16:11). The life and the joy are linked together inseparably, forming
1:4). Nay, he is called the eternal life itself,—"This is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). How truly, then, must our life be everlasting! He cannot die, neither can we, for he is our life.
3. There is the joy connected with this life.—It is everlasting (Ps. 16:11). The life and the joy are linked together inseparably, forming one double star of wondrous beauty. Life and joy!—who or what can sunder them? Nothing in this world: nothing in the world to come.
4. There is the crown of life.—It is everlasting. It is sometimes called the "crown of life" (Jas. 1:12), sometimes the "crown of righteousness" (2 Tim. 4:8), sometimes the "incorruptible crown" (1 Cor. 9:25), sometimes the "crown of glory" (1 Pet. 5:4). But, whatever name it gets, there is no intimation given that it shall grow dim, or fall from our head. It "fadeth not away." The weight of its exceeding glory is "eternal" (2 Cor. 4:17). Instead of lessening, it will increase both in weight and in brightness. It will "wear well," as men speak, even though worn for ever.
5. There is the tree of life.—It fades not throughout the ages of ages, but is eternally green, bearing its fruit every month. Under it shall we sit down with great delight, and find even its shadow blessed; and, whilst enjoying the evergreen foliage, we shall find its "fruit sweet to our taste." Within the region where it springs, what trace of death or sickliness can be found? It fills the whole region with life and health, so that there the inhabitant shall not say, "I am sick." Disease, whether of soul or body, shall then be impossible. Our youth, renewed like the eagle's, shall remain undecaying.
6. There is the water of life.—Sometimes it is called a "fountain," and sometimes a "river;" but in both aspects, it is everlasting. It is "the fountain of the water of life;" it is "a pure river, clear as crystal;" it "proceedeth out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." It is no longer merely the water from the smitten rock, following us in our desert march: it is the river whose streams make glad the city of our God, bursting forth from the celestial throne.