How real do the things of time and sense appear to us! Our whole life seems to be wrapped up in those things which we can see and hear or in the things we can handle and taste and smell. This is our world and beyond that we cannot go. Yet there is a world beyond that of our natural senses, only we have no capacity to see it until we are born again. How sad it is to think that, if we are left to ourselves, we will never progress beyond the knowledge of this world and of the things it contains. We will remain wholly immersed in things seen and temporal. How limited and narrow is our vision while as fallen sinners our horizon is bounded by the things of this life.
But, we may ask, is there another world upon which our minds can enter? Yes, there is the spiritual world or realm — a world infinitely more glorious and wonderful than this transient world. It is not just the world of thought or of imagination but rather of the knowledge of God and of Christ and of salvation. This is the world of things which are unseen and eternal — a world beheld not by the natural eye but only by the eye of faith.
How then are we to enter this world? We cannot enter it apart from the exercise of faith — and faith is the gift of God. Faith is to the soul as the senses are to the body. By it we hear and see and touch and taste and savour the things of the world to come. When life is given to the soul in the day of regeneration, the first evidence of that regenerating work is the acting of faith by the soul. Faith goes out and rests upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation. In beholding the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world, there is given to the soul a revelation of things unseen and eternal. Even in the preparatory work of the Holy Spirit in the soul there is an increasing conviction of the reality of eternal things. But it is in looking by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ that light breaks in upon the soul. The soul then finds itself in a new world, the region of things unseen and eternal — a world more glorious than the sinner ever dreamed of or imagined.
But, you may ask, how may I know if God by His Spirit has revealed these things to me? To answer that we must ask you this question. Which of the two worlds is more real to you — the seen or the unseen, the temporal or the spiritual? Perhaps you will answer: Sometimes the one and sometimes the other. Very well, that may be so but we must test the evidences of our hope when our graces are strongest, not when they are weakest. When your graces are most lively, which is more real to you — the seen or the unseen world? You will answer — Oh, of course, the unseen. Is this not an evidence then that God by His Spirit has revealed these things to you and has made them more real to you than life itself?
What counsel can we give then to those who have in truth tasted that the Lord is gracious? What better counsel can we give than to tell you to ask the Lord to open your eyes more and more to the glorious and eternal realities of His own word — “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Ps.119;18.
The more He will reveal of His glory to you, the more you will be changed into His likeness, and the more insipid will all things seen and temporal become to you. Yes, you have to travel through this howling wilderness as a pilgrim, but may it indeed be as a pilgrim with your thoughts in heaven while you tread this earth. Heavenlimindedness is a good companion to carry you onward to the heavenly country. Yes, there are trials and dangers and privations to be met with on the way, but be encouraged by the assurance of your Master who has gone before and who has said “In my Father’s house are many mansions . . . I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2.
But what can we say to those who are still tied to earthly things? Can we not invite them as Moses did Hobab: “We are journeying to the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you; come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel.” Numbers 10:29.
When the soul admires spiritual things it is then in a holy frame and so long it will not stoop to any base comfort.
Sibbes