Christ's Coming a Motive to Holiness and Usefulness.
THE second coming of the Redeemer is urged, in various forms of words, as one of the most powerful motives to virtue, godliness, and benevolence. But this motive, to a great extent, is lost sight of by many preachers, and in its stead death is set forth as the principal motive to repentance, conversion, and faith in Jesus. The coming of the Lord is used as a motive to watchfulness. "Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching." Luke 12: 37. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. . . . Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thess. 5: 4-6. The coming of the Lord is used as a motive to patience and stability. "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." Jas. 5: 7, 8. The appearing of Christ is made use of as a motive to mortification, or self-denial. "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth." Col. 3: 4, 5. The appearing of the Saviour is used as an incentive to sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2: 11-13. The appearing of Jesus is used as a motive to purity. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1 John 3: 2, 3. The coming of Christ is used as a motive to love of the brethren. "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward you; to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." 1 Thess. 3: 12, 13. The grace that is to be brought to believers at the revelation of Christ, is referred to as a motive for girding up the loins of their minds, or to have their minds in a suitable frame and condition; for sobriety, or calmness, or composedness, and continued hope. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Pet. 1: 13. The appearing of Jesus is used by Peter as a motive for sustaining the church, or the body of believers; for nourishing them with sound and Christian doctrine, and putting them on their guard against false teaching; for doing whatever is necessary to their growth in knowledge and holiness. "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof. . . . And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1 Pet. 5: 2-4. The revelation of the Saviour's glory is employed by the apostle as a motive to encourage believers to endure suffering or persecution for the sake of Christ. "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Pet. 4: 13. The great end to be gained by the trials of believers will not be fully manifest till the Saviour's appearing. "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 1 Pet. 1: 7. The coming of the Lord is used as a motive to our abiding in him, to our continuing true and faithful, steadfast and unmovable. "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." 1 John 2: 28. And the nearness of the Lord's coming is used as a motive to moderation, to calmness of soul, to the shunning of party strife, or violence; to equanimity, economy, and frugality. "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." Phil. 4: 5. From these motives and incitements we would draw an exhortation to hope,—perfect hope; for he who has promised to come will not much longer delay. We are waiting and looking with expectation.—Quarterly Journal of Prophecy.