Page 67 - Jesus is coming - Class version

64 JESUS IS COMING.

Matthew Henry, commenting on Luke 12:45, says: "Our
looking at Christ's second coming as a thing at a distance
is the cause of all those irregularities which render the
thought of it terrible to us." And on watching, he says:
"To watch implies not only to believe that our Lord will
come, but to desire that He would come, to be often think-
1
ing of His coming, and always looking for it as sure and
near, and the time of it uncertain."
As followers of Christ we are compared to soldiers, fight-
ing the fight of faith (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:3;
4:7), and perhaps no better illustration could be given us
of watching, than that of picket duty in the army.
Old soldiers know that out on the skirmish line it is
full of life and excitement, because they are watching for
something immediately possible. But in camp it is a dull,
soulless drudgery, because they are expecting nothing until
the outer pickets, perhaps five or six miles away, are driven
in.
How intensely do we increase this difference in watch-
ing, if we separate the pickets by a thousand years. And
this is what post-millennialism does.
We believe this argument appeals to the common sense
of every person, and we pray God that these seven argu-
ments may be blessed to the perfecting of that which is
33
lacking in your faith.
He is faithfu' that hath promised, an' He'll surely come
again,
He'll keep his tryst wi' me, at what hour I dinna ken;
But he bids me still to wait, an' ready aye to be,
To gang at ony moment to my ain countrie.
So I'm WATCHING aye, and singing o' my hame as I wait,
For the soun'ing 0' His footfa' this side the gowden gate,
For His bluid hath made me white, and His hand shall
dry my e'e
When He brings me hame at last to my ain countrie.
(33) 1 Thes. 3:9. For what 10. Night and day praying ex-
thanks can we render to God ceedingly that we might see your
again for you, for all the joy face, and might perfect that
wherewith we joy for your sakes which is lacking in your faith?
before our God;