Colossians 1:12

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Colossians 1:12 .)

Wherever there is real joyfulness there will be consequent thankfulness. There may even be thankfulness for suffering itself, not because of what it is in itself, but because of what it works out in the experience of those who receive it as part of their divine education. The Apostle, however, as is not unusual with him, draws his encouragement from the fact that we see but little at present, and that the real inheritance lies beyond the cloud of time and the night of bitter experience. From the earth Paul sees the opening heavens. He sees the light, and he sees saints standing in the ineffable glory. To the Apostle heaven was not a possible state, an ideal conception, an effort in poetry; it was real, solid, visible, the sublimest fact in the development of life. What is the heaven which lures us? Is it but a bright cloud? Is it but a gleaming rainbow arching the storms of time and earth, and quieting the soul with dreams and visions of beauty? Paul knew nothing of any such heaven. Beyond the river he saw the city; he saw it enveloped in cloudless light; the population of that city was a population of rejoicing saints, triumphing in the spirit and power of Christ.