"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that
wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh,
they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh
shall find watching" (Luke 12:35-37).

Here is the proper attitude of the Christian. Is it yours? He Himself is the test beyond all else. It
is not consistent with faith to be concerned with anxiety about the things that perish. It is well to
be of good cheer, knowing His love and His purpose of glory for the little flock, tried and exposed
as it now is. But to be like men that wait for their own lord is a still more positive and decisive
test. It presupposes in a personal way faith working by love. Their treasure is in the heavens
where He is. They love Him because He first loved them. They do not forget Him in His absence;
they are not merely occupied with their work, for indeed their loins were girt about and their
lamps burning, but themselves are awaiting their own Lord. Nor again were they discussing dates,
nor were they on the lookout for political change, nor did they have their eyes fixed on signs in
the sun, moon, and stars. The Christian watches for Christ. Christ, the believer’s life, his
righteousness, his Saviour, his Lord, is gone with the promise of coming to receive him to
Himself. We know not how soon this will be, but we have His last message which proclaims that
He is coming quickly (Rev. 22:20).

Therefore, we would not doubt, but wait, content with the Word of Him who is the Truth and the
Faithful and True Witness. Long as it may seem, He is not slack concerning His promise, as some
count slackness, "but is longsuffering towards you, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 JND). As He is waiting, so should we be waiting; and
thus we keep the word of His patience and assure our hearts in the bright hope. Is He not worthy?
is not the hope well worth the while? and is it not deep consolation that meanwhile many hear His
voice, believe in His name, and thus join us in waiting for Him?

O my reader, if it be not so with you, where are you, and what are you doing? You well know
whether you are waiting for the Lord Jesus; surely others, even the world, can accurately judge
whether this is your habitual attitude. The Lord recognizes no other object of hope in His own.
This is also the chief responsibility as His bondmen. Be assured that other duties will be done all
the better, because this has the first and constant place. Read all the New Testament and see if this
hope be not bound up with every joy and sorrow, with the walk and work and worship of the
Christian, who found in Him the Object of faith when he was a lost sinner, and now as a saint has
none other as his Hope. If you believe in Him, be not untrue to Him as your Hope, but judge
yourself in every thing that hinders your waiting for Him day by day.

(From The Bible Treasury, Vol. 1, New Series, page 292.)

FRAGMENT
How long, O heavenly Bridegroom,
How long wilt Thou delay?
And yet how few are grieving

That Thou dost absent stay!
O may our lamps be burning,
Our loins well girded be,
Each longing heart preparing
With joy Thy face to see!