It is quite certain that those who are whole-hearted for Christ desire to be in His company. They distinctively wend their way to the spot where He is known to be. Is there such a spot on earth? Yes,
“Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
No one who is truly conscious of the greatness and excellency of His person, and of the blessedness of communion with Him, would willingly be absent from that favored place. A neglected Lord’s Table, and a neglected prayer meeting, speak aloud of the Laodicean state of the heart towards Him. We read that of old,
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Alas, that there should be such a lack of continuing steadfastly now!
Does the Lord say to the Father,
“In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee” (Heb. 2:12), and can we suppose that He fails to notice whether we are there or not, to join in the song He leads?
In the coming day of review before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), how shall we take the disclosure, that self-indulgence, a little unfavorable weather, or a tiff with a brother or sister in Christ, has outweighed with us all the mighty motives for a loving response to His wish,
“This do in remembrance of Me”? (Luke 22:19).
It is deeply humbling to think that any who have tasted the Lord’s love can take advantage of not having to work on the Lord’s Day, to spend its morning hours in bed, and that others can excuse their absence from its meetings on the ground of visiting, or receiving visits from friends. Priceless opportunities of gratifying the heart of the Lord, and of showing our attachment to Him in the scene of His rejection are thus wasted and lost.
It is mere mockery to repeat “Come Lord Jesus,” and use glowing expressions of desire to be with Him in glory, if, by our absence from His assembly, we betray our indifference to His presence here.
Beloved, it is high time to awake out of sleep (Rom. 13:11; Eph. 5:14). May we take to heart the solemn and impressive exhortation of the Word,
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).
“When the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him,” (Luke 22:14).
O, for a holy eagerness to be where He is!