AMONG the greatest of the Christian’s comforts is the joyful certainty with which he is able to look ahead. When the Blessed Saviour Himself was in this world, He was constantly speaking to His own of what was on before. For Him the Cross, with all its shame and sorrow, was in front. He came here on that account. “He came into the world to save sinners”; and without the suffering and judgment, without the death of the Cross, He must, going back as Man, abide “alone.” But beyond the enduring of that terrible Cross there was a prospective joy―the joy of having the Church, yea all “His own,” perfectly and eternally blessed; the God of all grace, His Father, would have it so, and all through His own precious death. The blessed Spirit of God has come down from the exalted One in glory to bring into our hearts a foretaste of that glorious future. “He shall show you things to come” (John 16:1313Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)). So that, even now, we can count this among our sweetest comforts, amid snares and difficulties which call for constant watchfulness, self-denial, and patient endurance:
“To look beyond the long, dark night,
And hail the coming day.”
We have reached our all when we have reached Him in grace; but we shall not fully know all we have reached till we reach Him in glory. How remarkably the Spirit uses the writers of the New Testament to bring the bright future of God’s purpose before believers. Beyond a day of apostasy and corruption Jude directs God’s called ones. “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
Those whose service brings them in contact with the personal exercises of believers must often have been struck with the Spirit-breathed aspirations of some, as going far beyond the mere mental intelligence of others.
Not long since a youth of twenty was dying of consumption. His Christian father, watching beside his bed the last night of his short stay here below, noticed a more than usually bright smile on his son’s face. “You seem to be smiling, Tommy,” he remarked. “Yes, father,” he responded. “If I can’t smile, who can? Before me I see the brightness of an eternal day, and not a cloud between!”
Another youth in a remote Lincolnshire village called his mother to his bedside. He wished, he said, to show her something. When she came near, he stretched out his wasted arm, drew back his nightshirt sleeve, and with a peaceful smile of conscious triumph, said, “Isn’t death doing its work beautifully, mother? I shall soon close my eyes to the darkness and open them in the light!”
How is it that these youths and thousands more of all ages and every diversity of social circumstances can come to the end and contemplate with such calm assurance what is beyond this vale of tears and bitter griefs? One thing accounts for it―the love of God in Christ. The love of God proved at the Cross, where every sinful liability of the guiltiest believer was perfectly discharged. That same love is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, Who gives them to abound in the hope of the glory He has come from heaven to set before them (Rom. 4:25; 5:1-825Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:1‑8)).
But the same blessed Spirit works in sinners’ hearts. He reminds them of the future also; and, oh, what simple circumstances He can make use of!
A seeker of souls on his Master’s behalf went one day into the workshop of a village carpenter. No one was there at the time; so he took up a bit of chalk from the bench, and with it, on a piece of rough board near, he wrote in large characters the word
ETERNITY.
When the carpenter returned the servant of Christ had gone; but there in front of him stood the chalked board, and that weightiest of all considerations for dying sinners here below, wrapped up in that one word “ETERNITY.” He felt annoyed. Who has been here? he said to himself. Then taking a handful of shavings he tried to rub it off; but the board being rough he didn’t find it quite as easy as he thought; besides, the more he rubbed it off the board the more he rubbed it into his own heart. ETERNITY!
A little while after, the same preacher called on the same carpenter. How serious he was that day!
“Do you see those thirteen boards lying against the hedgerow drying?” he said.
“Yes,” said his visitor.
“Shall I tell you what I have been thinking about while sawing them out? They are all coffin-lids; and it has come to my mind that I might myself lie under one of them!”
“And what then?” the visitor inquired. But he had not yet found the assurance to which all are righteously entitled who rest their souls on the precious blood of Christ, who truly believe in God’s beloved Son.
Another year of priceless opportunity is behind you, my reader, never, never to return. If this finds you in your sins, the next may find you overwhelmed by the unrepentant sinner’s doom. You are hurrying on. What is your outlook? Here is a tremendous question for you: “What shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:1717For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)). “The end,” mark. It is the God you have revolted against Who has such good news for you. What must be the consequences of making light of it? We beseech you take it to heart—and NOW. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). Tomorrow might find the gulf “fixed” between you and your last opportunity. Oh! be wise in time. It will give God joy to bless you. It will honor Christ when you own your need of Him and simply trust Him. GEO. C.