THERE'S A GOOD TIME COMING.
By J. C. Ryle
There has been much that is bad in the times that are past. There is much that is bad in the time present. But, thanks be to God! there is a good time coming. But for whom is there a good time coming? For everybody? No! For drunkards, and gamblers, and pleasure-seekers, and money-lovers, and gluttons, and liars, and swearers, and covetous people? No! No! No! There is no good time coming for them. For them there is nothing coming but “everlasting destruction,” except they repent. Reader, the good time coming is for the people of God. It is for believers in Christ. It is for the converted, the penitent, the holy, the Bible-reading, the praying servants of Christ. Now it is a time of battle and toil with them. They are worn and wearied with sin, the world, and the Devil. But it shall not be always so. Their good time is to come. Their good time is when Jesus Christ returns to this world. When the good time comes, the godly shall be freed from everything which now mars their comfort. From the fiery darts of Satan—from the loathsome weakness of the flesh, which now clings to them—from the unkind world which now misrepresents and misunderstands them—from the doubts and fears which now so darken their path—from the weariness which now clogs their best efforts to serve the Lord—from coldness and deadness—from shortcomings and backslidings—from all these they shall be delivered for ever. They shall no longer be vexed by temptation, persecuted by the world, warred against by the Devil.—Their conflict shall all be over. Their strife with the flesh shall forever cease. The armor of God, which they have so long worn, shall at length be laid aside. They shall be where there is no Satan, no worldliness, and no sin. When the good time comes, the godly shall not only enjoy a freedom from all evil, but they shall also enjoy the presence of all good. They shall be forever in the company of Christ, and go out no more. Faith shall then be swallowed up in sight. Hope shall become certainty. Knowledge shall at length be perfect. Prayer shall be turned into praise. Desires shall receive their full accomplishment. Hunger and thirst after conformity to Christ's image, shall at length be satisfied. The thought of parting shall not spoil the pleasure of meeting. The company of saints shall be enjoyed without hurry and distraction. The family of Abraham shall no more feel temptations; nor the family of Job, afflictions; nor the family of David, household bereavements; nor the family of Paul, thorns in the flesh; nor the family of Lazarus, poverty and sores. Every tear shall be wiped away in that day. It is the time when the Lord shall say, “I make all things new.” Oh! reader, if God's children find joy and peace in believing even now, what tongue shall tell their feelings when they behold the King in his beauty? If the report of the land that is far off has been sweet to them in the wilderness, what pen shall describe their happiness when they see it with their own eyes? If it has cheered them now and then to meet two or three like-minded in this evil world, how their hearts will burn within them when they see a multitude that no man can number, the least defect of each purged away, and not one false brother in the list! If the narrow way has been a way of pleasantness to the scattered few who have traveled it with their poor, frail bodies, how precious shall their rest seem in the day of gathering together, when they have a glorious body like their Lord's! Is there a man or woman among the readers of this page who ever laughs at true religion? Is there one who persecutes and ridicules vital godliness in others, and dares to talk of people being over-particular, and righteous over-much? Oh! beware what you are doing; again I say, Beware! You may live to think very differently.—You may live to alter your opinion, but perhaps too late. Ah! reader, there is a day before us all when there will be no infidels. Before the throne of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord. Remember that day, and beware. Is there any one among the readers of this page who is mocked and despised for the gospel's sake, and feels as if he stood alone? Take comfort. Be patient. Wait a little longer.—Your good time shall yet come. When the spies returned from searching Canaan, men talked of stoning Caleb and Joshua because they brought a good report of the land. A few days passed away, and all the assembly confessed that they alone had been right. Strive to be like them. Follow the Lord fully, as they did, and sooner or later, all men shall confess that you did well. Never, never be afraid of going too far. Never, never be afraid of being too holy. Millions will lament in the day of Christ's return, because they have not got religion enough;—not one will be heard to say that he has got too much. Take comfort. For you there's a good time coming.—J. C. Ryle.