Thy Kingdom Come by J. W. Collie

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1903

Thy Kingdom Come

By J. W. Collie

J. W. COLLIE

It was the Saviour’s desire that we should pray for the restoration of his kingdom upon this earth.

Four thousand years had wrought a wonderful change in the condition of this earth; and the ravages of sin were to be seen upon every hand. God’s own professed people had so far forgotten him and the true worship, that religion, with them was a mere form, and earthly pomp and glory was more than all else. Their grand temple worship was about to pass away, and they were soon to wander over the face of the earth. In tender pity Jesus tried to lead them to a knowledge of his spiritual kingdom, and in his inaugural discourse he gave them a conception of his kingdom. But their hearts were hardened, and they turned away from their King, cruelly murdered him, and thus ended their day of grace.

Before his departure, however, he gathered the little band of earnest men together, whose adherence to truth was to be an incentive in the ages to come, and among other things taught them to pray. That prayer contained the wonderful words, “Thy kingdom come.” This was not only to inspire their faith in his second coming, but it was the Saviour’s design that they should understand that the kingdom of God was of transcendent importance. It was to be greater than the visible church, and if of absorbing interest to his followers, earthly governments, pomp, glory and all else would fade away into insignificance.

He knew that we should stand upon the mountains and see the kingdoms of this earth and their glory. He knew also that we should be tempted and tried with the glittering baubles of earth, and to offset this he desired that we should see the greater grandeur of his spiritual kingdom. Paul possessed this experience when he said, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

Centuries have passed away since the Master returned to his Father. His church upon earth has passed through severe vicissitudes and trials, and yet the words, “Thy kingdom come,” have given courage to each succeeding generation. Living in the closing hours of this world’s history, the great clock of time rapidly ticking off the hours, do we grasp the meaning of the coming kingdom? Are we praying, “Thy kingdom come”? Are we preparing for it every day? or are we living over the experience of the past? We fear that many are absorbed with the things of this world. Money that should be used in the cause of God is used in speculation, and where the highest rate of interest may be obtained, while the cause of God suffers because of a lack of means.

A glance at the condition of things existing in the world to-day ought to stir every Seventh-day Adventist as he was never stirred before. Prophecy is being fulfilled very fast. Mob violence fills the earth, the great strife between capital and labor is becoming more intense all the time. The nations of earth are arming themselves as never before; and while all the world wonders after the beast, and we see fallen Protestantism fawning upon the papacy, what should all these things mean to us?—Simply that the work is almost done, and now we are to get ready for the greatest event the world has ever seen.

While things are moving with such rapidity, the church of God should awake and stand in its place to finish the work speedily. Personally, we are glad that there is to be no longer any delay in the finishing up of the work; but this should be a time of deep heart searching, of putting away those things that hinder the work of grace in our own hearts. If this is done, we are promised a large measure of God’s Spirit to go forth and proclaim this last message, and soon we shall see the work completed, and our Lord and Saviour take possession of his kingdom. Let us pray in the spirit and with the understanding, “Thy kingdom come.”