THERE is nothing so intensely real and important for our consideration, as God's blessed Word, because it not only reveals to us what God is, and what we are, but also tells us what it is in the future, as to God's dealings and purposes, both in the way of judgment and blessing. Yet I suppose there is nothing which so little occupies the heart and mind of man naturally as this very thing. Some may be disposed to question this, and say, "I thought this was an age of progress in enlightenment and learning, and that men's minds were being cultivated in the knowledge of things which, at one time, were but little thought of.”
Yes, all this seems plausible enough, but, however right and true it may be, it only needs testing by that divine standard—the Word of the living God—to show how far short it all comes of His thoughts. In Rom. 1:28,28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28) we read, "And even as they did not like to retain God in, their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind," and again in the 3rd chapter we get a terrible description of the heart of man towards God. 1 Cor. 1:21,21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21) repeats the same sorrowful story. "The world by wisdom knew not God." Many other Scriptures may be quoted bearing the same testimony, but these will suffice to show the world's hatred of God, and departure from Him; and, indeed, we have only to look around to find that open infidelity, and almost every other form of evil and rebellion against God has obtained to greater power than at any previous time in the world's history. This will lead us to consider more directly the Scripture which stands at the head of this paper.
It is perfectly clear and certain (a fact which will be generally accepted without going into proofs), that the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, has been down into this world, it is also equally clear that He is not here now, and not only that He has been here and gone away, but that He is coming again. It is to these two or three simple thoughts that I want to draw the reader's attention.
Let us look now into the 1St of John's Gospel, 10 and 11 verses, where we read, "He (God's Son) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not, he came to his own, and his own received him not." Here we get a clear and positive statement as to the world's treatment of God's Son, by whom all things were created (Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)), and added to this we know the climax of its hatred against that blessed One, "God manifest in the flesh," in casting Him out and nailing Him to a cross between two thieves, This is the action of man in his very best estate, religious man if you like, because the perpetrators of that awful act were not the common people, they were the religious authorities, and those, too, who had had the highest privileges it was possible for man to receive from God, all showing how far man was, and still is (for there is no improvement in his natural condition), from being suitable to God.
What, then, may we ask, is the real condition of a world guilty of the rejection and death of God's Christ 2 One verse only is sufficient to answer this. "This is the condemnation (or judgment) that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" is God's own sentence upon this scene. How solemn, then, is the thought that so many are to-day going on utterly careless, and trying to be happy under it. Did man think he had done with Christ when he put Him out of the world? Whatever men thought, or may think now, let me assure you, dear reader, that though man has rejected, yet God has received Him, "till his enemies be made his footstool." Terrible thought for you, if you have never by simple faith accepted Him as your Savior from the coming wrath. (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)). What, then, can be clearer than that God's judgment is hanging over this world, because of the rejection of His Son, Christ is coming, and "every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." Solemn thought, that all then upon the earth shall "see" and "wail.”
Let me now ask my reader, “Will you be amongst that number, will your eye see Him? It is quite possible, if unsaved, for it may be very soon, and nothing is to be looked for but the taking up of all believers out of the earth (1 Thess. 4:1717Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)), before the day of God's judgment upon it will commence: but whether you are alive on the earth at that time, or not, your ultimate end must be the same, if a refuser of God's sovereign grace in Christ. But if, on the other hand, you are a true believer and have received Christ as God's terms for your salvation, then how blessed the prospect of seeing Him. "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3. 2; Phil. 3:20, 2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)). There is nothing, dear reader, so satisfying for the heart of the Christian, and that so thoroughly keeps him in a marked path of separation from the world, as the joy of waiting for that wondrous moment when we shall see that blessed One face to face, and be like Him.
These contrasted thoughts, bring to our mind, 1 Thess. 5:4,5,4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:4‑5) where the Holy Ghost by the Apostle reassures the believers of their security from the coming judgment which is to overtake the world as a thief, because they were not of the world at all, and did not belong to it. "We are not of the night, nor of darkness." But He says, "Ye are the children of light." The believer belongs to the One who is the light of the world but which the world cast out, and since then it is described as night and darkness, and the Lord will come back to it as a thief. But what a terrible hour will it be, when He comes, "In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:88In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8)).
Ah, moment of all moments, though the world's eye closed on Him at the cross, and though the lip may now curl with scorn at the mention of His name, yet "every eye shall see Him" then, "every knee shall bow" then.
Who can describe the awful terror of such a scene as that when those who have refused His claims and despised His mercy will awake to the solemn reality of what is before them? None.
As "Enoch walked with God," and was translated from the scene of judgment before the flood came, so may you, dear reader, know Christ as God's refuge for the sinner, and wait for Him from heaven, when He shall come to take his saints to Himself. "So shall we ever be with the Lord.”
J. G.