A SPEEDY COMING Yet a little
while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. A little while, and the unquiet
dream of life will be over, and the morning without clouds shall
dawn. a few more tossings on life's
tempestuous sea, and the peaceful haven shall be entered. A few
more night-watches, and the Lord of Love will be seen standing
on the heavenly shore, as once He did on the shores of an earthly
lake, with an eternal banquet of love prepared for His children. Yes, he comes. That is the Church's
blessed hope. It is the voice and presence
of her Beloved which will turn the shadow of death into morning. The dead, the ransom dead, shall
hear his voice and come forth. Those asleep in Jesus, God is
to bring with him. His final invitation is not,
Go, you blessed, to some bright paradise of angels prepared elsewhere
for you, but, Come, share my bliss, be partakers in my crown,
enter into the joy of your Lord. Paul's heaven was described in
two words, with Christ. John's heaven was made up of
two elements of likeness to Jesus and fellowship with Jesus. we
shall be like him, we shall see him as he is. In John's sublime
apocalyptic visions, when the door was opened in heaven, the
first object which attracts his arrested gaze is one who sat
upon the throne, around whom was a rainbow, like unto an emerald. Our happiness will not be complete
until we are ushered into the full vision and fruition of Jesus. We are nourished in this far-off
land from the King's country, but we shall not be satisfied
until we see the King himself. Jacob received full wagonloads
from Joseph, but he could not rest until he had seen Joseph
with his own eyes. When he did so, the aged man's
spirit revived. We receive manifold pledges of
covenant mercy from the true Joseph in this house of our pilgrimage,
but we long to behold his face in righteousness. We shall only
be satisfied when we awake in his likeness. Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly! he will not tarry. Each sun,
as it sets, is bringing us nearer the joyful consummation. Time
is hastening with gigantic footstep to the advent throne. The sackcloth
attire of a now burdened creation will soon be exchanged for the
full robe of light and beauty, which is to deck a Sabbath world. Happy day, when the rainbow in
a nobler sense shall be seen in the cloud, not the rainbow
of promise, but he in whom all the promises blend and center. Behold, he comes with clouds. Seek ever to be in an attitude
of watchfulness. Like the mother of Sisera, let
faith be straining its ear For the whirr of the chariot wheels,
That when the cry shall be heard, Behold, it is He! We may be able
joyfully to respond, Yes, this is our God, we have waited for
Him. It will be good for those servants,
Whose Master finds them watching, when He comes.