July 30
PROMISE OF FUTURE MEETING
"I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice." John 16:22
Surely He will come a second time, and then, when He sees us, and
we see Him, there will be rejoicings indeed. Oh for that joyous
return!
But this promise is being daily fulfilled in another sense. Our
gracious Lord has many "agains" in His dealings with us. He gave us
pardon, and He sees us again, and repeats the absolving word as fresh
sins cause us grief. He has revealed to us our acceptance before God,
and when our faith in that blessing grows a little dim, He comes to us
again and again, and says, "Peace be unto you"; and our hearts are
glad.
Beloved, all our past mercies are tokens of future mercies. If
Jesus has been with us, He will see us again. Look upon no former
favor as a dead and buried thing, to be mourned over; but regard it as
a seed sown, which will grow, and push its head up from the dust, and
cry, "I will see you again." Are the times dark because Jesus is not
with us as he used to be? Let us pluck up courage; for He will not be
long away. His feet are as those of a roe or young hart, and they will
soon bring Him to us. Wherefore let us begin to be joyous, since He
saith to us even now, "I will see you again."