Our Lord's coming is not the mere theoretical, speculative, and useless subject that many suppose. It is in all our creeds and confessions and hymn books, and yet how general the impression that it is not practical. Brethren, I believe this great doctrine to be, next to the atonement, the most awakening and sanctifying in the Sacred Volume. People say, “What difference does it make whether Christ comes soon or not? If I am only ready, that is the great thing.” I grant that to be ready—to be in Christ by living faith—is the great thing. But is it not important to the Christian to feel as Christ would have him feel? If Jesus himself says, “Watch,” and calls that man “an evil servant” who says, “My Lord delayeth his coming”—puts it away off in the future—if the strongest exhortations of the apostles turn upon this theme; if the attitude of watching is the true attitude, can we entirely please Jesus, and leave the element of his coming out of the question? I have counted nearly one hundred and forty places in the New Testament, alone, where reference is made to this great event, and where it is used as a motive to repentance, holiness, patience, devotedness, or activity in the divine life. No, dear hearers, this theme is not only the greatest, but, when properly considered, one of the most blessed, in the whole Bible. Others, as well as the great poet Milton, when contemplating this blessed subject, have been led to exclaim, “Come forth out of thy royal chamber, O Prince of all the kings of the earth! Put on the visible robes of thy imperial majesty. Take up that unlimited scepter which thy Almighty Father hath bequeathed to thee. For now the voice of thy bride calls thee, and all creatures sigh to be renewed.” Oh! this hope is an inexpressibly blessed one. All our fondest hopes center in it. “When He who is our life shall appear, then shall we appear with him in glory.” Everything is now disordered and sickly. “We are surrounded with funerals, graves, diseases, crime, and tears.” There is no home so happy, and no heart so joyous, but it has in it the deep undertones of sorrow and trouble. “There is no flock, however watched and tended,
But one dead lamb is there;
There is no fireside, howsoe’er defended,
But hath one vacant chair;
The air is full of farewells to the dying,
And mournings for the dead;
The heart of Rachel, for her children crying,
Will not be comforted.”
But when the expected Saviour comes, these woes and griefs shall have an end. “Then shall the buried babe, and the slumbering boy of promise, awake from the cold, dark sleep of years, no more to writhe under fierce diseases or to be torn from parental love. Then shall those loved forms, on which the cords are pressing, and over whose damp resting-places many a winter's snow has lain, and many a summer's flower bloomed—come forth to light and life, never again to fall under the power of corruption. Then shall the broken and scattered household be re-gathered, to separate no more. Then shall be the coronation day for them that have labored and suffered for Jesus. Then shall the martyr receive his crown, and the saint his ineffable portion. Then shall tears cease to flow, and sadness to depress. Then shall the exile reach his happy home, and the toiling pilgrim find his everlasting rest. Then shall the worshiper look upon the face of his God, and the faithful servant receive the transporting commendation and welcome of his Lord. Then shall earth's long predicted Sabbath come, and the eternal jubilee of the redeemed begin. Then shall the mystery of divine compassion be consummated, and this prodigal orb of ours, restored once more to her Father's smiles, take her place in the sisterhood of unfallen worlds, reflecting in richer luster and celebrating in grander songs the praises of Him who made it, and the mercies of Him that redeemed it with his blood.” Dear impenitent sinner, I pray you submit at once to the gracious offers of this great Saviour—King—the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh! I beseech you as one who loves your souls, embrace your Saviour now! If you only knew how precious he is, and realized the grandeur and preciousness of that redemption wrought out with his heart's blood and flowing tears, it seems to me you would come. If you refuse, there is no hope. If unsaved, when he comes, you must meet an angry Judge. Oh! he is coming, and coming soon! Now, take sanctuary in his precious blood. The day of mercy is rapidly passing away. The shades of evening are gathering. What you do must be done quickly. Inexpressibly sad will it be to die Christless and unblest, and go up to the Judgment a condemned and lost soul to all eternity. Inexpressibly sad will it be to take up that bitter lamentation, when it will be too late to remedy it, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended,” and I am not saved.—Rev. J. White’s Lectures on Christ’s Coming and Kingdom.