April 8 Daily Devotional

Those Who Enter Heaven

the Rev. David Freeman

"What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? . . . These are they which came out of great tribulation."
"Rev. 7:13, 14.

Devotional

(continued)

The purpose of the gospel of Christ is to change the heart. When the heart undergoes this change, the heart knows it. The transformation from the heart of "stone" to the heart of "flesh" is not brought about without pain and groanings.

The Lord in His Word, holds out final and complete happiness to those only who "strive to enter at the narrow gate." Only those that mourn "shall be comforted," and only those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.

By His example He united affliction with holiness. Affliction attested His holiness, and holiness sanctified His affliction. One of His apostles says we "must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

But alas, in spite of the revealed purpose of Christ, the Lord, we construct for ourselves a luxurious Christianity in which the sacrifice of Christ is the only sacrifice we can understand, and His holiness the only holiness we deem required of God. Oh, how perverse and sin-loving is the heart of man! How we aggravate the curse that is already upon us!

By faith alone are we saved, but know that God accepts only those who have conquered depravities, have had their affections enkindled, their patience exercised, and have fairly won the battle with a world "that lieth in wickedness." Truly this is no human suffering and conquest, but it is engaged in and experienced by humans such as we are.

These white robes of the blessed, are they the robes of indolence, or are they the mantles and decorations of conquest through suffering for His Name?

Those who "serve God day and night in his temple" have learned the elements of that service upon earth. Here in this world have their voices been tuned for the harmonics of heaven.

"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.

David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.

There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.

We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!