WHO LOVE HIS APPEARING by A. Smith

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1896

“WHO LOVE HIS APPEARING.”

By A. Smith

BY A. SMITH.

Every religious experience which does not embrace in it the love of Christ’s second coming in glory is lamentably, if not fatally, defective; for the same Holy Spirit that inspired the prophets and apostles to speak and write upon the theme in glowing terms, is that which inspires the love of God in all the graces that the term implies, in every sanctified heart. See Rom. 5:5.

But glowing love in the heart will always assert itself in word or action for the object of its affection. This is a well-known principle when applied to social life; and it is no less true when applied to spiritual life, as both reason and Scripture plainly show.

All the saints of God who possessed a knowledge of his word, and who have fallen asleep in Jesus, went down to the tomb with love responsive to the theme of Christ’s second coming; for in that day his voice would awaken them to immortality. See Eze. 37:11, 12; Acts 26:6–8; 24:15; 1 Thess. 4:13–18.

When Paul was about to be beheaded for Christ’s sake, he gave expression to his hope, and that of all God’s people, in the following earnest terms:—

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:8. See also Heb. 9:28.

The professed Christian who does not love Christ’s appearing, has no well-grounded hope of receiving a crown of righteousness in that day; and not to receive that crown is not to be saved at all.

To love Christ’s second coming in glory excludes all indifference to the theme, and engages the attention in much thought, prayer, searching the Bible, and watching for his coming, and laboring for the salvation of the lost.

To such a love expression will be given in word and action. When reproached for such a hope, if there arises in the heart a feeling of shame or resentment, it is because the carnal nature is not dead, and that there is not a living connection of the soul with God.

Is it possible that a Christian can be ashamed of that which has ever been the hope and joy of the saints of God since the fall of man? When Enoch became troubled about the state of the dead, the Lord gave him a view of Christ’s second coming, to which he gave expression in the following glowing terms: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.” Jude 14. It was the hope that sustained Job in his great affliction, when the grave seemed opening before him (see Job 19:23–27), that inspired the glowing testimony of Isa. 25:8, 9, and touched the pens of many others who have written upon this theme. To be ashamed to confess belief in Christ’s coming is to be ashamed of Christ himself, and to be ashamed of him here will cause him to be ashamed of us when he comes. See Luke 9:26.

Interest in the second personal coming of the Saviour as revealed in the Bible has long been waning from the popular Christian church. When force of circumstances compels notice of the theme, ministers dwell upon generalities, or theories, until the substance of this important subject is lost sight of, or becomes so etherealized as to afford no spiritual nourishment to the church. How different the charge of the apostle Paul to the minister of the Gospel concerning this important theme, referring to which he says: “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.” See Titus 2:11–15. May the writer and reader be found in that day among those who will be found ready for his appearing. See 2 Thess. 3:5; Isa. 25:9.