&ej were to be filled with fears of eveiy description, — ^fears because of the fewness of their nmnber, — fears because of the multitcfde of their enemies, — ^fears because of the many difficulties in their way, — ^fears because of their sense of weakness and unworthiness. He answers these many fears with a single golden sentence, — " Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom/'
Belieyers are a ^'little flock." They always have been, ever since the world began. Professing servants of God haiw sometimes been very many. Baptized people at the present day are a great company. But true Christians are very few. It is foolish to be surprised at this. It is vain to expect it will be otherwise until the Lord oemes again. *' Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. vii. 14.)
Believers have a glorious ** kingdom " awaiting them. Here upon earth they ane often mocked, and ridiculed, and persecuted, and, like their Master, despised and rejected of men. But ** the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed." ^ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Rom. viii. 18. Coloss. iii. 4.)
Believers are tenderly loved by God the Father. It is " the Father's good pleasure " to give them a kingdom. He does not receive them grudgingly, unwillingly, and coldly. He rejoices over ikem as members of His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. He regards them as His dear children in Christ. He sees no spot in them.
LTJKBy CHAP. XII. VBR. 32 — 40. 86
Even now, when He looks down on them from heaven, in ihe midst of their infirmities, He is well pleased, and^ hereafter, when presented before His glory. He will wel* oome them with exceeding joy. (Jude 24.)
Are we members of Qhrist's little flock P Then snrely we ought not to be afraid. There are given to ns exceed- ing great and precious promises. (2 Pet. i. 4.) God is oars, and Christ is ours. Greater are those that are for us than all that are against us. The world, the flesh, and the devil, are mighty enemies. But with Christ on Cfor side we have no cause to fear.
Let us mark, secondly, iffAat a striking exhwrtcUion these verses contain te eeek ireasiire in heaven. " Sell that ye have," said our Lord, "and give alms.'* "Provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens which faileth not.'* But this is not all. A mighty, heart-searching principle is laid down to enforce die exhortation. ".Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.''
The language of this charge is doubtless somewhat figurative. Tet the meaning of it is clear and unmis-* takeable. We are to sett, — ^to give up anything, and deny ourselves anyihing which stands in the way of our soul's salvation. We are to give, — ^to show charity and kindness to every one, and to be more ready to spend our money in relieving others, than to hoard it for our own selfish purposes. We are to provide ourselves treasures in heaven, — ^to make sure that our names are in the book of life, — to lay hold of eternal life,-^to lay up for oursdves evidences whidi will bear the inspection of the day of jndgmmi This ilB true wisdom. This is real prudence.