In our Christian pilgrimage, it is well to keep looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal! Whether for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must be the grand object of faith's eye.

Looking into that future, we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect and fit to receive the inheritance of the saints in light. Look further still! The believer's enlightened eye can see death's river crossed, that gloomy stream already forded, the hills of light attained where stands the celestial city. You see yourself entering those pearly gates—hailed as more than conqueror! Crowned by the hand of Christ! Embraced in the arms of Jesus! Glorified with him, sitting together with him on his throne, even as he has overcome and sits with the Father on his throne!

This vision of the future can surely lift the darkness of the past and pierce the gloom of the present. Heaven's joys will compensate—oh, how they will compensate!—for earth's sorrows. Hush, hush, my doubts! Death is but a narrow stream, and you shall soon ford it. Time, how short—eternity, how long! Death, how brief—immortality, how endless!

Methinks I even now eat of Eshcol's clusters, and sip of the well which is within the gate. The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there.

"When the world my heart is rending With its heaviest storm of care, My glad thoughts to heaven ascending, Find a refuge from despair. Faith's bright vision shall sustain me Till life's pilgrimage is past; Fears may vex and troubles pain me, I shall reach my home at last."