Recently a brother in the Lord wrote the following in his letter: "World conditions continue to change rapidly, and the focus centers more and more on the Middle East, where the majority of prophetic Scriptures will be fulfilled. And yet, there is not a single event or world condition which needs to happen before the coming of our blessed Savior and Lord to take the Church home to the Father's house.”
This cheers our hearts as we find others who understand the times in which we live, and who are not troubled about world events, but who are looking for our Lord to return at any moment.
Exhortation based upon the above quote is very timely. He writes: "What needs to burden our hearts more than world conditions is our own spiritual condition so close to the Lord's return. May we all, both young and senior, encourage ourselves in the Lord, holding that fast which we have (Rev. 3:1111Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)), supping with Him and He with us (Rev. 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)), occupying till He comes (Luke 19:1313And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13)). Thus shall we have happy, fruitful lives.”
Concern about our own spiritual condition so near to the Lord's return might be helped if we were more aware that the Lord's coming really is very imminent, for it says in 1 John 3:33And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3), "Every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." If we really expected the Lord momentarily, our very thoughts would be on Him, and our words would be of Him and correspond to Him, and what we do would be for Him.
What is the great thing that we have to do in our day? Certainly it is to live for Christ. "The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:14, 15.
The question is, who is living for Christ and who is not? If your heart is set on Christ, you will have the enjoyment of Christ before He comes, and you will meet His face with joy. Our Father's thought for His children is that as Christ is for us up there, so we should be for Him down here.
C. Buchanan
Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because 'Thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast
revealed them unto babes.
Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in 'Thy sight.