“TO THEM THAT WAIT FOR HIM.”
By C.
The concluding verse of the Sunday-school lesson in this paper reads: “So Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for Him, unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28, R. V. The common version reads, “them that look for Him.” Both ideas imply expectancy. Waiting for anything signifies a readiness to receive it. The thought has been aptly illustrated by a person’s waiting for a railroad train. The would-be passenger does not “wait” until after he has arrived at the station, has purchased his ticket, has secured a check for his baggage, and feels sure that everything is ready. The one who waits at the station is one who has considered the matter of time, and who began in time to get ready, and made sure to be ready by taking time by the forelock. Waiting has special reference to time. One may be waiting for an event, and be ready and looking for it at a definite time, because a time has been set for it. Again, he may get ready and look for or wait for something that is expected, but for which only an approximate time is set. Or he may be ready and watching for an expected occurrence just because he does not know the time when it will take place. The Lord has left on record warnings for those who live just before and at the time of His coming. “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” In the days of Noah they went right along with their business and pleasure-seeking and profligacy, and “knew not until the flood, came and took them all away.” Why did they not know?—Because they did not believe the Word of the Lord preached by His servant Noah. To this Christ adds, “So shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Based upon this fact is the further warning, “Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” See Matt. 24: 36-42. Is there to-day any likeness to the days of Noah? How was it in the days of Noah? The Word says that the earth “was filled with violence.” And that is just the condition to-day, and the nations are all bankrupting their treasuries and the masses of the people by preparations for greater violence by land and sea. Yet the people are being deceived by their leaders, both religious and secular, with the assurance that “the world is growing better.” Both the condition and the deception are evidences that we are nearing the Lord’s second coming; for His coming is “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2: 9, 10. The apostle Paul gives us further means of knowing that we are now in the last days: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Of these classes he further says that they are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Tim. 3: 1-7. To this we add the testimony of James: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. . . . Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter.” James 5: 1-5. All these prophecies concerning the last days are now in most conspicuous fulfilment all around us. And in view of these things the apostle adds the significant admonition: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” And again: “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Yet again he emphasizes it, saying, “Behold, the Judge standeth before the door.” Verses 7-9. And of this time the Lord has told us thru His prophet John: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” Is it not time, in view of all these evidences of the approximate time of our Lord’s second coming, that those who believe the truth should be looking for Him, yea, ready and waiting for Him? Is not this really a test as to whether we do believe the truth? Do not they who ignore these plain evidences virtually say in their hearts, “My Lord delayeth His coming”? The apostle Paul says that the crown of righteousness is laid up for all them that love the appearing of the “righteous Judge.” 2 Tim. 4: 6-8. Then those who believe the truth will gladly seize and rejoice over any scriptural evidence that the Lord’s coming “unto salvation” is near, even at the door. If we really believe that Christ as our High Priest is now appearing for us in the heavenly sanctuary, “an High Priest of good things to come,” will there not be an earnest desire to have Him return to receive us unto Himself (John 14:3), that we may enter into the enjoyment of those “good things”? C.