Love of him is no less necessary to us than faith in him; and although we have powerful motives to love, from what he did and what he was in this world, yet the formal reason for our adherence to him by this, is what he is in himself, as he is now exalted in heaven. If we don’t rejoice at the remembrance of his present glory, if thoughts of it are not frequent with us and refreshing to us, how does his love dwell in us?
Our hope is that before long, we will be with him forever; and if so, it is certainly our wisdom and duty to be with him here as much as we can. It is a vain thing for any to suppose that they place their chief happiness in being forever in the presence of Christ, who don’t care at all to be with him here, as they may. And the only way of our being present with him here, is by faith and love acting themselves in spiritual thoughts and affections. It is an absurd thing for men to esteem themselves Christians, who scarcely think of Christ all day long.
John Owen. THE GRACE AND DUTY OF BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED.
