Address—J. Hyland
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Prepared there is the home the rest we love, and there our bright reward. Hymn #48 will summon. Please start it.
Well, I'd like to continue on this evening with the subject we had before us yesterday afternoon when we were together, the hope of the Lord's coming and our responsibility and relationship to that hope. But before we go on with that, I'd like to read one verse in James, Chapter 5, I believe it is.
James chapter 5 and verse 8. Be also patient. Establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord. Draw nigh. Well, this takes us back to where we started yesterday as we read that promise from the lips of the Lord Jesus in John 14 as he encouraged his disciples before He left them. He said, I will come again.
Now it's true that we find the seeds concerning the truth of the Lord's coming sown there in John 14 by the Lord Jesus himself. But we don't get that truth developed until we go on in the epistles, particularly Paul's ministry, because Paul brings before us the heavenly calling of the church, and he develops that precious truth as to the Lord's coming. And in First Thessalonians he leaves, as it were, nothing unexplained as to how that event would take place.
And here we have a nice encouragement too, because we're told to go on in the past that he has for us, knowing that the coming of the Lord draws nigh. And isn't it a comfort brethren to sit here tonight and know that not only is the Lord Jesus coming for his own, but he's coming at any moment that we're one day nearer home, that as the clock kicks by and that second hand goes around, it brings us closer and closer to that moment.
When we are going to see the face of our lovely Savior, isn't this what gives us strength? Isn't this what gives us courage to go on? Wouldn't it be a sad thing if all we had to do was to look back and to look around? I wonder sometimes at those who don't know the Lord as their Savior, who don't have the hope of His coming, don't have the glory before them, how discouraged they must become when when difficulties come into their lives.
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When they come to the end of this life, naturally speaking, where some trial comes in that just seems insurmountable because we know that there's something far better. I think of two verses. The first one is in the end of Isaiah chapter 5. It says if one look unto the land, behold sorrow and darkness. If all we had were the horizons of this sad world, how discouraged we would be as we see the world getting worse and worse.
And write for the judgment of God. But what a contrast we get in the book of Hebrews, where it says, looking unto Jesus to look on to that one, to see him there at the Father's right hand, The one who glorified God in this world and now is glorified there in the heavens. And that one who is the object for our faith and we know where the journey is going to end, Paul said. Forgetting those things that are behind. I pressed towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
What is the prize in the Christian life? The prize in the Christian life is always Christ, and so we're going to see him perhaps this evening, and we can put our finger on a verse like this with assurance and know that the coming of the Lord draws nigh. But as we took up the other afternoon, there's responsibility in connection with the truth, and I'm going to repeat a statement that I made, because if we get nothing else out of these talks together.
I'd like us to remember this, that when God brings me into a place of blessing.
And gives me light as to that place he has brought me into. There's always responsibility connected with it. And I just say again too, that when we seek by grace, and it's only by grace, but when we seek by grace to carry out in the light of God's word our responsibility, those that which he has given us to occupy us until he comes, then and only then is there joy and power in our Christian lives. And so the other afternoon we spoke of two things.
That he would be. That he would have us to be occupied with until he comes.
We found in First Corinthians 11 That we were to he says there as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup. You do show the Lord's death till He comes. That's his desire for us, that we would remember Him in the way that he has asked us to, and until that day when we will no longer need a loaf in a cup as a reminder. But we will see his lovely face, we will see the marks in his hands and his feet and in his sides, and praise him for all eternity.
Then we found too that in Timothy he said, till I come give attendance to reading and how important the word of God is. It's sufficient light for our whole pathway, just as the manner we were Speaking of it lasted them through the wilderness until they entered the promised land. It was sufficient food for them all along the journey. Well, I'd like to go on now and look at some other things that he would have us to be occupied with.
And again, everyone of these things that we are going to look at are in light of the Lord's coming.
Because that's the fruition of everything. That's the moment for which the Lord Jesus as the man of patience, is waiting. He's waiting for that moment when he has his bride with himself. He's longing, as it were, for that day when he will enjoy unhindered the company of his people. And Brennan, isn't it a wonderful thing to realize that as we look into his lovely face, not only are we going to be satisfied?
But he's going to look at us and he's going to see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. They say there's nothing like a mutual feeling, but there will be no mutual feeling like that mutual feeling of satisfaction in that coming day when we gaze into his face and he gazes into ours. Well, let's turn first of all, then to Revelation Chapter 2.
Revelation Chapter 2 and verse 25.
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But that which ye have already.
Hold fast till I come. And then notice chapter 3 and verse 11. Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Well, here we're given an A charge, here a challenge, shall I say, from God's word, and that is to hold fast until he come. Now, brethren, he wouldn't tell us to hold fast until he come, if he wasn't going to make provision to the very end.
And I believe that the resource that we have in Christ tonight is the same limitless supply that the people of God have always enjoyed. You know, there is never any excuse in Scripture for giving up. I may give up and I may give God lots of excuses, but I'll never give him a good reason because he's provided all things that pertain unto life and godliness. And so he has a path of faith for us till the end. His desire is that we would hold fast.
But he never asks us to do something that he doesn't provide the means to carry it out. And we can never look around at the condition of things, whether it's the condition of things in the world, the condition of things in Christendom, the condition of things in the assembly. And we can never blame the condition of things on failure or giving up. You know, when Paul wrote to Timothy in the second epistle, and I would just say, by the way, that second epistles always bring before us days of weakness and ruin.
They bring before us decline, but as Paul writes to Timothy in two Epistle.
He writes of the breakdown of everything. He writes of the breakdown in the in government, the breakdown in the home, the breakdown in the assembly. But amidst it all, he says to Timothy, continue thou. In other words, he says, Timothy, there's no excuse for failure. There's no excuse for giving up. You can go on amidst the weakness and amidst the ruin. And while I believe, as I said the other night, there is a corporate testimony and will be to the end.
Yet we find that the last days are always characterized by individual faithfulness, by those who perhaps had to stand alone. It was difficult, you think of Caleb and Joshua. They brought up that good report, and all the others spoke against them. Not just the other 10 spies, but the whole congregation of Israel spoke of stoning them. But there they stood, thankful in their day and you find when the Lord Jesus was born.
There have been, first of all an appalling condition of things in Malachi. And then if you read a secular history of the 400 Silent Years, you'll find that things had deteriorated even further. But there were those few faithful who are mentioned. As the book of Matthew opens, only six mentioned by name. We know there were others because it says all day that look for redemption in Israel, but there was just six mentioned by name. There was.
Mary and Joseph.
Simeon and Anna and Zachariah and Elizabeth. And there were those faithful ones.
Going on amidst the ruin and what a blessing they got at the end of Paul's life at the in Second Timothy we find that there are just 12 mentions that he commends as he puts down about to put down his pen and give up his life for the testimony of Jesus. Just 12 mentioned, but again there they were going on faithfully and amidst the ruin as Paul could say there all day in Asia.
Be turned against me. And so he gives us the strength, He gives us the grace for whatever the hour and whatever the ruin that has come in. And he gives us this exhortation to hold fast. Now I realize, brethren, it's only the grace of God that keeps any one of us, and it's God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure, if there's any desire in our hearts to follow the Lord and to be faithful to him in some way.
He has put that desire there, but nevertheless I believe there needs to be spiritual energy exhibited.
There needs to be exercise, just like Daniel in his day. Daniel was brought from Judea, and he might have said, well, it's a different day here in Babylon. And we used to believe those things when we were back in Judea. But, you know, everybody's giving up and going along with the crowd. Is that what Daniel did? No. It says. And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the King's meat. He had that purpose of heart to be faithful in his day. And brother And I really believe that it takes purpose of heart to live in the days in which we find ourselves.
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Not just a desire, because desire is good, but the sluggard desireth and hath nothing.
And sometimes I hear people say, well, so and so has a nice desire. Well, that's good, but it's not enough. In the days in which we live, it takes purpose of heart. That's why Barnabas went down and exhorted the early believers that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. It takes purpose of heart to cleave or to hold fast. Well, I've been impressed with how many times in the New Testament we have this little expression. Hold fast. You find it many times in Hebrews.
But, you know, I've been impressed with how in Matthew 26, and I realized the context is a little different there. It's in connection with Judas and the betrayal of the Lord Jesus. But there's a little expression there that I have sometimes thought of in this connection, and this is what it is. Hold fast.
To him, brethren, that's what we need. We need to have our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to see no man save Jesus. Only we need to hold fast to him how often we put confidence in our brothers. And thank God for our brothers. Thank God for those who have been an encouragement to us. I can think of older brethren who have gone on in the path of faith for many years, and they've been a wonderful blessing to my soul.
And it says whose faith follow. But if we're looking to our brethren, we're going to be disappointed, because I don't believe our brethren are ever given to us as the object for our faith. You know, as he gives that long list of those in Hebrews 11 who lived by faith and triumphed in their days at the end of it all. And it is true, they're given to us as an encouragement, But at the end of it all, the spirit of God is very careful to show that they're not the object for your faith and mind.
He immediately turns our eyes heavenward and says the object for your faith is the Lord Jesus. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, and will never be disappointed if we look to him. Some of us were Speaking of this today. How that if we're looking to man we'll always be disappointed because I believe one of the great lessons that God is teaching us today is contained in that verse in the 119th Psalm it says I have seen an end of all perfection.
Maybe you say, well, that brother let me down, but that other brother, he'll never let me down. Be careful, brethren. We're going to see an end of all perfection if we're looking for it in the flesh, it says the grass withereth, the flower faded, that is, it puts on a display, but there's really nothing abiding. It's just for a little time. And so we need to look to the one who is altogether lovely, the one who will never disappoint us.
Haven't you experienced? Sometimes you have a friend and you find some very wonderful things in that friend, qualities that you appreciate and admire.
But, you know, you might get to know that friend a little better. And there are just some things that are lacking. Sometimes we're disappointed when we get to know somebody a little better, because I never thought I'd see that in that person. But when, as we are occupied with the Lord Jesus, as we walk with him, as we're better appointed, do we find anything that disappoints? Oh, no. We find he's the altogether lovely one. He's the one who will never fail us. And so, brethren, I really believe that we need to hold fast to him.
I think of the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. They got their eyes off the Lord, and they got their eyes on Moses and Elias. 2 Great, two of the greatest men in the Old Testament. Honored names, we might say. But you know, as Peter says, let us make free tabernacles.
One for thee he gave the Lord first place, but then he said, and one for Moses and one for Elias. Immediately those two men disappeared. And when they lifted up their they lifted up their eyes. They saw no man. I like that you know, scriptures are tremendously accurate. And they saw no man. Comma says Jesus, only with themselves. Brethren, that's what we need to see. We need to see no man, do not look to men in the flesh, but to look and see him and him alone. No man.
Save Jesus only well then, in Second Thessalonians, I believe it is. We're told Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to hold fast to that which he had brought before them, both in Word and in ministry. Because the Apostle Paul was given the truth concerning the church and the heavenly calling of the believer and the truth of the Lord's coming. And I really believe that this is something that's being given up today around us, and that is Paul's doctrine, that ministry that would.
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Detach us from this world.
In every way, oh brethren, we need to realize that we are goals and aspirations and our blessings are not in connection with this world. We need to hold fast to Pauls ministry because I say the spirit of God is very careful in the New Testament to detach the believer in every way from this world. You know, when the Apostle Paul and the other New Testament writers, when they write to an assembly.
They never write to the Saints of Colossi or of Ephesus. They write to the Saints in Colossae or at Ephesus. Because, brethren, it's true that we are in in this world and we're at Pella tonight. But I trust there's some realization that we're not of this world now. That's what Paul's doctrine brings before us. In fact, Paul received much of this truth, not here in this world, but I believe at that time when he was caught up.
To the 3rd heaven, and heard unspeakable words that it was not lawful for a man to utter.
And so careful is the spirit of God to be captured from this world in every way that we find in Revelation. When he speaks of that time when we will reign with Christ, it says we reign over the earth. Again, very careful that we're not connected with this world. I've enjoyed 2 scriptures and that connection. We find that the blessing for Israel in Matthew 25, it says it was from the foundation of the world.
Because they will be blessed in that in that way their portion is an earthly portion. But Paul brings before us in Ephesians that the blessing for the church. It says we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. And so let's not give up Paul's ministry, let's not give up that which would lift our eyes above this world. And because you know, you see a sad illustration with Lot in the Old Testament.
Lot lifted up his eyes, but he only lifted up his eyes as far as the horizons of this world. And he chose that was which was for present advantage. He chose the well watered plains of Jordan. Of course, I would say that the whole thing began with a strike between breathing. Isn't that sad? You know, strife amongst brethren can lead to a very sad course of things. It led to a very sad course of things in the life of Lot. Well, he chose that which was for present advantage.
He separated from Abraham. And, you know, it's interesting that later on Abraham lifted up his eyes. But he lifted up his eyes to the heavens and to the stars. And God said he would bless him in that way. But what of the life of Lot? He pitched his tent towards Sodom. Pretty soon he was living right in Sodom. He no longer had a tent. And then he was sitting in the gate where the politics of the day would have been carried on. But you know what a sad history because?
There was a loss of testimony and, you know later on when judgment was pronounced on that guilty city.
And Lot spoke of judgment coming. He seemed as one that moth. He lost his testimony. They said he's built everything for present advantage, and he's built everything in Sodom. His goals and his hopes have been here in Sodom. How can he speak of judgment to come? And you know, Lot was a true child of God, and he didn't come under the judgment that fell at that time. And every true child of God, whether they're looking for the Lord's coming or not.
Are going to be called at the Rapture. But lot had to be dragged out of Sodom. I trust we don't have to be dragged out of this world. I don't mean literally, brethren, but I believe there's a sad commentary and there's a warning because if we build our hopes and our goals in this world, we're going to leave it all behind. You know, it's good to realize that that which we have in a temporal way is not really our own. We're only stewards. And it says it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful, but the Lord brought before his own that what was really their own were the true riches.
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Those spiritual blessings that we're going to be are going to be ours for all eternity. Those things that we're going to enjoy in a fuller way when we're there in the glory, those are the things that are our own. And he says lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not breakthrough and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Are we laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven? Are we living in view of that day? I like the way the poet put it. He said only one life.
Will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last. Well, then we find too that we're exhorted in Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words. And I believe this is something applicable in the day in which we live. Because, you know, sometimes we there is the tendency to take Scripture out of its context and to misapply it. And, brethren, I've been impressed how that we can take Scripture and justify anything we want to do.
But, you know, I think we need to be careful that when we take up the word of God, we take it up in the light of the whole context of God's Word, that we take it up according to the truth that he has given us because it says they're hold fast, the form of sound words. Or I believe it ought to read an outline of truth. And Timothy was told to have this outline so that when he took up any portion of the word of God, it was in the light of the whole context. And I think this is important in the day in which we live. I've sometimes likened the truth to a jigsaw puzzle.
You know, you can take a piece of the jigsaw puzzle and you can put it in the wrong place, but not only do well, you have to force that piece, but nothing around it will fit properly and every piece will have to be forced and the picture will be spoiled until you go back and you remove that original piece and put it in the right place. And so that's the way it is with the truth. And you know, it's not really hard to have an outline. I realize we can spend our whole life on scripture and still only have an outline, but you know, it's good to see what.
The outline of the truth that has been given because the different writers were given different ministries, different lines of truth. And it's really not hard to know what Paul's ministry brings before us. And Luke's ministry and Mark's ministry and the New Testament writers and even the Old Testament writers just to have some outline, some idea of what they teach so that we handle the word of God properly and we rightly divide the word of truth.
Well, I believe these things are important again we find in connection with the word of God.
That were exhorted to hold fast to the faithful word. And if you notice, I believe it's there in Thessalonians, it's in connection with decepting error. And I just want to say something on that, particularly to those of us who are younger. Because, you know, I believe that sometimes we feel that in order to detect error we need to be be involved and to study up on that line of things. But I really don't believe that's how we detect error when something is presented that's not the truth. How are we going to know?
That it isn't the truth Because we're familiar with that line of things? No, because we're familiar with the truth as we're familiar with the truth. Then when something is presented that isn't true, it doesn't have that ring. You know, tell her at the bank May be able to detect false money. Counterfeit money. How does she detect that counterfeit money? By handling counterfeit money? No, by handling the real money from day-to-day. And she has a feel for that which is real. And then when something false is passed.
She immediately detects it, and so it says be wise concerning that which is good.
And simple concerning that which is evil. And I realized that sometimes perhaps we do have to have some outline of these things in a specific case. But I believe to be occupied with all the false doctrine and evil that's propagated in the world today. It will not edify. In fact it's very defiling. But what will edify and what will build a bulwark against that which is false, is to be well rooted and grounded in the fundamental truths of the word of God.
Then we read in Hebrews 2 That were to hold fast our profession and the confidence of the hope until the end. And brethren, let's never give this up. That hope of which we have been speaking, that hope of being with. And like Christ, I say if we lose sight of the goal, we're going to be discouraged. If the runner doesn't have a goal in view, he's not going to press on. He's not going to put everything he has into the race. That's why Paul often spoke of himself.
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As running a race and he said let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us.
How can we run with endurance? It's the whole fast that hope, because he's given us that hope, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. And you know there's a reward even for having confidence. Perhaps we feel sometimes we are so weak, perhaps we feel we can't do anything. But it says pass not away. Therefore thy confidence, for of such is great recompense of reward. Satan is busy today to rob us of our confidence, to get us discouraged, to get us to look of that which is ahead.
And so we're told here to hold fast until he comes. But you might say the days are dark. You say you don't have any idea what I'm going through at school or at work. Well, perhaps I don't. But I do know this, that the Lord is sufficient. He's able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. And I've enjoyed that portion. At the end of Isaiah 40, it says they that wait upon the Lord.
Shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings of Eagles. That is, if there is a difficulty. The eagle just rises up. I was reading at the eagle the other day. He just rises up above the storm. They apparently have a wonderful sense from God that tells them that a storm is approaching. And so they rise up above the storm and they soar above the difficulty. The Lord can help us to do that. But then there's something else there. Not only shall they mount up, but with wings of Eagles.
They shall run and not be weary, you say? I can't get above the problem, but the running person, at least he's still running and he's finding daily strength, and so it's saved by my God. Have I leaked over a wall? But you say I can't do that? By my God, have I run through a troop?
But you say, I'm just down to walking. They shall walk and not faint. In other words, brethren, whatever our situation.
The Lord is sufficient. We can never say that we're too weak or we fail too badly, that we can't go on from here. He's able and he's able to keep us until the end. But then I read this verse in the third chapter, because here we have not just an exhortation to hold fast, but he said, and not just till he comes. But he says, behold, I come quickly, hold fast. In other words, he would encourage us to just hold on another few moments, because as I say, you might say, well, how much longer can I hold on?
The days are so dark and the situations insurmountable. But you know, I enjoyed what a brother told me who knew something about the sea, he said. You know, if the fisherman is out in a boat and there's a storm and he's lost, he said he can always tell when he gets close to land because the water will all of a sudden become rougher. And I thought of that. When that mariner hits that rough water, all of a sudden, does he give up and say it's all over? Oh no, it just gives him a fresh burst of energy.
It gives them fresh encouragement, he says. There must be land just ahead, Brethren. Do the waters seem rough? Do the situation seem difficult? Do the waves seem high? It's just the proof that we're almost at the land and imagine what it's going to be like when we get to the Father's house and we sit down forever in his presence, and there'll be nothing to mar our enjoyment. Imagine having nothing to bother you, nothing to annoy you. There's always something.
Something physical, something in connection with our surroundings, something from within, a burden or a worry or a care. But imagine what it will be like that in that day when there won't even be a side in the father's house. And so he says, behold, I come quickly, hold fast. Maybe I can illustrate it this way.
Suppose you're up on a roof and you slip and you're going over the edge of that roof and you grab the gutter as you go over, and you're holding fast there. And after a while you say I can't hold on any longer and someone says just it's just another moment. The ladder's almost here. What does that encouragement do? It gives you courage and fresh energy just to hold on to that bar because you know it's only going to be another few moments. That's what he's telling us here, brethren, He says It's just another few moments. I'm coming quick.
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Just hold fast. Don't give up the truth. Because, brethren, I really believe that compromise is letting the barrier down slowly. You know, if I have a if you have a brick wall and you take A roll of bricks off the top of that wall, it perhaps doesn't seem like very much. And perhaps nobody misses that row of bricks when they're gone. And so you come along from time to time and you take another row off, and another row and another row.
Pretty soon the barriers are down and nobody misses the barrier when it's gone.
But the barrier has been removed. That's what compromise is. That's what Satan wants us to do. Just give a little here and a little there. It doesn't seem like a very great thing. But pretty soon there's been a complete giving up. And so behold, I come quickly, hold fast that which thou hast that no man take thy crown now. Brethren will never, as we've often heard, will never lose our salvation. Every believer is going to go at the rapture.
Whether they're living for God's glory or not, whether they're looking for the rapture or not, every child of God is going to go. But I don't believe that's what he's bringing before us here. But he says, hold fast, that no man take thy crown. You know, if I give up the truth, that doesn't change the truth itself. The truth remains absolute. And I believe too, that God is going to have those in this world until the end who seek to walk for his glory and honor, both individually and collectively.
And if I give up the truth, if I give up my crown, so to speak, there's going to be others who God is going to raise up, who will value it. He will give the crown. He will give the reward to another. There will be lost in my soul. But he's going to have others step in. Who will value the truth and who will seek to live for God's glory? And so he encourages us to hold fast that no man take thy crown. Well, now let's turn over to John 21.
John 21 and verse 22 Jesus saith unto him.
If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.
Well, in the context of this verse we find that the Lord had been speaking to Peter. Peter had been restored. Peter had denied his Lord three times with those and curses, but now he had been fully restored. The Lord has spoke to his heart earlier in this chapter, as he said to him, Simon, lovest thou me?
If Peter was going to follow the Lord, his heart must be touched. And I really believe there's only one way to be a true disciple, and that's to have a heart attracted to Christ. That's to have a heart where there's no other object in it but the person of the Lord Jesus. Because where our hearts are, there are, our feet will follow. And so he had touched Simon's heart and he had spoken to him something of the pathway that he was going to suffer in following the Lord.
And Peter sees John standing there, and he turns to the Lord, and he says, And what will this man do?
And I believe that the Lord answered Peter in the verse we read in a way to show Peter.
That well, Peter, well, the Lord had a pass for John. That Peter was responsible to follow, not in the path that he had for John, but in the past that he had for Peter. Let me illustrate it this way. Sometimes when we were children at home, particularly my sister, and we would be left with a task to do, perhaps to clean off the dinner dishes in the evening and wash up. And so Mother would leave us to that path, and after a while she would come back in the room and she would say Jim.
You're not doing what I asked you to do. And I would usually say, well, Jennifer's not doing her part and Mother would always answer, you do what I asked you to do and I'll take care of Jennifer. Now that's in a sense what the Lord was telling Peter here. Now I want to temper that by saying that I believe that we have a responsibility one to another. It says no man liveth to himself and no man dies to himself. We're told in Galatians to bear one another's burdens, and we're told that the members should have the same care.
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One for another, in fact. I've often wondered why there wasn't someone in that third loss at Pro as who would The Shepherds heart could have gone over to Utica and warned him of the position he was in, warned him that he was nodding off to sleep, and that he was sitting in a precarious spot. There didn't seem to be anyone who took that, took that time or had the heart, but if there had been, it might have saved Utica's that fall and it might have saved a lot of grief.
There on that day. But nevertheless, I believe that when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, who am I going to be responsible for? Am I going to be responsible with how well my brother or my sister followed in the path of faith? I'm going to be responsible for how I follow the Lord. Now that's what the Lord was telling Peter. He says, Peter, you're responsible to follow me. I have a path for John, and I'll take care of John if I will. That he carried till I come. What is that to thee?
Follow thou me. He brings it down individually.
And his desire was, and his exhortation was that Peter would follow in the past. Because as I said the other afternoon, every one of us are given a path of faith. It's individual. And we need to seek grace that we would follow that path that he has marked out in his word. And so this was about, these were about the last words the Lord said to the disciples. Follow me. Is there something difficult in that? You know, sometimes I get lost in a strange city.
And I stop and I ask for, ask for directions. And the man who gives me directions says, well, you go 2 miles and then you turn left and I think it's three blocks from there. And you turn right and then you turn left again. And my head begins to swim, and I can't follow that. And then perhaps he says, well, I'm going that way, Just follow me. Don't you like somebody who will do that? That's what he's done, brethren. We're just to follow him. He hasted through this world in the path of faith himself.
And now he has. He's there, as we had in Hebrews 12, as the object for faith, because he walked in obedience and perfection, the path of faith and obedience. And now he's the object for your faith and mind, and he simply wants us to follow him. There's a nice commendation given with Caleb. I've never counted, but several times it tells us in the life of Caleb that he wholly follows the Lord. Isn't that a wonderful commendation?
Holy followed the Lord. He had discouragement. It wasn't easy to stand for the truth in his day. He knew that that land was waiting, that land flowing with milk and honey. He knew, too, that God's promises were sure, and that Jehovah had promised to drive out their enemies. But he quietly turns back into the wilderness with the people of God, and he goes on quietly, I suppose, for 38 years before they finally entered the promised land. It wasn't easy to go back into the wilderness knowing.
That they could have gone in and possessed that land.
But he wholly followed the Lord. I used to wonder why Caleb's name meant a dog.
Because usually a dog doesn't have a very good connotation in scripture. But I believe there are two things that characterize a dog. He's a good follower, and he's faithful to one master brethren. That's what he wants. He wants us to be disciples, to follow him in the past that he has for us. And so if I will, that he cherry till I come, what is that to be? Follow thou me, and I say again, perhaps everyone around you may give up.
But you can still go on and follow the Lord. He's made that provision. And if we have that single heart and that single eye, he wants to guide us. If thine eye be single, then thy whole body shall be full of light. David said, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Well may we seek grace to follow in that way. True, we need to have a care one for another, But I just say again before we pass on.
When you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, you won't be responsible to give an account for your brother or your sister. You will be responsible to answer for those things that were done in the body and whether you followed in the path that he had for you. Now let's turn over to 1St Corinthians Chapter 4.
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First Corinthians chapter 4 and verse five therefore judge nothing before the time.
Until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts, And then shall every man have praise of God. Well, it's interesting to notice that the judgment seat of Christ is taken up four times in the New Testament. Every time it's in a little different connection. We find it taken up in connection with our whole life brought into review.
We find it taken up with our in connection with our service. We find it's even taken up in connection with our attitude because God is looking for those things that he can reward us with. Maybe my attitude was wrong, but I did the right thing. Maybe I did the right thing but in the wrong spirit. But God will will honor whatever He can. He's just looking for that which he can reward us for. But here I believe it's in connection with our motives.
And it says here to judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes. Now I would just say that I believe, strictly speaking, in the 4th chapter here you have motives. In the 5th chapter you have actions and brethren. There was something in the 5th chapter that needed to be judged. There was an evil allowed at Corinth. It was a serious evil, and it required the judgment, the discipline of the assembly. And Paul writes to them by divine inspiration.
And leaves nothing unexplained as to how this judgment was to be carried out. And so sometimes there are those things, those actions that need to be judged in the assembly. Because we are gathered to the Lord's name, we're at the Lord's table and his glory and his honor must be maintained. But to me it's very interesting that before he takes up that subject of something that needed to be judged at Corinth, he says judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes. Now I don't want to take away from what I've just said, but I do want to say this brethren, that I believe there are some things that are never going to be straightened out this side of the glory.
Perhaps you say that brother said something against me, that Sister Set did something and the Lord didn't come in and straighten it out. Well, maybe he won't. This side of glory, You know, sometimes we look at things like Solomon from a natural standpoint, and Solomon said that which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is rough cannot be made plain. Don't you feel that way? Sometimes You say it's never going to be straightened out, but I think there's a glorious answer to that verse in the 40th of Isaiah.
Where he speaks of a day of manifestation, it says the crooked shall be made straight.
And the rough places plain, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. It takes faith to leave those things with the Lord. You know. As Paul sought to serve his brethren, and particularly the Corinthian brethren, they misunderstood him. They counted him as the off scouring of the earth. He said, the more I love you, the less I be loved. But he said, I just leave those things with the Lord. He said, I know whom I have believed.
And am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed.
Unto him against that day, he said. I know there's a day when everything will be brought to light in his presence, and a day, Brevin, when he will place a proper sense and a proper value on what was done for him. You know, we do things for our brethren sometimes, perhaps, and we're misunderstood. Perhaps nobody appreciates it. Jonathan was used one time to win a great victory in Israel, and Saul came along and tried to get the credit for himself.
But God had the record down properly, and God has the record down properly. He's writing up the people. We find that Mary poured out her ointment at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and all the disciples spoke up against her, but the Lord answered to show that he placed the proper value on the response.
Of Mary's heart and what she did in pouring out her ointment. And so isn't it a comfort to know that we can go on in the past?
Serving the Lord, seeking to be faithful to him and to just leave those misunderstandings, to just leave those things that it seems are never going to be straightened out. To just leave them till that coming day. And I've enjoyed a little expression that in the description of the heavenly city in the End of Revelation it says it's clear as crystal. Now we see through a glass dimly. But the brethren, there's a day coming when everything is going to be clear as crystal.
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And as we see everything in the light of his presence, we're not going to question his ways there. We're going to praise him for his ways with us. Because I believe we're going to see that everything was working out, not just for a purpose, you know, I might have a purpose, but it might be a selfish motive. But everything is working out for a purpose of blessing. Everything, even in chastisement. Its way is for our our blessing. Whom the Lord loveth. He chasteneth, it says He chastens us for our prophet.
That we might be partakers of His Holiness, I can't say. I always chasten my children for their profit. Sometimes, if they're making a lot of noise, they're doing something I don't want them to do. I say stop, and I don't make so much noise. That's not for their profit. That's just for myself. He never chastens us. He never allows something that isn't for our profit, and that's the way we're going to see it in the coming day. Perhaps some have heard me use the illustration, but you know, when my wife is along with me on a trip, she keeps a little handiwork to do as we're driving and visiting from place to place.
And I know nothing about handiwork, but I do know that sometimes if you look at the back of the canvas, it's just a tangle of threads. You can't even tell what the picture is from the back of the canvas. But when she's finished the work, you turn it over and you see that all, every one of those seemingly tangled threads had a purpose in making up that beautiful design, brother. We view things from the backside of the canvas now, but we're going to see that every one of those tangled circumstances.
Had a purpose. Again, I want to say and be very clear that we don't overlook our evil. We're not indifferent to sin. But I say again, I think there's many things that are never going to be straightened out this side of glory. But they will at the judgment seat of Christ, in the light of his presence. And in that day everything is going to be manifest, even the motives of the heart. And every man shall have praise of God.
Brethren, are we living in view of the judgment seat of Christ? Are we living in light of the fact that everything is going to be brought to light and he is going to reward? In fact, I believe that the judgment seat of Christ will take place very quickly after we're home in the glory, because in the end of revelation it says, behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work to his work, because I don't believe he's going to delay to reward.
In fact, if you notice in the 4th of Revelation, as soon as the heavenly scene opens, you'll find that they're redeemed already have their crowns, those rewards that they are given for faithfulness. True, they cast them at his feet because they realize that it wasn't anything in themselves, that it was he that had worked in them both to will and to do of his good pleasure. But I just say that because I believe as soon as we get home to glory, he's going to reward his own for faithfulness.
Are we living in light of that day? Do we have that before us to seek to be faithful to him?
And, brethren, sometimes it thinks we think of what it costs us to be faithful to the Lord.
But all as we think of that day of glory that is ahead, Paul as he thought of what was ahead, he counted the things he counted dear. They became as nothing. They weren't important to him because he knew what was ahead. He'd been caught up to the 3rd heaven and heard unspeakable words. He'd been there in the presence of a risen, glorified Christ. And so to have that before us, because it says where no vision is. The people perish if we don't have a vision of the coming glory, if we don't have an enjoyment of that in our souls now.
We're not going to press on, you know, in the 11Th chapter of Second Corinthians, Paul gives that tremendous list of things that he suffered in the path of faith. And I used to wonder why. How was it that he could go on day after day and year after year and suffer things that you and I have never been called on to suffer in the path of faith? How could he do it? Well, the very next chapter tells us he speaks of that experience when he was caught up to the 3rd heaven.
He had that before his soul. He knew what it what was awaiting him. And with that before him he could go on amidst the tests and the trials. And I do believe as we're left here, we're going to see more that will test. And because, brethren, there are two things that we're never going to be rid of until we get home to glory. One is the attempt of the attack of Satan, because Satan is opposed to everything that is of God, and the other is the school of God.
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We're never going to graduate from that school until we get home, and so there are going to be the tests and the trials.
But I believe there's full provision made for the pathway. Well, in closing, I'd like to go back to the verse that we began with yesterday in John, Chapter 14.
John, chapter 14 and verse 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. Well, we think of this in connection with the truth of the Father's house, and that's what he was bringing before the disciples. But you know, it's remarkable here that he doesn't say I will come again and receive you to the Father's house.
Now that's true, brethren, we will be ushered safe home to the Father's house. But he says, I will come again and receive you unto myself. Because what is it that's going to make heaven? Is it the fine things that no doubt we will be aware of? The gates of Pearl and the street of gold and the hearts of music? I don't believe that four walls and fine furniture make a home. It's the presence of those that dwell there. And what is going to make heaven is the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe when we get one look at his lovely face, we're not going to take our eyes off him for all eternity. I have a comfortable home in Smiths Falls, and as I near the end of a trip, I look forward to being home in Smith Falls. Not because I have a comfortable home, but because my wife and children are there. And so that's what's going to make glory the presence of the bridegroom. They're the bride by his side, they're the friends of the bridegroom, but they're all occupied with Christ.
Going to be the center of everything in that day. But you know, I've been encouraged too to realize that when we get home to glory, not only are we going to be in happy, uninterrupted fellowship with himself, and I believe that that is paramount, but we're going to be in uninterrupted fellowship with one another. And you know there's not going to be one seat empty in the glory. I enjoy that because in Revelation 4, verse 4.
It says, and I saw four and 20 elders, 4 and 20 elders and four and 20 seats. Every seat is going to be full in the glory, 4 and 20 elders, 4 and 20 seats. And it's a thrill to my heart and an encouragement that sometimes I look around the meeting room and I see the empty seats of those that I have enjoyed happy fellowship with. And some of them are, thank God, stay home in the glory. Some have chosen another path. But as I see their empty seat, it is a thrill to my soul to realize that in that day when I look around the glory, there won't be an empty seat there.
All the mind of heaven will be won, will be in perfect harmony with himself, perfect harmony with one another.
All we little realized, brethren, what a day of glory is ahead. But in the mean time, brethren, may we seek to be faithful to him. May we seek to hold fast. May we seek to be occupied with the things that he has told us very definitely in his word that he would have us to be occupied with. He has told us he's coming. He's told us he's coming quickly, and in the meantime he says Occupy until I come. This desire is that we would remember him in death. His desire is that we would give attendance to readings.
His desire is that we would hold fast in light of that day of glory. His desire is that we would seek to be faithful and follow him in the path he has for us. His desire is that we would leave those things that sometimes we feel need to be straightened out, that we leave them in his hands, realizing that he's above all that his son over his own house and head over all things to the church, which is his body.
And then to just go on quietly, I think again of Caleb. He turned back into the wilderness with the people of God.
No doubt he could have thrown up his hands and been discouraged and say it's all over, but, you know, it's interesting. As he turned back there, you never read again of Caleb until he entered his possession, until he went in to take the promised land. And I've just thought of it this way. He went on quietly and faithfully for those 38 years with the people of God, and God honored him. That's what he wants us to do, brother. Go have that hope before us. No doubt, Caleb, as he saw those discouragements, as he saw the rebellion of the people of God.
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Over those years, no doubt what sustained him was the fact that he had seen the good land.
And that he was, he knew, on the authority of the promise of God, that he was going to come into his inheritance.
And enjoy that good land. I say, brethren, what is going to preserve us, Why, how are we going to go on amidst the difficulties? And with the people of God is to realize that we're going on to something far better. And so God gives us two things, and they're brought out in the last verse of Scripture. It says, there, surely I come quickly, that's our hope. And then it says the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. That's our present portion. And so David said the Lord will give grace and glory.
Grace meets our present needs, and glory comes at the end. Well, we may hear that shout tonight and be safe home. May we be watching, brother. May we be waiting. And may we be listening for that shout that will call us to himself. Shall we pray?