the dominion of the saints, or tarnish their crowns. They shall reign forever and ever. It is called a crown of righteousness. It is called a crown of life, meaning they shall never die! It is a crown of gold. Revelation 4:4 says to "denote the priceless and lasting honor to which they will be advanced, and the superlative wealth of the kingdom which they will possess.

(b) Christian pilgrims shall receive GREAT FELICITY. "They shall obtain joy and gladness, arising from their arrival in glory, their conquest over all their enemies, the extension of their capacities, the beatific vision of God, the society of angels and perfected spirits, and their progressive acquisition of Divine knowledge. What sources of joy and gladness are here!

(c) Christian pilgrims shall be perfectly and eternally exempt from all distress. Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. No sigh or groan is ever heard there. No heart aches in heaven. No tears were ever wept there. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev. 21:4).

There will be immortal health, therefore no dread of sickness or death. There will be immortal wealth, and therefore no dread of poverty and want. There will be perfect and eternal holiness, and therefore no dread of sin. There will be everlasting security and salvation, and therefore no dread of satan or hell. Every cloud has vanished - all darkness has rolled away; and the saints are perfectly happy in heaven!

Application:

Christians, see your obligations to Christ. From Him all our present, and all your future happiness is derived! Let the hope of so much glory support you under the trials and difficulties of life. Rest and glory are before you. Continue your pilgrimage; think of its end; prepare for it. You will soon arrive in eternal glory!

~William Nicholson~

(The End)