"If I ever reach heaven, I expect to find three wonders there: First, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had thought to meet there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there!"
John Newton , (July 24, 1725 – Dec 21, 1807)
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6 comments:
Hey ESI
Checking back at ya! Thanks for the comment on http://www.redletterbelievers.blogspot.com
We should talk!
David Rupert
David
Thanks! Yes, we should talk...feel free to email me
Oh, very good!
I'm glad that he chose to say three "wonders." I heard someone's paraphrase of this some years ago, and they made it sound like the speaker would actually be surprised by those three things.
Sure, it's possible that I might be surprised about the first two. But it would be a foundational lack of faith or dim soteriology that makes heaven unexpected for a Christian. In fact, if someone does not trust God and rest his faith on the shed blood of the Lamb, wouldn't the shock of their surroundings be at the other place?
I'm sure that John Newton would not be surprised to end up in heaven, as if it were unexpected, but he would still marvel at or wonder how amazing the unmerited favor of the Lord is.
craver
When I pulled the quote out, I did wonder if Newton would truly be surprised at finding himself in heaven. But perhaps as you correctly pointed out, his response would probably be "wonder" rather than "surprise".
Good Quote.
Thanks.
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