Such were the last words of a woman, the other day, which, with a deep sigh, closed a short, but earnest conversation between two women, both professing to be Christians. They had both met in the same class, at R. some years before. After usual greetings, the one we will call A. said to the other, we will call B., “Well, Β., I am now looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus,” and spoke of the blessedness of being with Him forever.
“Ah,” said B., “my lass, we do not need trouble ourselves about that. He will not come in thy day and mine.”
“What,” said Α., “is it with you as Jesus said? Are you saying in your heart, My Lord delayeth his coming?” She endeavored to show her friend that in that case it might go badly with her, if He should come unexpectedly.
“Well,” said B., “can you say that you are ready if He comes?”
“Yes,” said Α., “through mercy, I can. My sins are forgiven for His name’s sake. And I am accepted in Him. Quite ready to meet Him.”
“I cannot say that,” said B., “but I hope it will be all right with me.”
This short conversation exactly illustrates the condition of thousands. In both cases there are two things which always go together: waiting for the Lord from heaven, and being quite ready to meet Him. And in like manner, those who are saying in their hearts, “My Lord delayeth His coming; do not let it trouble me; it will not come in my day;” are always connected with—“I am not sure how it will be with me.” Never have I met a man, or woman, that enjoyed the certainty of eternal salvation, that could say in the heart, that is, desiring it to be so, My Lord delayeth His coming. How is it with the reader? Do you in the secret of your heart say, The Lord delayeth His coming; I desire Him in my very heart not to come in my day? Depend upon it, if this is the case, it is not all right with you. Do not deceive yourself by the vain hope, that it will be all right with you when He comes. Jesus tells you exactly how it will be with you: “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:5050The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, (Matthew 24:50).) If this be your case, may God awaken you as out of a dream. Is this the cause of many scoffing at the coming of the Lord? We believe it is so. Never did we meet a single scoffer saying, Where is the promise of His coming? that had peace with God, and enjoyed the blessed certainty of eternal salvation.
On this question also our friend A. was very clear and distinct. She showed B. that salvation was wholly of God. It was what God had done for us, in giving His Son; salvation was of God. Christ had finished the work that God had given Him to do for us. She said, “I am a poor helpless sinner, and I dare not trust myself. But I do trust my Savior, kept by the power of God.” Poor B. could only hope it would be all right at last.
Nothing was more blessed to A. than the coming of the Lord, and nothing of which B. was more afraid. And well she might be afraid, for after all, she might be rejected at last. For hours and years she had talked about herself and her experience, and yet might be lost at last.
Do not lay this question aside. The Lord may take all that are His today. Will you be left behind for judgment, or taken to meet the Lord? Do you say, “Ah, He knows all about me?” True, and He knew all about you, on the cross. He bore the sins of many there. He comes for them, without the question of sin. All is forgiven, to be remembered no more. If you believe God, you may know with certainty how it will be with you at the coming of Christ—forever with, and like, the Lord.