The “I Come” Which Shall Be by L. F. STARR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 11, 1913

The “I Come” Which Shall Be

By L. F. STARR

L. F. STARR

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28.

Just as certainly as Christ came to this world as an offering for sin, just so surely will he “come again” for the final salvation of his people; for so it is made known by the prophets and promised by Jesus himself.

Four times in the book of Revelation the glorified Saviour speaks explicitly the “I come” of his sure and speedy return: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast” (3:11); “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (22:7); “Behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (verse 12); and “he which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen” (verse 20). Great is the emphasis; mighty and holy the import of such a personal promise.

Christians look to the promise, “I come,” with great joy. They have with patience and much suffering longed for the glad and speedy fulfilment of the “I come” of the Scripture. The hearts of all Christians who look forward to a literal and glorious coming of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, as the true church has looked from the first, will “see him as he is.” It is possible for Christians who love and submit to the Word, and hold heartily that the divine promise in that Word is a reality, to look up together unto heaven, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, loving his appearing, looking for the Saviour, “who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,” and who shall welcome us as we meet him in the air. It is possible for us to be thus standing with our loins girded and our lamps burning, as men who are “waiting for their lord.” “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

“Behold, I come quickly;” “Surely I come quickly;” “This same Jesus”—what a common ground for all to love him! In the “quickly” of the promise we are all to read that the disciples’ attitude, as was that of the children of Israel, is to be that of a man with his shoes on his feet, and his staff in his hand, ready. It is an old story, but never out of date, certainly not in this age of worldliness, in this time “when ye think not” he comes. Is this prospect being recollected and cherished? Are we maintaining it in the soul’s sanctuary, as a dear and joyful event, a climax in the world when great changes will take place? We may—we must—cultivate such a view of him as will naturally spring up into an instant and

enraptured welcome. “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, . . . we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25:9. The fulfilment of the “I come” will be a time, a moment, a crisis, never through eternity to be forgotten; a point of interview between disciple and Master at the solemn close of the working-day. Shall it be “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”? Who will abide the day of his coming? How shall we meet his eyes? We shall see those pierced hands and feet and the brow that was once crowned with thorns. Let us walk with him now in the light on the way to see him then face to face, and to join the redeemed in the inheritance prepared from the foundation of the world.