Focus: Afterwards...

Text: Ps.73:24

"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."

Eternal bliss is the destiny of the saints. Eternal glory awaits those who believe the name of Jesus Christ. Our hope is not only in this world but in the world to come. That means that our future is sealed and secure. God sealed our future with an oath and ratified it with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Interesting is the fact that God's character is flawless and stainless. There's no iota of falsehood in God's dealings with us. God says nothing that He cannot do. In word and in deeds, there's no lie in God.

The psalmist presents two aspects of our life - life in time and life in eternity.

*Life in time

The psalmist says, "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel." Life in time is best lived by divine guidance. All aspects of this life require divine guidance.

This world is like a vast wilderness or forest. We can't travel and traverse its paths without a guide and a guardian. God has given us His Spirit to be our tour guide, and He perfectly guides and absolutely guards us. He knows the terrain and all the divergent and convergent paths. He makes our journey interesting and exciting. He makes us experience sweet adventure with Him, and brings us to our desired haven or dreamland.

Remember that He guides us with His mouth. He has the right counsel for every situation and every step of the journey. He has and knows the right word to say at every point in time.

The counsel of the Spirit includes plans, prudence, and purpose. His eyes are always on the goal - the end point or destination. When we miss our way, He knows what to do. When we get to dead ends He gets us back on track.

God told Abraham to get himself out of his native territory to a foreign land, but the Scripture tells us that Abraham wandered in the way. In fact, he said, "When God caused me to wander from my father's house…" (Gen.20:13). He was moving here and there, meandering his way, having no map or GPS, and indeed, not knowing which way to go. He got to numerous crossroads and met diverse dead ends, but God was there propping him up and nudging him into the right direction, and even making the whole adventure very exciting and enjoyable. He had lessons to learn and blessings to enjoy. What is most thrilling was that he got to his final destination. 

The Scripture says, "They went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came… Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan…" (Gen.12:5; 13:12). He finally arrived at the appointed place and lived there. He did not die on the way. Everything that seemed to have gone wrong eventually turned out right. For the children of Israel, we read that God gave them His good Spirit to instruct them. Nehemiah said to God, "Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst" (Neh.9:20). The Spirit was their instructor, guiding the way and providing for all their needs, and sustaining them in their journey.

*Life in eternity

The psalmist says, "And afterward receive me to glory." The future of the saints is a glorious one. Eternity with God is absolute bliss and pure joy. Our blessed hope will one day become a reality. Whether dead or alive, our eternal glory will not be lost. No child of God will miss heaven. 

No man or woman born of the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, and filled with the Spirit will miss the glorious eternity that God had promised him.

O yes! We are on the same page with the psalmist, "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." What a warm reception that would be! Our Heavenly Father is waiting to receive us and give us a place in His eternal presence.

With His counsel and guidance our present life has meaning and it is making sense, and with the blessed assurance of the Holy Scripture and the witness of the Spirit in our hearts, we have the blessing of an everlasting life and glory absolutely waiting for us. Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter