The Expected Arrival
A distinguished nobleman’s parliamentary engagements detained him in L. during the summer months. I need not stay to tell you of the extended lawns, and gardens, and its lovely lakes, because I want to impress upon your minds a thought of quite another character—readiness.
Quite unexpectedly a letter was received at the mansion to the effect that his lordship would be at his seat in a few days. Now, supposing everything, both in the house, and about the grounds, had been neglected and left to disorder, how much would have had to be done, and how quickly, too, for the master’s return.
Happily it was not so; but still there were many things to be righted, and much to be seen to, that nothing unseemly should meet the eye of the master, so beloved and revered.
Now, cannot we, dear children, draw a lesson from this incident? You know that the One whom the disciples called Master, and whom Christians now call Lord, is gone away for a time. He is gone to heaven, occupied there with His people, and He has sent a message that He is coming again. You know that even before He left this world He not only said, “I am come,”but “I will come.”
And one peculiarity about His coming is that He did not say when, but “soon.” So that the Lord’s coming may be called—as was that of the nobleman—an expected arrival.
Are you ready for Him? Have you left all in disorder, like the poor world that does not believe He is coming at all? Or, having thought of His coming at some time or other, have forgotten that it will be “soon?”
You know what the first concern is—to have peace through His precious blood, and then to be adorned with all the precious fruits of His Spirit—love, joy, and desire of heart for His return. I know some of my dear young readers can say from the heart “Come, Lord Jesus,” not next year, or next week, but now. The perfecting of our bliss, and His joy, await that moment.
O that His near, His expected arrival, may waken up our hearts! that like the virgins of the 25th of Matthew, we may “go forth to meet Him.”
ML 05/15/1938