BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY by G. B. T.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 6, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 14.

“BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY”

By G. B. T.

THESE words are given as an encouragement to God's people in a time of special temptation. When buffeted by the enemy and almost ready to yield our hold on eternal things and sink beneath the waves of despair, the assurance is ours, “Behold, I come quickly.”

“HOLD ON THREE MINUTES”

A friend once related to me an incident that illustrates this text. He said his brother was crossing a pond, and the ice broke, and he fell into the cold, icy water. He held to the ice, and struggled to lift himself out of the water; but every time he was almost out, the ice broke, and he dropped back into the water. By and by he began to be cold. His blood chilled, his hands grew numb, and he realized that he could not hold on much longer.

He thought about his home, of his wife, his children, and the desolate condition they would be in if he let go his hold. He made another effort, and failed. He reached the point where he could hold on no longer. He thought of his past life. It passed like a panorama before him.

Just then he heard a voice from the shore saying, “Hold on three minutes more and we will be there.” He said these words gave him new courage. They set the blood to oozing anew through his veins, and he held on. Help reached him, and he was delivered.

It is something like this in the Christian race. Have you ever tried and apparently failed? Has a dark hour ever come into your life? Have the shadows gathered around you? Were you tempted to give up? Did you realize that you were growing cold? All at once you heard the voice of Jesus say, “Hold on, I am coming quickly,” and you took fresh courage.

Tempted and tried brother, hold on. Christ will soon come. He will indeed soon be here.

“I WILL LOSE MY POSITION”

We find people everywhere holding onto something. They are holding onto some employment, perhaps, and think they can not keep the Sabbath. They would like to obey God, but their work is in the way. Work is a poor thing to hold onto in such a time as this, if it is to result in disobedience to God, and eternal failure at last. Men are holding onto pleasure. They are holding onto fame. These are empty things. Death comes at last, and then what?

I remember one time talking with a young man who had given up his hold on God. I asked him, “What are you going to do after you finish your education?” He replied, “I am going out into the world.” I inquired, “What then?” He answered, “I am going to make some money.” “What then?” “I am going to have a good time.” Still I asked, “What then?” “I am going to have all the fun I can get.” “What then?” “Well, doubtless I shall get old after a while.” “And what then?” “Then I suppose I shall die.” “Well, what then?”

We must follow the “what then” to its last analysis. Men are holding onto weak things, in which there is no hope; they perish with the using. Men and nations pass away. Gold perishes. Men sell their souls for money. But when you come to the hour of death—when you look your loved ones in the face for the last time, and realize that all you have is money—worldly things seem of small value.

THE CROWN ON A SKELETON

It is recorded that when Charlemagne died, he was decked in costly material, set on an ivory and golden throne, and a crown was put on his head. Years afterward the tomb was opened. The skeleton was there, but the crown had slipped off his head, and was resting on his shoulders. Here was an object lesson on the vanity of earthly things. God wants us to lay hold upon something that will last throughout eternal ages, a crown that will never fade.

The time is coming when men will cast their silver and their gold to the moles and to the bats, and hide themselves in the dens and clefts of the rocks, “for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty,” when He rises to shake terribly the earth. See Isaiah 2.

This hour will quickly come. Signs in heaven, in earth, among nations, and in society, foreshadow the dissolution of all things earthly. The preparation needed now is for the world to come, not for the pleasures of this earth.

G. B. T.