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Octavius Winslow, 1856 (edited for
today's reader by Larry E. Wilson, 2010)
Bible Verse
"...to share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Colossians. 1:12).
Devotional
The glorified saints are "the saints in light." No more veilings of the Father's countenance; no more "walking in darkness, having no light" (Isa. 50:10); no more mourning over Divine desertions, the suspensions of the experience of the Father's love; no more tears to dim the eye; no more clouds of unbelief to darken the mind; no more mental despondency to shroud the spirit. They leave the gloom, mist, fog, and darkness of ignorance, error, and pollution behind them, and they flee to the regions of light, to "the inheritance of the saints" of which "the Lamb is the light thereof" (Rev. 21:23).
But observe that these glorified saints are said to "share in the inheritance." There is something very emphatic in the word. We "share" in it now, in Christ our Head. In consequence of our union with Christ, the exalted Head of the church, we at present "share in" this inheritance. We have the first dawnings of it in our soul. We have the foretaste and appetizer, and—best of all!—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who is the "earnest" (down-payment and guarantee) of its possession (Eph. 1:14). And if we have the "earnest" of the inheritance in the possession of the Spirit, we must, and shall assuredly, have the inheritance itself.
"To share the inheritance of the saints in light." "To share" with all the saints of God. "To share" with the whole family of the elect. "To share" with all the children of adoption. "To share" with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "To share" with David, with Solomon, and with all who have gone before us. "To share" with all who have entered heaven a little in advance. And "to share" with all the "ransomed of the LORD," who shall yet "come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isa. 35:10; 51:11)!
Oh, who would not "share in the inheritance of the saints in light"? Reader, if you are a humble possessor of the inner life, then you shall be a happy partaker of this glorious inheritance—the life which is yet to come.
How bright these glorious spirits shine!
Whence all their white array?
How came they to the blissful seats
of everlasting day?
Lo! these are they from sufferings great
who came to realms of light!
And in the blood of Christ have washed
those robes which shine so bright.
Now, with triumphal palms, they stand
before the throne on high,
and serve the God they love, amidst
the glories of the sky.
His presence fills each heart with joy,
tunes ev'ry mouth to sing:
by day, by night, the sacred courts
with glad hosannas ring.
Hunger and thirst are felt no more,
nor suns with scorching ray;
God is their Sun, whose cheering beams
diffuse eternal day.
The Lamb which dwells amidst the throne
shall o'er them still preside,
feed them with nourishment divine,
and all their footsteps guide.
'Mong pastures green he'll lead his flock
where living streams appear;
and God the Lord from ev'ry eye
shall wipe off ev'ry tear.
To him who sits upon the throne,
the God whom we adore,
and to the Lamb that once was slain,
be glory evermore!
(Isaac Watts, 1707)
Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.
Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.
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