Your ShelfYour Projects

A LITTLE WHILE

4%

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 5, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 9.

Read the full edition

A LITTLE WHILE.

By John Matteson

BY ELD. JOHN MATTESON.
“A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.” John xvi, 16.
There is no subject of more thrilling interest and vital importance than the soon coming of our blessed Redeemer. In him center our best affections, and the brightest rays of hope cluster around the dawn of that day, which shall bring to our waiting hearts the bright and morning star. Then faith will be changed to joyful sight, and we shall behold Him whom we have adored, of whom we have talked, for whom we have waited. The thought that he is near is a joyful one. And the assurance that we shall behold the King in his beauty, and see the glory which he had with the Father before the world was, makes us tired of this dark world, and long for the appearing of Jesus.
In the text we have a sweet assurance of the fact that Jesus is not slack concerning his promises, but he will come again, and we shall certainly see him. And our minds are led out to consider that the fulfillment of these promises is now very near.
On this subject we shall endeavor to present: 1. The time of waiting. 2. The joyful meeting. 3. The reason why we must wait.
1. The time of waiting. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, a glory as of the only begotten of the Father.” And while Jesus dwelt among us, he faithfully fulfilled his mission, and instructed his followers in the heavenly things. “I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” As long as he was with them he was their counsellor and joy. “Can the children of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days shall come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” Christ instructed and prepared his disciples for this time of fasting or waiting. While he was with them, their eyes beheld him, they handled him with their hands, and their ears heard his gracious words. But only a little while could he stay with them. “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me, and . . . . whither I go ye cannot come.” His home was not here. He must return to his Father’s house. There is his home, in the mansions of light and glory.
Must thou go away so soon, dear Saviour? Thy stay with us is so short. Can we now be favored with thy presence no longer? We have groaned and suffered, sweat and toiled. Generation after generation is swallowed up by that cruel monster, death. He is ready also to seize us. We had trusted that thou shouldst now deliver us. Thou hast come as our best friend to bless us, and thou hast the power of eternal life. Thy presence with us has been a light in darkness. Thou hast taken down our harps from the willows when we sat as mourning captives by the rivers of Babylon. Thy sweet melody has moved our hearts. Thou art he whom our soul loveth. And we verily believed that thou wouldest at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel. But now thou wilt leave us. We tremble and fear. Must our joys be turned into mourning, and our hopes so soon be blasted? Oh, no! we cannot endure the thought. Dear Saviour, stay. We beseech thee abide with us.
“Let not your hearts be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. . . . I go to prepare a place for you.” “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.” “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
This is truly comforting. Our friend and master will not leave us forever. He will come again. We rejoice in the thought. Yet it may be a long while. Perhaps the promises of his coming may be delayed. We would like to know how long. How long, dear Lord, wilt thou tarry?
“A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.” “Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, . . . A little while? We cannot tell what he saith.” “Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now, therefore, have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Now the disciples began to understand the Saviour. And although in the hour of bereavement they were discouraged, yet, after his resurrection, Jesus continues to instruct them, with much patience, concerning the kingdom of God. And afterward the Comforter brought it all with renewed power to their minds. Then they understood clearly that “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Blessed thought! the waiting time is but for a moment. And concerning the time when they shall receive this glory, they were steadfastly and continually looking forward to the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he who is our life shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
That this waiting time is but a little while, is true as regards all the children of God since the time of our Saviour. Compared with the glorious eternity, it is very short. And all its tribulation is not to be compared with the exceeding joy of the world to come. Yet the waiting time often appears long to us, and the more so, the more earnestly we long to behold the coming King. “Thy kingdom come,” ascends from a thousand waiting hearts. The knee is bent, the face bedewed with tears. Sins are confessed, and a deep and daily experience sought. With contrite hearts God’s people plead for a preparation, and an inheritance with Jesus in his kingdom.
The waiting time is a time of groaning. The whole creation groaneth. The curse is resting more and more heavily upon man and beast. Iniquity abounds. Genuine love is more scarce. Wars and perplexities increase. Famine and pestilence stalk through the land. Oppression and tyranny rule. Fashions and passions, perverted appetites and corrupt habits, are worshiped and obeyed, like mighty idols. The fearful flood of sin threatens to swallow up all that remains of piety and godliness. There is no fear of God, no respect for his truth. Thousands of poor laborers, toiling beyond their strength, groan, being defrauded in their wages. Widows and fatherless, the sick and dying, the whole suffering humanity, groan. And we also groan in ourselves, and cry out, How long, O Lord, holy and true? It is true, the groans can last but a little while. Yet it is heart-sickening to hear and see all this misery, and to share in the imperfections of this lower world. But here we are, still groaning, waiting for the redemption of our bodies, and crying, How long, O Lord, how long?
The last days are a special time of waiting to the remnant of God’s people. When the first message was sounded, their expectations were raised high. This world with its joys looked dark, and a light from Heaven seemed to rest on God’s waiting people. Theylooked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And as light shone from this city, it appeared to be so near. Saints were aroused, and sinners converted unto God. The mighty proclamation, “Fear God, and give glory to him,” worked like a hammer that breaketh asunder the rocks. All eyes were directed toward the coming King. Evidences accumulated. The very work itself proved that the hand of God was in it. Yet they were disappointed for a little while. They must become a byword and a rock of offense to the wicked and scoffing multitude. The second and third angels’ messages must also be sounded. The remnant must learn to develop the patience of the saints. “Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” The two-horned beast must perform his work of lying wonders and persecution. And the saints, on the other hand, must learn deep humility, and come into the unity of the faith. They must all be one, as the Father and the Son are one.
The commandments of God have long been neglected. The Sabbath has been trampled under foot. But God will vindicate his own truth. His people will glorify him also in remembering the holy Sabbath of the Lord. And they must learn to do this not only outwardly, but from the heart. They must learn to spend the six days in such a way that their worship, and meditations, and prayers, on the Sabbath, can be approved by our heavenly Father, and cause angels to rejoice.
The faith of Jesus must also be brought out, clear and connected, and lived out daily and conscientiously. We must have the refreshing from the presence of the Lord. And ancient holiness, piety, love, and faith, must be revived. Thus, and thus only, can we be ready to meet our coming Lord. Only through a living experience and deep trials, can we be brought to cry night and day unto God for deliverance. Then the long night of sin will reach its deepest darkness, and the day of glory be right upon us. “Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold the judge standeth before the door.” “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
Brethren, we are in the time of waiting. Let us not grudge, but wait together, weep and pray together, labor and suffer together, until Jesus comes.
2. The joyful meeting. “Again a little while, and ye shall see me.” Jesus is coming. He is now standing before the door. Soon a cloud of glory will bring the coming King. Thousands of angels are coming with him. I shall meet him. I shall see him for myself. In my flesh shall I see God. Hush ye tattlers, and idlers, and scoffers. Cease, ye cares, and toils, and pains. Be still, O my soul, and wait for the Lord. Go ye rich men to your pleasures, ye gay to your festivals, and theatres, and mirth. Cry peace and safety, ye slumbering professors, and dream of coming glory, in your rich pews. Boast of your splendid buildings and popular theories, human fame and great numbers. I am going to a happier meeting. Your daubed walls shall not stand. But the truth of God shall stand. It is firm and eternal. Hearken and obey before it is too late, and go with us to this happy meeting.
We shall meet Jesus there. I want to see my Saviour above all others. I have never seen him. How does he look? He must be very glorious to behold. I tremble with anxious expectation at the thought. I cannot express my feelings. Will he give me a holy kiss and embrace me in his arms of love? I would stand away off behind all the rest. I am so unworthy. But oh! I want to be there. I want to look at that head which wore the crown of thorns for me, and hung down to death. I wish to behold the hands that were nailed to the cross, and take them in my hands. I stand amazed. Admiration, wonder, and love, fill my soul. I lift up mine eyes. They meet his. He knows me. He is acquainted with all my sins and wanderings. He also knows my struggles and prayers. He has fixed his eyes upon me. A flame of love is kindled within. He speaks. What a voice! Sweet and melodious, it sends a thrill of joy through every nerve. He calls my name. Thousands have been called before me. I see them standing at his right hand, with glittering crowns and white robes, and each one has a harp of gold. Is this a dream? No, no. It is a glorious reality. I go forward. With his own soft hand Jesus places the crown on my brow. Glory, glory, glory, hallelujah! He also bestows upon me the white robe and the golden harp. I look at Jesus, and then at my robe and harp. I want to shout and leap for joy, and sing and play, immediately. But hush, I must wait and sing with the rest. There is order in Heaven. I also receive a happy assurance of an eternal inheritance in the new earth. And then I take my place among the glorified. Now I know I am forever with the Lord. We were caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and have gone home to the city to be with Christ till the earth shall be renewed. Then we join in the rich and melodious songs of Heaven. “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”
We shall meet with the angels there. They did minister to our wants while we were pilgrims. How happy we are to behold them face to face. To rejoice with them, and they with us. We feel thankful for their services, and they are happy in having done the will of God. Then we sing of redemption and pardon, and of the blood in which we washed our robes, and how we gained the victory over the world. And they listen with admiration. Then again we sing together, and make the arches of Heaven ring. All have joy and glory enough. All adore and worship the Father, and his Son, the illustrious Prince of Peace.
We shall be gathered home with the saints of all ages. The graves are opened. The dead arise. The living are changed in a moment. They go together to meet the Lord. Here are the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and their followers. The mother embraces her long-lost child. The faithful husband greets the wife who left him to mourn with his motherless children. Our beloved brother, who died so suddenly, and was called away from his sorrowing family, returns from the land of the enemy. It is but as yesterday, he cries, when I left you. And they, forgetting their tears, and groans, and restless nights, cry out, Glory to God. His name be praised forever. The humble servant who left wife, and children, and home, and toiled in a cold and frowning world to speak of Jesus, will also be there. And all who are faithful and love Jesus will be a happy, unbroken family in the kingdom.
Hark! There is a call, Come to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Here we sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God. The Lord shall make his servants “sit down to meat, and shall come forth to serve them.” “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.” Then we drink the new wine with Jesus in his Father’s kingdom. And like mighty thunderings we shout, “Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
3. The reason why we must wait. “Because I go to the Father.” Why did Christ go to the Father? “I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you.” There was yet a great work to be done. Christ was to be an intercessor, or high priest before the throne of God, and minister in the heavenly sanctuary. And on the earth he would carry on the work by the Comforter or Holy Spirit, who should work with the word, and dwell in the hearts of his followers. The work must be carried on until the last saint is gathered in, the last stone placed in the spiritual temple. Still the work is going on. And as the end is nearing, and the perils of the last days are upon us, we need a deeper experience in the things of God.
Solemn scenes are before us. Awful vengeance is speedily coming upon the enemies of Christ. The little while, before Jesus’ coming, is nearly expired. Time is precious. Eternal interests are at stake. Our thoughts, and words, and actions, each day help to develop our character, and fit us up for the kingdom, or make us more ripe for destruction. May God help us to be in good earnest; to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, that we may at last meet with Jesus, and wear a crown of glory in his peaceful domains.