I. Heaven is the "far country" to us poor children of the earth today. (1) It is a far country possibly as measured by distance. (2) It is a far country more especially from the fact that it is far away beyond our comprehension. Even the aid of revelation does but give us dim glimpses of its distant splendours, does but cast a faint aurora glow on the far horizon; and that is for the most part dashed and dimmed by the fogs of time and sense. (3) Heaven is a far country because we are by nature so disqualified from inhabiting it. The distance is measured by the unfitness of the case.
II. From this far country good news has come. (1) We delight to hear from a far country when it contains those who are near and dear to us. In the far country of which I speak, there is not one of us that has not interests of this kind: parents, partners, families, friends, all housed and homed, all settled and thrifty, all dwelling in this far, far country beyond the sea. (2) News from a far country is profoundly interesting and acceptable if it be a country in which we intend to live by-and-bye. You are all intending to emigrate to heaven. Surely, then, news of this far country, brought to you from the far country direct, should be to you as cold waters to a thirsty soul.
J. Jackson Wray, Light from the Old Lamp,p. 127.
References: Proverbs 25:25. G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 401; Spurgeon, My Sermon Notes: Genesis to Proverbs,p. 190; Homiletic Magazine,vol. viii., p. 14.Proverbs 25:27. W. H. Jackson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxii., p. 179. Proverbs 26:1-11. R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs,vol. iii., p. 185.Proverbs 26:4; Proverbs 26:5. J. N. Norton, Every Sunday,p. 461.Proverbs 26:11. W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven,2nd series, p. 328. Proverbs 26:12-28. R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs,vol. iii., p. 198.