As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Good news from a far country
We live in a little world. It is simply that we are a part of it that it seems to us so great. By the multiplying of our interests in these days of change and travel, there is many a far country from which good news comes to us as cold waters to a thirsty soul. Think of that far country, heaven, and the soul’s yearning for good news thence. Every righteous thought, every pure, simple, generous purpose, every lowly resolve, every warning, of conscience within condemning wrong, every conception that seems to be wooing to holiness and sincerity, is a message from that far country. Well is it when they come to thirsting souls. There are many difficulties about a revelation from God. If we should be compelled to let miracles go, how simple is righteousness, how plain is love, how clear is purity! Who shall say that there are no messages from the far country? There may be uncertainties about many things, but there cannot be uncertainties here. It must be right that I love right, that I do right. God cares for His child--cares that its life shall be right and true and holy; that its sins shall be blotted out. All revelation is not in the Bible. It is rather a record of a revelation. Such records, too, are elsewhere. I lift my eyes to the nightly heaven, and the record is there. I look upon the new-born spring, and the record is there. I look into the heart of a little child, and the record is there What is the sum of all revelations; what is the revelation? Just Christ, the dear Saviour--His compassions, His infinite redemption, the great message; He Himself the living Message-bearer from the far country. All other good news is gathered about this. We cannot separate redeeming love from any other gift of our Father’s care. Common news from a far country will often, in this world of change, cheer you and me. We live in a world of separations and farewells. Our paths, with most of us, are together only for a little while. Countries far apart separate the members of the one family of God. But nowhere can they be where God is not. And members of the one family shall cheer each other’s heart with news from a far country. The news shall tell how God is leading all by different paths, the right way for each, to the one city of habitation. (T. Gasquoine, B.A.)
Tidings from a far country
Our interest in tidings from a far country may be based on many considerations.
1. We may be interested in the novelty and the strangeness of the information which reaches us about a foreign country, and the more so if any of our friends have been engaged in the exploration--e.g., Columbus returning from America, or Captain Cook from the South Seas.
2. If we have received any great possessions from that country: as Solomon hearing about India and China, when his merchants returned with gold, etc., from that country.
3. If any great stranger or dear friend has come from it--e.g., Solomon, hearing about Sheba or Egypt; or the English about Sardinia, when the king came over.
4. If any of our friends are there now--e.g., as news from Australia, America, or any other country, where we have friends. If it be good news, how it revives and cheers us! Perhaps our friends are doing business for us successfully. (The Congregational Pulpit.)
Good news from a far country
The traveller on a hot summer’s day, parehed with thirst, can easily understand the allusion, “cold waters to a thirsty soul.” They are cooling, refreshing, and invigorating, and enable him to pursue his journey with “strength renewed.” Not unfrequently they have been the means of saving life--e.g., Hagar in the wilderness (Genesis 21:14-20); Samson after slaying the Philistines (Judges 15:18-19). But the comparison is with good news. Who does not love to hear good news? How exhilarating the news brought to old Jacob respecting his son Joseph (Genesis 45:16-21); how joyful the tidings brought by messengers relating to the restoration of the Jews (Isaiah 52:7); how jubilant the feelings of the apostle, when bound at Rome, on hearing favourable reports of the Colossian and Philippian converts! He again “thanked God and took courage.”
1. The first piece of good news is this, that the treaty of peace has been signed. “Unto you is born a Saviour.”
2. So fascinating is that country that there will be no fear of disappointment when we visit it, no wanting to return again on earth.
3. That country has very great attractions. It is--
(1) A land of plenty. Failure and starvation, known, alas! often bitterly here.
(2) A land of perfection. Failure of ideals here.
(3) A land of victory.
(4) A land of friendships. (G. P. Story.)
Good news
I. What this good news is. It is an assurance of the most stupendous and amazing love of the greatest of all Beings.
1. It consists in pardon and peace.
2. It is the means of conveying everlasting joy.
3. It is the revelation of God to the soul.
4. It is the knowledge of sin atoned for; of the law fulfilled; of Satan conquered; of death vanquished; and of heaven opened.
II. This glorious news informs us of the stupendous way whereby this blessed intelligence is conveyed. It is conveyed through Christ as the author of salvation.
III. We must first become acquainted with the person sending, and country from whence, as well as the communication sent, before we shall esteem it as good news.
1. The Spirit of God must open and shine into our minds.
2. He must subdue our worldly affections.
3. He must conquer our stubborn wills.
4. And daily read this good news to our souls. (T. B. Baker.)
Echoes from afar
1. It is a far country, possibly, as measured by distance, this heaven that we talk about. I prefer to believe that the dwelling-place of Deity is near at hand, that the sainted dead are separated from us only by the thick, dense, fleshly veil which envelops our free soul, so that we can neither feel, nor hear, nor see. Heaven lies near to the habitations of the just.
2. But heaven is a “far country,” as being far away beyond our comprehension. It is so utterly far beyond our experience, so surpasses our comprehension, so outstrips our thought and conception, that even the aid of revelation does give us dim glimpses of the distant splendours.
3. Heaven is a “far country,” because we are by nature so disqualified from inhabiting it. We speak of the fall of man, and this is the measure of it--a fall from paradise to perdition--a fall that only power Divine can span. From this” far country” good news has come. News from a far country is interesting to us, if it is from a strange land, unlike our own. If we have those who are near and dear to us dwelling in it. If we hope, or intend, to live in it by and by. Good news has come from this far country, the best and most glorious news that can fall on mortal ear. Angels have brought it. Jesus has brought it. The Holy Spirit has brought it. Holy men, moved by Him, have written and spoken it. Subtle, gracious, secret good news is brought from the far country still. (J. Jackson Wray.)