You will remark, dear reader, in this passage, that no details are entered into by the Lord as to the accomplishing of this promise; nothing is said as to how or when He will receive them, but simply the blessed fact, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself.” “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words” said Jesus, “shall not pass away.” We must look further on for details, in the writings of the apostle Paul; but here is the sweet promise, unaccomplished still though none the less sure. Christ, who has gone on high, will come again. The skeptic may laugh, the infidel may sneer, the mocker may mock on; yet, “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:44God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)). Jesus said, “I will come again,” and come He will, “the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:3535If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; (John 10:35)). He will surely satisfy His own heart’s love.
In Mark 13; 33; 37 we find the Lord again addressing His disciples, and telling them what their attitude and conduct should be in view of His return: “Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.”
We get three things brought out here as to the responsibility of the Lord’s servants during His absence; first, authority; secondly, every man his work; and thirdly, to watch; for we know not the hour of His return. He would not have us fear man, or look to man for authority to go forth in service to Him; but in His name alone, gifted, schooled, fitted, and sent forth by Himself. Neither would He have us to be idle, or clashing one with another in our service; but He has a work for each one to do, and it is for us to know what it is, and do it. Nor would He have us to be slumbering and sleeping at our post, but thoroughly awake to all our responsibilities, watching as we wait for the return of our Lord.
The watches are now nearly passed; evening has gone, the midnight or dark ages, have run out, the cock-crowing has been heard, and the morning is already here. For many a year past the cry has gone forth far and wide that the Master of the house is coming, and thousands who had forgotten their Lord’s exhortation have been aroused to watchfulness, and now await His return.
This was strikingly foretold by the Lord in Matthew 25, where He likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins, surrounded by the circumstances of an Eastern marriage. There He presents to us those who take the place of the Lord’s people during His absence, professing Christians going forth to meet Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom. Five are called wise, five foolish. All had lamps, but the wise had oil in their vessels with their lamps; the possession of oil was that which distinguished between the two. So is it in Christendom; there are those who are wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and have the Spirit of God, so often figured by oil in Scripture, and there are those who have a lamp of profession, light but not life. Every feature of this striking picture may he easily traced in that which has occurred, or is going on, among the professors of His name. “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry (made), Behold, the bridegroom (cometh); go ye out to meet Him” (Matt. 25:5-65While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:5‑6)). Alas! not only the professor, but the possessor also, the wise as well as the foolish, all ceased to watch. The Lord’s return was lost sight of, the coming of the Bridegroom forgotten, and they all slumbered and slept. But, blessed be His name, the cry went forth, “Behold the Bridegroom.” On all sides has there been a restlessness of spirit, a waking up to the fact that the Lord is coming; a vast impetus has taken place. Thousands have heard the cry, and with oil in their vessels with their lamps, and hearts engaged with Him, await His return; thousands more, foolish virgins, are running hither and thither to buy oil where it cannot be obtained. Soon, very soon, the Bridegroom, the Lord Himself, will come; and oh wondrous moment! “they that were ready, went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”
Now mark, dear reader, “They that were ready went in;” not those that were getting ready, neither those who were trying to be ready, nor those who hoped to be ready, but “they that were ready” went in with Him, precious, precious Jesus, and the door was shut, shut close, shut fast, and shut forever on all Christless professors. Christians, watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour!
(Continued)