I find the Lord never ends a dispensation without giving a close worthy of Himself. How beautiful it is in Luke to find hearts brimful of God’s thoughts, and looking out for the Messiah. Mary and Elizabeth talk of Him, and His ear is close down to hear, as in Malachi 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16). If Christ acts now as He always acts, we may expect, despite all the ruin, to have some with whom the Spirit can say to Him, “Come.”
What is the great thing that we have to do in our day? Why, to live for Christ. People have a vague idea of living for the glory of God; but the only way of living for the glory of God is to have the love that is in Christ’s heart, so dwelling in us, as it dwelt in the soul of the Apostle Paul, that he said, “That Christ should be magnified in my body.” Is that my “earnest expectation and hope?” If, instead of living for myself, those around must see that the light is marred, it does not shine out; and they would say, “If all the light that shines out is the measure of the Christ that shines in, He must have very little.” It is the One whose love has never passed from me for a single moment, who wants me to live for Him, whatever comes.
It is impossible to go through this world without suffering. You may choose which kind of suffering you will have—suffering for Christ, or suffering for yourself. If you are living for Christ, you will suffer for Him. If you are living for yourself, you will have God’s rod close behind you. Lot had God’s mark, as well as Abraham. He had not forgotten Lot any more than He had Abraham; but which of their troubles was it better to have? Is it better to have one’s heart tried as Abraham’s was, or to be chastened as Lot was? Abraham’s son was the center of the promises. Would he reckon that God was the keeper of the promise, and not himself? Would he trust God to make good His promise, while God was teaching and testing his heart? Yes! And can I not say, “O, Lord Jesus, give me Abraham’s trial and his portion, and not Lot’s trial and his portion”?
My conviction is, that it is the mind and purpose of God to make as complete a split between flesh and Spirit in these last days as He did in the days of Pentecost. 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. The Father’s thought is, that as His Christ is up there absolutely for us, He will have us here absolutely for Him. Do not then be picking up things around you. Do not pick up curiosities out of the gutter, but say, “Through His grace, I will work out what He has worked in; I will live to the Christ whose eye is looking down from heaven on me, and I will make manifest to others the One to whom I live.”
Practical Conversations With Our Young People.
When the Lord Jesus shall return, there will be two distinct classes of Christians on this earth. One class we get in 1 Thessalonians 1:1010And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10), —those who were waiting for God’s Son from heaven. With these dear saints it was a reality, an actual expectation. And what a blessed effect it had on their lives! The word which they heard did not fall on dull ears, but it was “received not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thess. 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).) They were characterized by lives of faith and charity (3:6), and from them the power of this wonderful life sounded out through all the surrounding region. (1:8.) They knew in a practical way what it meant to have brotherly love to one another. (4:9.) With what joy the Apostle could exclaim, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (2:19.)
What a contrast now as we turn to the second class of Christians. We find them mentioned in several places in the epistles, but most startlingly characterized in these solemn words, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from (among) the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Eph. 5:1414Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Ephesians 5:14).) To such the blessed hope of their Lord’s coming means very little.
Christ’s interests dwindle in their souls until self reigns supreme, amid the spiritually dead around them. The sense of self-sacrifice is largely lost and self-gratification takes its place. No clothing is too expensive, no style too new, no sweetmeat too dear, no journey too far to be had for self; but how much is given for the Lord? O! dear young Christian, in the name of the priceless love of Christ to your soul, we beseech you to think on these things. If self is the center of your life, don’t mock the truth by saying you are expecting the Lord to come. It is an untruth. But regardless of your indifference to the fact, Christ is coming back again very soon. Everything points to His speedy return—blessed be His name. Dear young Christian, in which class will you be at His coming?
“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:2828And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28).)