I KNOW a little girl, whose father went on a journey about a year and a half ago. She thinks that he will soon return; and longs so for him, that the thought that every day brings her nearer to the moment, fills her heart with joy. They do not know for certain when he will come, but they have reasons for believing, that it will be soon, if God spares him; and she is doing all she can to make him happy when he returns. All the books that have been given to her, she puts carefully together to show them to him; at school she does her best to learn well, so that her father may be pleased; and when the day comes that he returns safe home to his loved ones, who will be happier than his little daughter?
Dear reader, someone there is, who left this world in which we live, and who, before He went away, said to those who loved Him: “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself.” It was the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But before I tell you anything more about His second coming, I am going to tell you why He came the first time.
God knew that all were sinners, every one. And He had said that no sinner could appear in His presence; but He was at the same time so full of love, that He sent His own Son to suffer and to die for us.
You have heard all this before, dear readers, but tell me, do you know that Jesus is your Savior, too? Do you understand clearly that you are a sinner? God says that you are a sinner, and that there is no other way to enter heaven than through Jesus, and in order that your soul might be cleansed from sin, He came the first time, and died on Golgotha.
The second time He will come to gather together all who love Him, so that they may be Forever with Him. O, what a happy day that will be for them! Those who sleep in Jesus, will arise from among the dead, and those who are alive will be changed, and with new bodies they will go to meet Him, to be with Him Forever and ever.
But for those, who continue in sin, who are indifferent about Jesus, who will not believe in Him, for them, when the Lord comes, it will be a time of trouble.
Then they will see that it is too late; and while the Lord takes up those to glory who believe, the others will be left behind, in distress and misery!
Think seriously about it, dear reader! If a little daughter loves her father so, that she looks forward longingly for his return, how much more should you long to see Jesus, if you have been washed in His precious blood!
If you have not yet come to Jesus, if you have not yet been touched by the Savior’s love; O, do not put it off any longer! Do not wait another hour, before going to Him. Be not afraid that He will cast you out. No, come to Him, just as you are, a guilty sinner. He will receive you immediately with open arms. Then you can as a child of God, as one of the lambs of Jesus, look out longingly for the return of Jesus.
He comes! Are you ready?
Ask yourself these two questions: Are my sins forgiven? If Jesus should come, while I am lying at night asleep in my bed, would I be saved and go with Him? If you cannot answer, “yes”, then I hope, that you will not rest until you can say, through His grave, My sins are forgiven; I am saved and ready to meet the Lord, for His blood has cleansed me from all sin. Then you will be really happy, because then you would have peace with God, and you will soon see the Lord Jesus, and be made like unto Him.
ML-09/19/1920