That Blessed Hope by A. J. Gordon

S. D. A. Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 7, 1882

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 34; Special Edition, No. 1

That Blessed Hope.

By A. J. Gordon

MICHAEL ANGELO, by perpetual looking up to the marvelous frescoes on which he wrought in the church-domes, acquired a fixed upward gaze, which he never outgrew, so that as he passed along the street he seemed all the while to be contemplating something in the sky. And Christ left this great hope to his church in order that it might give a steady, moral uplift to the life—that so the disciple might have his face turned heavenward, and not earthward. Mourner, do not look toward the grave, and allow your life to reflect its shadows; but look toward the sky, and catch the light of the coming resurrection morn. Christian, do not look toward the earth, or let your countenance be tinged with the reflection of the yellow gold; but look toward the throne, and let your face reflect “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” May God help you to be like men who wait for their Lord when he shall return from Heaven. “For every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.”

And besides this purifying influence is the mighty uplifting power of this blessed hope. “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail,” whither Christ, the forerunner, has for us entered.

When the high priest entered within the vail of the holiest, every eye in the Jewish congregation was directed toward him, watching for him to return. They heard the sound of the silver bells which he wore upon his garments, telling them that he was alive, though in the presence of the awful Jehovah. “We have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens.” The cloud that received him out of sight, as he ascended from Olivet, was the curtain of the holiest, which was to shut him from view till his ministry in glory should be completed, and he should return again to earth.

His blessed promises sound out to us from glory like bells with solemn, sweet vibrations. “I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore.” “Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us.” These words tell us that he is still there at the Father’s right hand, though we see him not. And our attitude should be that of perpetual watching for his return, with eager longing and with upturned vision until the day dawns.

Meanwhile he is our anchor cast within the vail, to hold and steady us in our Christian life. The idea of the anchor within the vail seems to be this: A ship is coming into port; but, owing to sand-bars and shallow water, it cannot get into the harbor, so the anchor is taken in a boat and brought in and secured to the dock, till the tide shall rise. The vessel cannot get in as yet, but it can be secured from being driven out to sea. We cannot get into Heaven as yet; the tide of resurrection power that is to lift us in has not yet risen; but our anchor is there, fastening us securely, fixing us immovably. In the mighty drift of unbelief we are held fast; the receding tides of apostasy cannot bear us away from God; the adverse winds of false doctrine cannot break our heavenly mooring, that we should drift out to sea. Anchorarius was the name which in ancient time was given to the anchor-bearer. Christ is our Anchorarius, who has taken our great hope and fixed it for us within the holiest. What power shall drag it thence? Who shall separate us from this steadfast anchorage?—A. J. Gordon, D. D., in the Watchword.