In Malachi's day, they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard and put it down in His Book. He was an interested party in such conversations. What condescending love; and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So now if you were here, what a happy time we would have together over His Word, speaking of the things freely given us of God. Though we are now many miles apart, by faith we meet before one common mercy seat. Distance does not count; and He has given us pen, ink, and paper, and taught us to use them for Him, doing all heartily as to the Lord, with affections (minds) set on things above. Our citizenship, treasures, and blessings are heavenly. Now, our light afflictions are but for a moment; then, we will have that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
How feebly we appreciate what a wealth of blessing is ours by title now: and soon. very soon, we will be in full possession, when He, our blessed Lord, sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied.! And we too shall be satisfied when we awake in His likeness. But think of it: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," who for our sakes became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich! Who can fathom what all this implies? What a change was His! He came down—down to where we were in our wretchedness, defilement, and rebellion-to lift us up, up to where He ever was and is, in the bosom of the Father (Phil. 2). Keeping this in full view gives us courage for the way, moral courage. We know our cause to be good. Our Leader, He to whom we look off, is the beginner and completer of the whole path of faith. He has gone over all the path, can sympathize with us in every trial, and now appears in the presence of God for us, to keep us from falling and restore us if we do. How perfect and exactly adapted to our need is our God's arrangement for us, and how could it be otherwise? Our experience works hope in us. Brighter and brighter is the word for us. The longer we journey, the brighter our mark at the end becomes—Christ in glory! The Man, Christ Jesus, in the glory of God, is waiting there to have us with Himself and like Himself. Read John 17. Then one joy will fill and satisfy His heart and ours: our joy to be there, and His to have us there—the flock He has purchased at such a cost. And now He is occupied too in washing and cleansing the Church with the washing of water by the Word. soon to present it to Himself a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. What a future is awaiting us, poor sinners saved by grace; and to it we are rapidly hastening. "The night is far spent, and the day is at hand." Be sober and watch unto prayer.
Think of the closing comments of that pattern saint, Paul, in 2 Timothy 4: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"—soon the crown—and what grace! "Not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." That takes us in. There is no feeling of disappointment here, nor thought of having served a hard Master. Ah no; it is all victory! His prize was won; so also for us.
My dear young brother, I exhort you to give the blessed Lord all you have and are, the full strength of your best days. No alabaster box is too good for Him. He is worthy of all.
Yours in Him who will soon have us with Himself where He is in that bright glory.