The Coming of Our Lord

THE aspect which the coming of our Lord wears to our souls, changes precisely as we are nearer or more distant in heart from Him (and so, indeed, does every part of the word of God). If close to Him in love, it is to us “that blessed hope” — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” If far, from Him, it is either wholly unseen, unthought of, or if forced on our attention makes us uneasy — sets conscience at work: and so correspondingly of every intermediate state of heart.
We must not be content with seeing the Lord’s second coming as a doctrine merely, nor with being able clearly to enter into a scriptural detail of prophetic instruction: the Lord’s return is presented to us, in the word of God, for the furtherance of affectionate, joyful anticipation. We must also be watchful, lest our hope in His glorious appearing degenerate into mere knowledge. It is the exercise of this hope in the soul that is connected with practical holiness — “every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself,” &c. (1 John 3:3.) “Knowledge puffeth up.” Those who are really believing that “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh,” must form a low estimate of earthly things; just as the possessions of Israel diminished in value in proportion as the year of jubilee was at hand. We do well to remember that the wise virgins let slip the hope of the Bridegroom’s coming, even after they had sincerely gone forth to meet Him― “they all slumbered and slept.” The Lord Jesus is our portion―our inheritance; therefore, He is our hope― “we look for the Saviour.” He gave Himself for our sins, and He Himself will come again to receive us, in the plentitude of His unchanged grace (John 14:3). He will send angels to deal with the ungodly, but He will come Himself for His blood-bought church. His saints, both living and asleep, shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thee. 4:16, 17). Many will deny this, but we know the heart of Jesus, and believe His word.
Let scoffers rail with harden’d brow,
Or cries of “peace” resistless flow,
Or reason mock His word,
By grace divine ‘twill be my choice
To watch for the Archangel’s voice―
To wait for Christ my Lord.