The prophets could testify, on the one hand of the rejection of Messiah, and, on the other, of His universal and everlasting dominion. Between the one past and the other future, we know other and higher glories in Him now, and Himself, in whom these blessings are treasured up. We know that He is the true God and eternal life, and ourselves blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Him. We are called out from this world to follow Him, soon to be the sharers of His heavenly glory.
It is but “a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.” And if this be so, how ought we to stand apart from this present evil world! How ought we to keep clear of its attempts to put on the appearance of reverence for the name of Jesus!
Alas! how often people get perplexed and ask,
Where and what is the world?
The truth is, that to ask this, is a lamentable proof that they are so mixed up with the world that they do not know it. The Lord grant that we may have no difficulty in knowing what the world is, and where we are.
The Jew was obliged to enter it with the sword in his hand, executing judgment. But this is not the place of the Christian, who began with the world’s sword against Christ, and Himself bowing to it.
We began and should go on with the cross, looking for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. All our blessedness is founded on the cross, and all our hopes center in His glory, and His coming again for us.