In the last address we learn the solemn end of the increasing failure of the church in responsibility throughout the whole church period. We see, too, how the reviving grace of the Lord has been abused, and how little His warnings have been heeded. Nevertheless, we learn that amidst all the failure the Lord remains the unchanging resource of His people, and that in the darkest day there is richest blessing for the individual believer.
In striking contrast to the great Christian profession that has been neither faithful to God nor a true witness before men, the Lord presents Himself as “the Amen”—the One through whom every purpose of God will be fulfilled; as “the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God,” where all will be according to God.
Then there passes before us a solemn picture of the last stage of the professing church. The failure that commenced with the loss of first love to Christ, ends in such utter indifference to Christ, that the church is unmoved even though Christ is outside their door, and deaf to every appeal by which He would seek to win their hearts. The grace that has restored to us an open Bible, and revived the great truths concerning Christ and the church, is so abused by the Christian profession that it ends in the great mass using the truth to exalt themselves and boast that they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. As ever, the vanity of boasters blinds them to their true condition. The self-complacent mass know not that in the sight of the Lord, they are spiritually “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” The condition of such is nauseous to Christ and can only end in the entire rejection of the Christian profession by Christ.
Nevertheless the grace of the Lord counsels them to turn to Himself to find in Him that which will meet their desperate need, that they may obtain the true riches, their shame be met and covered, and their eyes opened to see in Christ One that can not only meet their need, but One that is altogether lovely.
Then we learn that in the midst of these last dark days there will be true souls that the Lord loves, manifested by the very rebukes and chastening that love may see is needed to recall them to Himself. The Lord is found at the door of such, patiently knocking, as He seeks to find a place in their affections. To open the door to Him surely means that we give Him a place in our hearts, and thus get back to first love. To such the Lord says, “I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” He will enter into all our exercises and trials, and He will lead us into His heavenly things.
Are we not then to learn that, in the closing days of the Christian period, the path will grow exceedingly individual, but that it is possible for the individual to get back to first love, and thus enjoy the highest spiritual blessing of secret communion with the Lord, even though there is no return to public, or united testimony from the great profession?
The overcomer who makes no boast of spiritual wealth, who seeks no public recognition, and is content with the secret approval of the Lord will, in the day of glory, be displayed with Christ on His throne.