“Encouraging one another … as you see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25, JND).
One often hears persons speak of the apostasy of the end, of the day of small things, etc., in such a way that it leads one to ask, “Is the approaching end a time for such Elijah-like discouragement?” (1 Ki. 19:10).
Elijah’s words and attitude were wrong; it is significant that his otherwise noble and honored testimony was in consequence superseded by that of Elisha. In reading William Kelly’s smaller book on Revelation, I was struck with his remarks on the bride’s sweet answer to the Lord’s twice repeated declaration, “Behold, I come quickly [or speedily or without delay]” (Rev. 22:7,12). With beautiful suitability she first says, simply:“Come.” Again, in response to “Surely I come quickly,” it is simply, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (22:20).
Why do not the Spirit and the bride say, “Come quickly”? How sweet it is to have real fellowship with the heart of God and the patience of Christ—that long-suffering patience which, while waiting for His bride and kingdom when His enemies shall be made His footstool, is coupled with yearning love for perishing men. “The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Pet. 3:15). Selfishly occupied with our blessing, we often grow impatient, while the “Lord is not slack concerning His promise … but is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (3:9).
It is nearly 2,000 years since He said, “Behold, I come quickly.” But in God’s reckoning of love, if need be, “a thousand years is as one day” (3:8). His long delay is due to His longsuffering love—love that still yearns and holds open the door of grace, for love finds judgment its “strange work.” Love is still blessing while it still finds souls to bless.
Our Lord may come at any moment. How that quickens the pulse and gladdens and sanctifies the heart! With responding, longing love, the bride says with the Spirit—“COME.” But the Holy Spirit came to gather others also to our Lord Jesus, and to wait for Him. So in the same breath, as it were, she speaks again, “Let him who hears say ‘Come.’” There is no narrow selfishness there! She wants the chorus to swell in the welcome of her Lord. Oh, for more hearts to say “Come” to Him. So to such hearts as may be concerned in the great destinies that lie before the souls of men she repeats that precious word “Come.” If they can not say “Come” to Him, she will plead “Come” to them; whoever thirsts, whoever will, let him “come,” and “take of the water of life freely.”
It is the message that was brought from heaven to earth by that gracious One whose lips made sweet that word “Come.” And the Spirit of Him who said “Come unto Me” is in the bride, and the message is now to us a precious trust. The Lord’s coming, then, should make us faithful stewards of the gospel.
There are indeed other good reasons for the Church being left down here in the world, but it is certain that the day of grace has been lengthened, so to speak, for one great purpose:the salvation of souls through the gospel; and it continues for the same reason (2 Pet. 3:8,9).
Therefore the work of salvation will go on until the end, whether through us or through others. Shall we be so occupied with evil prophesied of, and now around us on every side, that we begin to forget the grace of God to ruined man? “Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down!”
“You have a little strength,” says “He who has the key of David,” and “Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it” (Rev. 3:7,8). That open door surely is a door of opportunity and testimony including the gospel. The precious opening up of God’s word is not for ourselves only to enjoy, but involves a responsibility to communicate to others—saved and unsaved.
If the Spirit is hindered now from working in larger ways, still He is working. And there is much to encourage in various fields, both at home and abroad, in spite of human failure and much of the flesh in it. We can thank God, for example, for the wonderful working of His grace in places like
But have we prayerfully and earnestly striven, unitedly, or separately, for the gospel in our own communities? Perhaps in the failure to find large results, we have overlooked the possibilities of quiet, persistent individual work that may even be large in the aggregate. One of the prime conditions in having blessing in service is in faith expecting it in the Lord’s way, which is usually starting small and growing. Are we reaching out to fields nearby like the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 1:8)? Are we doing what we can to support those who can go further than we and who are giving their whole time and energy to the gospel?
May we be warned, while intelligent as to the “last days,” not to let our hands hang down as if there was nothing more to be done. The “last days” were already present with the apostles, inasmuch as failure had already come in the Church; but God’s blessings in grace have continued to be poured out ever since, and through many dark periods.
(From Help and Food, Vol. 32.)