Humility and Thankfulness because of the Hope of Heaven

We must humble ourselves and say with the psalmist, 'Lord, what is man, that you are mindful of him?' (Psa. 84). We who lost our first condition and betrayed you; yet you have advanced us to the state, 'that neither eye has seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man' (1 Cor. 2:9). Will we talk of merit? Surely grace never entered into that man's heart, that has such a conceit to entertain merit. Will a man think by a penny to merit a thousand pounds; by a little performance to merit things that are above the conception of men and angels?
With that humiliation, take that which always goes with it: thankfulness. When Peter thought of the 'inheritance immortal and undefiled,' he began, 'Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Pet. 1:3, 4). He could not think of these things without thankfulness to God. Now if we were in heaven already, we should praise God, and do nothing else. Faith making us sure to the soul, as if we had them, sets the soul on work to praise God. We should cheer our hearts in the consideration of these things in all conflicts and desolations. We little think of these things, and that is to our fault. Like little children that are born to great matters but carry not themselves answerable to their hopes. But as they grow in years, the more they grow in spirit and conception fitting the estates they hope for. So it is with Christians at the first; when they are weak and troubled with this loss or that cross; but when a Christian grows to a full stature in Christ, every cross does not cast him down. He thinks: 'Will I be dejected with this loss when I have heaven reserved for me? Will I be cast down with this cross when I have things that eye has not seen nor ear heard prepared for me?' He will not. He makes use of his faith to fetch comfort from the things that are reserved for him, that are inexpressible and inconceivable.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Glance of Heaven, Works, vol. 4, p. 171
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.