WE purposely passed over this sentence in our paper last month, because in a certain sense it stands alone and it seems a fitting word for the closing month of the year. So far as the interpretation is concerned it must be read and considered in connection with the portion with which we dealt last month. The writer seems to use it as a lever in urging upon the saints those things that immediately precede and that follow. Having remarked this, we venture now to detach these words from their context, and to ask our readers attention thereto.
It may be that when we entered upon this year some of us anticipated that bore it closed the Lord would come and call His own to be forever with Himself. Even as we write it is by no means beyond the bounds of possibility that it may happen.
Whether it does or not, of one thing we are assured and that is that “the night is far spent.” Night, because we are still in the night of our Lord’s betrayal. Night, because He is absent. The more deeply we are attached to Him the darker the night will be to us, and the longer it will seem.
Another year has rolled by. For some, a year of sad memory because of the loss of loved ones; because of trying circumstances; because of some upheaval in their life of which they never dreamed. For others, a year that has brought brightness and joy into their life and has introduced them into experiences previously unknown. Be that as it may, we love our blessed Lord; with Him none can compare. To see His face will more than compensate for all the ups and downs of the pathway. The joy of being with Him will far eclipse the greatest joy that we could have in our life here. Yet it is not to be free from sorrow; and not merely to have something better than we enjoy now; our hearts are thrilled by the message “The night is far spent,” and that because we know what joy that gives to Him. So dearly does He love us that He longs to have us with Him. He has so attracted us to Himself, and has so completely captured our hearts’ affection, that nothing short of being with Him will satisfy us. Hence our delight to know that “the night is far spent.”
If we are permitted to see the end of 1934, another hour in the night will have struck, perhaps the last before the rising of the Morning Star, heralding the dawn of the day. “The day is at hand.” What a day! A day without a night; without a cloud; without a single disturbing element; “the day of the gladness of His heart”; the day of indescribable joy for our heart.
“O day of wondrous promise!
The Bridegroom and the bride
Are seen in glory ever,
And love is satisfied.”
“The day is at hand.” The day of glory, the day of display, the day when our blessed Lord shall come into His rights. It may be that this is the real significance of “the day” in our text, though it must be ushered in by His coming for His own. In any case our hearts, beating in unison with His, are made to rejoice in glad anticipation of it. So that if we see January 1St we shall bid farewell to the old year saying, “The night is far spent”; and we will welcome the New Year exclaiming, “the day is at hand.” This will keep us awake: and will prove the great incentive to “cast off,” to “put on”; and to “walk” in the light of, and in the momentary expectation of, the day.
We appeal to all our readers, to our dear young fellow-believers in particular, let nothing come in that would threaten to dim the light; to cloud the prospect; to quench the desire for that day. Look up! Look on! Rejoice with exceeding joy! “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” Then: —
“He and we in that bright glory
One deep joy ‘shall share,
Ours to be forever with Him;
His, that we are there.”
W. Bramwell Dick.