p. 6 | LOVING HIS COMING

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 25, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 43.

LOVING HIS COMING

We have not time to mention all the bright expressions of hope as the patriarch or prophet looked forward to the coming of Christ. The saints of New Testament times, while instructed that Christ was not coming in their day, yet looked forward to His coming as the time of life and joy and glorious reward. The crown will then be given (1 Peter 5:4; 2 Tim. 4:8); the reward will be bestowed (Rev. 22:12; Matt. 16:27); this mortal will then put on immortality (1 Cor. 15:51-55); and the volume of the book closes with the prayer of the church (as "Thy kingdom come" has been its prayer through the centuries of tribulation), "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).

One of the strangest things connected with the whole subject is the indifference and apathy manifested on the part of the greater portion of the professed church of Christ. Many ministers are either utterly indifferent or openly hostile to the doctrine of Christ’s soon coming. They profess that they love Christ, but can we truly, heartily love an individual unless we love his personal presence? Can we separate the two—the love from the person?—Nay, we can not; if we love a person, we love his presence. If a wife devotedly loves her husband, she loves and longs for his presence; and just so with the husband. And even so, dear reader, if we love Christ, we will love His presence, we will long for His presence; we will rejoice when His coming is near.

This hope purifies the heart of him who truly holds it. This is expressly declared: "We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 1 John 3:2, 3.

It could not be otherwise than this. We will seek to please those we love unless we love self better. The wife who loves her husband will seek to please her husband. She will endeavor to make home pleasant when he comes. She does this almost involuntarily. So it will be with that Christian who loves his Lord. He will not scoff at His coming, he will rejoice to know that Christ will return. He will search the evidences to know whether that coming is near at hand. As evidences multiply, his heart will rejoice as he sees his redemption draw nigh. Luke 21:28.

He will watch for that coming. He will prepare himself to entertain such a guest. As a loyal subject would renovate, repair, cleanse, and beautify his house, and furnish his best rooms for guest-chambers, if he expected a visit from his prince, so will the Christian prepare his character who looks for his Lord. As he contemplates His coming, his heart will grow purer in his contemplations. The hope of that coming will hallow his joys, and sweeten his cups of trial; and his every fiber will thrill with joy and life at the anticipated meeting.

Weary pilgrim in life’s weary way, let thy heart be cheered, thy Lord is coming. Soldiers on the battlefield, fight on, thy King will soon appear. Not "distant hope nor dim" is thine. The rays of coming morn already streak the east; the Sun of Righteousness is about to rise with healing in His beams. Does the world—worse, does a worldly church—laugh at thy faith, and mock thy hope? hold it fast. Believe still, hope on, love on. In "a little while" "thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty," thy Friend, Redeemer, Lord. Happy those who can say at that time: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isa. 25:9.