“我们原知道：我们这地上的帐篷若拆毁了，必得神所造，不是人手所造，在天上永存的房屋。”（林后5：1）。
我居住了多年的屋子已经破旧不堪了，屋主通知我他不愿意在花钱去修理了。他劝我还是预备迁居罢。
我听了这个消息，起初很不乐意。这屋子四周的环境太有趣了，如果不是因为太破旧的缘故。我简直不想迁居。但是如今一阵微风就够叫它摇动震颤，所以我不能不预备迁居了。
真奇怪，我的兴趣很快地就转移到未来的新屋上面去了。我参考地图，调查居民；遣人到那边去观察。视察的人回来告诉我那边的情形非常美好。他说他因为要在那边投资的缘故，情愿变卖他在这边一切所有的；虽然别人说他牺牲太大，他还是乐意去作。还有一个我所最爱的朋友，现在也在那边。他托人带了些最美味的水果来给我。我尝了以后再吃这边的水果，简直无味极了。
到那新居所，有一条河相隔为界，我两三次走到河边，我真渴望立刻到那边去——和那些人站在一起唱诗赞美被杀的羔羊。我有许多朋友已经已经搬到那边去了。他们去的时候，他们的脸上都带着微笑。多少时候，有人劝我在这边投资，我总回答说：“我已在预备迁居了。”——选
主耶稣在世上末了几天所说的，都说到“往父那里去。”（约16：17）。我们今天也该在今生的困难，失望之外，看见将来的“往父那里去。”虽然我们将来的家到底怎样我们现在看不清楚；但是有两点是顶清楚的：这是家——“父的家”（约14：2）。这是我们的主所在的地方。就这两点，已经够叫我们渴慕了。
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Cor. 5:1).
The owner of the tenement which I have occupied for many years has given notice that he will furnish but little or nothing more for repairs. I am advised to be ready to move.
At first this was not a very welcome notice. The surroundings here are in many respects very pleasant, and were it not for the evidence of decay, I should consider the house good enough. But even a light wind causes it to tremble and totter, and all the braces are not sufficient to make it secure. So I am getting ready to move.
It is strange how quickly one's interest is transferred to the prospective home. I have been consulting maps of the new country and reading descriptions of its inhabitants. One who visited it has returned, and from him I learn that it is beautiful beyond description; language breaks down in attempting to tell of what he heard while there. He says that, in order to make an investment there, he has suffered the loss of all things that he owned here, and even rejoices in what others would call making a sacrifice. Another, whose love to me has been proven by the greatest possible test, is now there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious fruits. After tasting them, all food here seems insipid.
Two or three times I have been down by the border of the river that forms the boundary, and have wished myself among the company of those who were singing praises to the King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved there. Before leaving they spoke of my coming later. I have seen the smile upon their faces as they passed out of sight. Often I am asked to make some new investments here, but my answer in every case is, "I am getting ready to move."
--Selected
The words often on Jesus' lips in His last days express vividly the idea, "going to the Father." We, too, who are Christ's people, have vision of something beyond the difficulties and disappointments of this life. We are journeying towards fulfillment, completion, expansion of life. We, too, are "going to the Father." Much is dim concerning our home-country, but two things are clear. It is home, "the Father's House." It is the nearer presence of the Lord. We are all wayfarers, but the believer knows it and accepts it. He is a traveller, not a settler.
--R. C. Gillie
The little birds trust God, for they go singing
From northern woods where autumn winds have blown,
With joyous faith their trackless pathway winging
To summer-lands of song, afar, unknown.
Let us go singing, then, and not go sighing:
Since we are sure our times are in His hand,
Why should we weep, and fear, and call it dying?
'Tis only flitting to a Summer-land.
我居住了多年的屋子已经破旧不堪了，屋主通知我他不愿意在花钱去修理了。他劝我还是预备迁居罢。
我听了这个消息，起初很不乐意。这屋子四周的环境太有趣了，如果不是因为太破旧的缘故。我简直不想迁居。但是如今一阵微风就够叫它摇动震颤，所以我不能不预备迁居了。
真奇怪，我的兴趣很快地就转移到未来的新屋上面去了。我参考地图，调查居民；遣人到那边去观察。视察的人回来告诉我那边的情形非常美好。他说他因为要在那边投资的缘故，情愿变卖他在这边一切所有的；虽然别人说他牺牲太大，他还是乐意去作。还有一个我所最爱的朋友，现在也在那边。他托人带了些最美味的水果来给我。我尝了以后再吃这边的水果，简直无味极了。
到那新居所，有一条河相隔为界，我两三次走到河边，我真渴望立刻到那边去——和那些人站在一起唱诗赞美被杀的羔羊。我有许多朋友已经已经搬到那边去了。他们去的时候，他们的脸上都带着微笑。多少时候，有人劝我在这边投资，我总回答说：“我已在预备迁居了。”——选
主耶稣在世上末了几天所说的，都说到“往父那里去。”（约16：17）。我们今天也该在今生的困难，失望之外，看见将来的“往父那里去。”虽然我们将来的家到底怎样我们现在看不清楚；但是有两点是顶清楚的：这是家——“父的家”（约14：2）。这是我们的主所在的地方。就这两点，已经够叫我们渴慕了。
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Cor. 5:1).
The owner of the tenement which I have occupied for many years has given notice that he will furnish but little or nothing more for repairs. I am advised to be ready to move.
At first this was not a very welcome notice. The surroundings here are in many respects very pleasant, and were it not for the evidence of decay, I should consider the house good enough. But even a light wind causes it to tremble and totter, and all the braces are not sufficient to make it secure. So I am getting ready to move.
It is strange how quickly one's interest is transferred to the prospective home. I have been consulting maps of the new country and reading descriptions of its inhabitants. One who visited it has returned, and from him I learn that it is beautiful beyond description; language breaks down in attempting to tell of what he heard while there. He says that, in order to make an investment there, he has suffered the loss of all things that he owned here, and even rejoices in what others would call making a sacrifice. Another, whose love to me has been proven by the greatest possible test, is now there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious fruits. After tasting them, all food here seems insipid.
Two or three times I have been down by the border of the river that forms the boundary, and have wished myself among the company of those who were singing praises to the King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved there. Before leaving they spoke of my coming later. I have seen the smile upon their faces as they passed out of sight. Often I am asked to make some new investments here, but my answer in every case is, "I am getting ready to move."
--Selected
The words often on Jesus' lips in His last days express vividly the idea, "going to the Father." We, too, who are Christ's people, have vision of something beyond the difficulties and disappointments of this life. We are journeying towards fulfillment, completion, expansion of life. We, too, are "going to the Father." Much is dim concerning our home-country, but two things are clear. It is home, "the Father's House." It is the nearer presence of the Lord. We are all wayfarers, but the believer knows it and accepts it. He is a traveller, not a settler.
--R. C. Gillie
The little birds trust God, for they go singing
From northern woods where autumn winds have blown,
With joyous faith their trackless pathway winging
To summer-lands of song, afar, unknown.
Let us go singing, then, and not go sighing:
Since we are sure our times are in His hand,
Why should we weep, and fear, and call it dying?
'Tis only flitting to a Summer-land.