chief object in your existence, be sure that you are not
living the Heavenly life. You have put yourself in the place of God.

Again, as we look through the open door, we see the intense _beauty_ of
the Heavenly life. We see gates of pearl, and a throne on which sits
one like a jasper and a sardine stone, and the rainbow round about the
throne is in sight like unto an emerald. In all ages precious stones
have been objects of the greatest value. We are told that Julius
Caesar paid a hundred and twenty-five thousand crowns for one pearl,
and monarchs have boasted of possessing a diamond of priceless value.
You remember that God says of His redeemed ones, "they shall be Mine in
that day that I make up My jewels." Well, I think we hear so much of
precious stones in the description of Heaven, that we may learn that
its great glory and beauty consists in the holiness of those who dwell
there. _They_ are the pure and precious pearls which build up the
foundation, and they get their brightness from God, who sits enthroned
among them, and who is to look upon as a jasper and a sardine stone.
And these precious stones are of different colours, as they reflect the
light from a different point. So is it with the people of God, they
reflect the light from the face of God in various ways, and so have
various virtues. One shines with fiery zeal, like the red ruby.
Another glitters with the soft beauty of a humble spirit, like the
pearl, whilst yet another sparkles with many graces, like the
parti-coloured flashes of the diamond. Some lives which here are
obscure and neglected, like the precious gem at the bottom of the
ocean, shall one day glitter in Heaven, and be among the jewels of the
Master.

Ah! my brothers, are _our_ lives such that we can ever hope to adore
God's jewel-house above? Can these poor dull characters of ours ever
shine as the stars for ever and ever? Think, what makes a gem flash
and sparkle? Light. Well, then, let us walk as the children of light,
let us look up, and catch the radiance from the face of Jesus, and
reflect it in our lives; then will our light shine here before men, and
one day shine yet brighter as we draw nearer to the source of all
light. And think again that often the brightest and fairest forms come
from the least likely materials. Of the same mould are the black coal,
and the glittering diamond. The unsightly slag which is thrown away
from the iron furnace forms beautiful cryst