Oh! What enlightenment, what joy, what comfort, what delight fills the heart of anyone who has learned to feed on Jesus, and Jesus alone. Yet the sweetness we taste of Christ in this life is, at its very best, imperfect. As an old writer said, "It's only a taste!" We have tasted that the Lord is gracious, but we don't yet know just how good and gracious he is. And what we do know of his sweetness only makes us hunger for more.

We have enjoyed the firstfruits of the Spirit, and they have set us hungering and thirsting for the fullness of heaven's vintage. We groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption to be complete. Here we are like Israel in the wilderness, holding just one cluster of grapes from Eshcol. There we will stand in the vineyard itself. Here we see manna falling small as coriander seed. There we will feast on the bread of heaven and the rich grain of the kingdom.

We are only beginners in our spiritual education. We've learned the first letters of the alphabet, but we cannot read full words yet, much less string sentences together. But as someone once said, "The person who has been in heaven five minutes knows more than all the theologians on earth put together."

We carry so many ungratified desires right now. But soon, soon every wish will be satisfied. All our powers will find their sweetest employment in that eternal world of joy. O Christian, antedate heaven for a few years! In just a little while, you will be free from every trial, every trouble. Those eyes now suffused with tears will weep no more. You will gaze with ineffable rapture at the splendor of the One who sits on the throne.

But there's more—upon his throne you will sit! You will share in the triumph of his glory. His crown, his joy, his paradise—these will be yours. You will be co-heir with the One who inherits everything.