Where the howlings of the dog of Hell are never heard!

Charles Spurgeon, "The Hope Laid up in Heaven"

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Colossians 1:5, "The hope stored up for you in Heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel"

What a marvelous hope is this! We shall actually enter into Heaven, and see King Jesus in His beauty! It seems almost presumptuous for such rebellious sinners as we once were, who have so fully deserved Hell--ever to have such a hope of Heaven. Yet the unspeakable joys of Heaven await all believers in Jesus. God has prepared indescribable joys for those who love Him!

Brethren, what is this hope which is stored up for us in Heaven?

It is the hope of perfection. When we think of the matchless character of our Lord Jesus, then we are overjoyed by the assurance that, "we shall be like Him!" To what higher honor could God Himself exalt us? I know nothing which could surpass this.

Oh, matchless joy--to be as holy, harmless, and undefiled as our own beloved Savior! How delightful to have no propensity to sin remaining in us! How blissful to know that our holy desires and aspirations have no weaknesses or defects in them. Our nature will be perfect and fully developed, in all its sinless excellence. We shall love God, as we do now--but oh, how much more intensely!

In glory, we will have no sinful affections, no erring judgments, no straying passions, no hideous lusts. There will be nothing which can defile, or weaken, or distract us. We shall be perfect; altogether perfect.

In Heaven, we shall also enjoy security from every danger. As there will be no evil in us, so there will be none around us to cause us alarm.

No TEMPORAL evil, such as pain, bereavement, sorrow, labor, or reproach--shall come near us. All will be security, peace, rest, and enjoyment.

No MENTAL evil shall intrude upon us in Heaven. No doubts, no staggering difficulties, no fears, no bewilderments will cause us distress. Oh, to be free from mental trouble! This is a marvelous hope!

No SPIRITUAL enemy will ever assail us. No glittering world, no enticing flesh, no deceitful devil--will mar our rest above. There will be no sins to be dreaded, and no temptations to be escaped.

Heaven is so peaceful that . . .
  the storms of earth are unknown there,
  the lustings of the flesh are never felt, and
  the howlings of the dog of Hell are never heard.
There, all is peace and purity, perfection and security, forever.

Heaven is a paradise of holy pleasures, and a palace of glory!
It is a garden of supreme delights, and a home of abiding love!
It is an everlasting rest which never can be broken!
It is a kingdom where all are kings, and an inheritance where all are heirs.
My soul pants for this wondrous hope!

Nor is this all, brethren, for we expect to enjoy in Heaven, a holy happiness beyond comparison. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined--what God has prepared for those who love Him! Oh to be eternally at the right hand of God, where there are pleasures for evermore!

We also will have the hope of everlasting fellowship with Jesus. If it is so sweet to ponder our adorable Redeemer while on earth--then what must it be to see Him and be with Him? What must it be to lie in His bosom forever? I would give ten thousand worlds, if I had them--to have one glimpse of that dear face, which was marred with sorrow for my sake. But to sit at my Lord's feet and look up into His countenance, and hear His voice, and never, never grieve Him, but to participate in all His glories forever and forever--what a Heaven will this be!

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