“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Manifestly, the day here referred to is the same time mentioned in the last verse of the preceding chapter; viz., the day of the second coming of Christ. To those, then, who see the signs fast fulfilling of his speedy coming, who see unmistakable evidences rapidly unfolding of the certain approach of the great day of the Lord, the injunctions contained in this text, are of the utmost importance. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” Shall we not understand the apostle to here instruct those who “look for” and “love” the appearing of Christ, to meet together for the worship of God, as often as they can? Most certainly this will be the delight of all such as have a proper sense of the perilous times in which we live; of those whom inspiration addresses as “children of the light, and children of the day.” Will they remain at home, Sabbath after Sabbath, and month after month, when they might meet often with the people of God, with those of like precious faith? I cannot think they would. I fear such have forgotten the exhortation, “Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Otherwise, it seems to me the language of their hearts would be, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Where now are some of those with whom we formerly “took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company?” Will they arouse from stupidity, and break away from worldly cares, and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty? Or will the great day of the Lord burst upon them, and find them sleeping on? “Exhorting one another.” This is just what a servant of the Lord long ago informed us would be done in this period of time by those who feared him. “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought on his name.” Mal. iii, 16. On record stands a most gracious promise to such. Nothing can compare with it. It is of priceless worth. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Verse 17. “And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” As we see that day hastening upon us, shall not our activity and zeal be increased? Shall not piety and holy devotion burn upon the altar of our hearts more brightly and steadily than ever before? A day of grand and awful realities, a day of eternal consequences, is at the door. A day of joy and gladness to the saints of God. The long-looked-for day of their final deliverance from death and the grave, and from the power of sin and Satan, comes at last. Immortality and eternal life await the righteous then. And they shall be forever with their Lord. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” Blessed promise! But that day will bring no joy to the sinner. No bright rays of hope encircle him. His day of probation is past, forever past. With him “the harvest is past, the summer is ended,” and he is not saved. The second death is before him, and he must feel its awful terrors, while he receives the “wages of sin.” Dear reader, you and I will be in one of these classes in that most solemn and eventful day, to which the word of God so often calls our attention, and bids us prepare to meet it. A brief period remains in which our future course will decide our ultimate reward. Where shall it be? with sinners or with the saints? The language of my heart is, “Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men.” “Our cautioned souls prepare
For that tremendous day,
And fill us now with watchful care,
And stir us up to pray.”