He Is Our Friend—Why Then Should We Be Terrified? It Is a Grand Reunion
By Mrs. C. V. Achenbach
To many the thought of the coming of Christ brings only feelings of dread and fear. Often, when speaking of this event, we hear the remark, “Well, I hope He will not come in my day.” For the Christian, Christ’s coming should bring only feelings of joy; for our Lord is coming not as an enemy, but as a friend and Saviour.
The old heathen idea of God is that He is at enmity with mankind. Many acts of penance and self-torture are endured that the wrath of God may be appeased. This idea of God as a tyrant, seeking to wreak vengeance upon the world, still clings to many professed Christians.
A God Who Seeks to Win, Not to Terrify
Our God is a God of love. In giving Christ as a ransom for the world, He gave the best that Heaven could offer. The love, the compassion, the great longing in the heart of God for the salvation of the lost, culminated in the giving of His beloved Son. Jesus Himself, when here on earth, revealed the same tender, forgiving spirit. He healed the broken-hearted; He set at liberty the captives; He was a friend of sinners, saying in tender, comforting tones, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
Heaven is not at enmity with humanity. The angels themselves are ministering spirits, encouraging, strengthening, and guarding those who shall be heirs of salvation. The Lord is seeking by every possible means to bring man back into fellowship with Himself. In Hinduism, man is continually seeking and aspiring after God; in Christianity, God is continually, by His mercy and love, seeking to draw man to Himself.
To the humble, trusting child of earth, there are offered boundless resources to help him in the struggle against evil. Not one who is thus trusting will be left alone in his conflict with the enemy.
The Friendship Here
This life is a preparation for the life beyond. Here on the enemy’s ground we are permitted to perfect a character to which will be given an entrance into the heavenly kingdom. It is while in this life that the friendship, the fellowship, between the human and the divine begins.
We have a wonderful example of this in the life of Enoch. The simple record reads: “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Gen. 5:22. Paul says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death.” Heb. 11:5. With this servant of God there was no fear at the thought of being brought into the presence of Jehovah. Day after day, as the fellowship became more and more complete, Enoch’s faith was enabled to lay hold upon eternal realities, until the Lord rewarded it by taking him to Himself.
The privilege of thus walking with God is granted to every Christian; and to those who have this experience, the thought of beholding in person the One who has been their invisible companion each day of their lives, has no terrors. Jesus is their friend. He is coming to take them home to Himself. He is the One who has shed His own blood a ransom for them. In all their afflictions, He has been afflicted. In the hour of temptation, His still, small voice has said, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” In each step of life’s pathway, He has been a constant companion, guarding, upholding, and strengthening; and now, in His glorious person, He is coming to bring the reward to His faithful, obedient children.
The Reunion
To those who are at peace with Him, this event will be the fruition of all their hopes. Their weary years of waiting will be wondrously repaid. Their faithfulness, their obedience, their sacrifices, will be more than recompensed at the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Fearful as are the events that take place in connection with the Lord’s coming, with confidence His people can look into His face. In tones of sweetest melody His voice will be heard proclaiming, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
It is the sinners in Zion who are afraid. It is those who have failed to make the needed preparation who have that “fearful looking for of judgment.” But the daily prayer of the one who is walking in constant communion with the Lord is, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
