Feb. 4
HE WILL RETURN
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" John 14:18
He left us, and yet we are not left orphans. He is our comfort, and
He is gone; but we are not comfortless. Our comfort is that He will
come to us, and this is consolation enough to sustain us through His
prolonged absence. Jesus is already on His way: He says, "I come
quickly": He rides post-haste toward us. He says, "I will come": and
none can prevent His coming, or put it back for a quarter of an hour.
He specially says, "I will come to you"; and so He will. His coming is
specially to and for His own people. This is meant to be their present
comfort while they mourn that the Bridegroom doth not yet appear.
When we lose the joyful sense of His presence we mourn; but we may
not sorrow as if there were no hope. Our Lord in a little wrath has
hid Himself from us for a moment; but He will return in full favor. He
leaves us in a sense, but only in a sense. When He withdraws, He
leaves a pledge behind that He will return. O Lord, come quickly!
There is no life in this earthly existence if thou be gone. We sigh
for the return of thy sweet smile. When wilt thou come unto us? We are
sure thou wilt appear; but be thou like a roe, or a young hart. Make
no tarrying, O our God!