But “yet a little while,” and all this mystery of iniquity will be finished. The absent Brother’s footfall will soon be heard,—no longer “as a wayfaring man who turneth aside to tarry for a night,” but to receive His people into the permanent “mansions” His love has been preparing, and from which they shall go no more out. Oh, blessed day! when creation will put on her Easter robes—when her Lord, so long dishonoured, will be enthroned amid the hosannahs of a rejoicing universe—angels lauding Him—saints crowning Him—sin, the dark plague-spot on His universe, extinguished for ever—death swallowed up in eternal victory!
And it is but “a little while!” “Yet a little while,” we elsewhere read, “and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry” (literally, “a little while as may be.”) “He will stay not a moment longer,” says Goodwin, “than He hath despatched all our business in Heaven for us.” With what joy will He send His mission-Angel with the announcement, “the little while is at an end;” and to issue the invitation to the great festival of glory, “Come! for all things are ready!”
Child of sorrow! think often of this “little while.” “The days of thy mourning will soon be ended.” There is a limit set to thy suffering time,—“After that ye have suffered a WHILE.” Every wave is numbered between you and the haven; and then when that haven is reached, oh, what an apocalypse of glory!—the “little while” of time merged into the great and unending “while of eternity!”—to be for ever with the Lord—the same unchanged and unchanging Saviour!
“A little while, and ye shall see me!” Would that the eye of faith might be kept more intently fixed on “that glorious appearing!” How the world, with its guilty fascinations, tries to dim and obscure this blessed hope! How the heart is prone to throw out its fibres here, and get them rooted in some perishable object! Reader! seek to dwell more habitually on this the grand consummation of all thy dearest wishes. “Stand on the edge of your nest, pluming your wings for flight.” Like the mother of Sisera, be looking for the expected chariot.
“HE IS FAITHFUL THAT PROMISED.”
28th Day.
“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said”—
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”—Matt. v. 8.