Daily Devotionals

Devotional: September 28th

CHRIST’S COMING AND MEN’S COMING

I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly, -- John 10:10

If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. - John 7:37

There is a twofold connection between the two comings that I would point out to you, and leave to your thoughts. Christ does not yet come in order that men may come to Him. There are many reasons beyond our reach and ken why for so long a time the Lord of the servants is absent from His household: but amongst these reasons certainly not the least is, that all the world may hear that great pleading voice of invitation, and may come to Him, their Saviour and their Judge. Even as He Himself said, in words the whole sweep and meaning of which we do not yet understand, "This Gospel of the kingdom must first be preached in all nations; and then shall the end come." So that He delays His drawing near, in His long-suffering mercy and tender pity, in order that over all the earth the glad news may flash, and to every spirit the invitation may come. Christ tarries that you may hear, and repent, and come to Him. That is the first phase of the connection between these two things.

The other is - because Christ will come to the world, therefore let us come to Him now. Joyful as the spring after the winter, and as the sun-shine after the darkness, so that coming of His ought to be to all; and though it be the object or desire to all hearts that love Him, and the healing for the miseries and sorrows of the world, do not forget it has a very solemn and a very terrible side. He comes, when He does come, to judge you and me and the rest of our brethren. He comes, not as of old, in lowliness, to heal and to succour and to save, but He comes to heal and to succour and to save all them that love His appearing, and them only, and He comes to judge all men whether they love His appearing or no. " Every eye shall see Him." "To what purpose," said one of the old prophets, " is the day of the Lord unto you? The day of the Lord is darkness and not light." Let that certain coming of the Lord be to you what it ought to be - a mighty motive for your coming to Him. Make your choice whether your heart shall leap up with gladness when the joyful cry is heard: "Behold! the Bridegroom cometh "; or whether you will call upon the rocks and the hills to fall upon you and cover you from His face. Come to Him now, trust Him, " take the water of life freely," and thus " ye shall have a song as in the night, when a holy solemnity is kept," and boldness of heart, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

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