Blog Archives - WELCOME TO THE JOY OF TROY

December 31, 2019

12/31/2019

        He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).

    This is a wonderful text with which to end the year. It contains the last promise and the last prayer in the Bible, and the prayer is in response to the promise. Before we begin another year let us look at this promise and allow it to sink deep into our hearts. These are the very words of Jesus, and He emphasizes the surety of His coming. "Surely I come," He says. Not only so, but "I come quickly." May the response of every one of our hearts be "Even so, surely and quickly, come, Lord Jesus!" This has been the prayer of the church in all its pilgrimage.

    We should be ready for His coming (Matt. 24:44). We should be watching for His coming (Luke 12:37). We should earnestly desire His coming (2 Peter 3:12). We should pray for our Lord's coming (Rev. 22:30). We should preach the Second Coming (1 Thess. 4:16-18).

    The last act of Horatius Bonar before lying down to sleep each night was to draw aside the curtain, look up into the heavens, and say, "Perhaps tonight, Lord." in the morning his first act was to raise the blind, and looking out upon the dawn, say, "Perhaps today, Lord."

    Has it been a long time? To us the exhortation is: "The Lord direct your hearts into...the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thess. 3:5). May the words continue to echo in our hearts: "The Lord is at hand, the time is short."

                                He is coming, O my spirit,
                                With His everlasting peace,
                                With His blessedness immortal and complete.
                                He is coming, O my spirit,
                                And His coming brings release,
                                I listen for the coming of His feet.

MEDITATION PRAYER: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen" (Ps. 41:13).

December 30, 2019

12/30/2019

        For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14).

    Stand on the seashore and look at the endless expanse, float over it, fly over it, and it seems to cover the entire earth as it did at the world's first dawn. Lord Byron wrote:

                                Time writes no wrinkle on thine azure brow;
                                Such as creation's dawn behold, thou rollest now.

     As the waters once covered the earth in darkness, so the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth with light and joy.

    The margin of our text pictures that future even more wonderfully--"For the earth shall be filled by knowing the glory of the Lord" "The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity" (Isa. 33:24). They shall know the glory of the Lord in forgiveness. They shall know that glory of the Lord in fulfilling His promises, for they have come from earthly wanderings to celestial homes, from dens and prisons to joys and mansions, out from iron doors and in through pearly gates. They are home at last, and home forever. Then shall their peace be as a river, and their righteousness as the waves of the sea (Isa. 48:18). Peace, righteousness, knowledge--worldwide and forever!

    It is those who have this knowledge of God who are the real optimists. They are looking forward to something better than this world had ever known. Then, and then only, will the blessed ones be able to truly sing, "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

                                Thus the vision of God's future--
                                        All the world in Christ is blest;
                                Something higher than the highest,
                                        Something better than the best.

MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works" (Ps. 145:5).

December 29, 2019

12/29/2019

        And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful (Rev. 21:5).

    Certainly all things need making new. It is about time for the old vesture to be rolled up and the new creation to put on it's beautiful garments. Only the Lord who made all things in the beginning can make them new. It takes as great power to make a new world out of an evil one as it does to make one out of nothing. And our Jesus is able to do it. He has been making saints out of sinners. Soon He shall change the body of our humiliation, that it may be like unto His glorious body (Phil. 3:21, ARV). He came "to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10) as well as those who were lost. And this new earth will become the eternal home of God's redeemed. "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5).

    The New Jerusalem, with its holy inhabitants, will descend from God out of heaven (Rev. 21:2) to become the capital of this earth renewed. All things will be new--new heavens, a new earth, a new immortal race. There will be new work--"they shall build houses, and inhabit them" (Isa. 65:21); new relationships--"God himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Rev. 21:3); new contact with nature--"the wolf...shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (Isa. 11:6); a new security--"there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Rev. 21:4). And this is a certified promise, for He who inspired it said, "Write: for these words are true and faithful" (verse 5).

MEDITATION PRAYER: "Among the gods there there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works" (Ps. 86:8).

December 28, 2019

12/28/2019

        For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thess. 4:16-18).

    This is the first resurrection, the resurrection of the just, the resurrection to life. The living saints will then be caught up with those who have just been raised from the dead to meet the Lord in the air. This is translation. It is then that we shall be changed from mortality to immortality. "Then shall be brought to pas the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54). To God's children this is the end of the former things and the beginning of the new. Therefore let us "comfort one another with these words."

    Dr. A. T. Pierson relates that the telegram announcing the death of his friend, Dr. A. J. Gordon, came at 3:00 in the morning. Being unable to sleep, he scanned the entire New Testament to see what it said about death. He noticed that after the resurrection of Jesus the apostles seldom used the word "death" to express the close of a Christian's life, but "sleep." What a comfort it is to think of our loved ones as being asleep in Christ, instead of having ceased to be. We look forward to the morning.

                                When I shall awake in that fair morn of morns,
                                After whose dawning never night returns,
                                And with whose bright glory day eternal burns,
                                I shall be satisfied then.
                                                                                __Horatius Bonar

MEDITATION PRAYER: "In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever" (Ps. 44:8).

December 27, 2019

12/27/2019

        Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).

    By repentance toward God and faith in Christ, the fallen children of humanity may once more become the children of God. Our Savior has opened the way so that the most sinful, needy, oppressed, and despised may become a part of the heavenly family.

    Jesus taught us, when we pray, to say, "Our Father." He is eager to welcome us as His children. "We have an Advocate in the heavens, and whoever accepts Him as a personal Savior, is not left an orphan, to bear the burden of his own sins" (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 104). "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom. 8:17).

    The glory that is waiting for God's children has not yet appeared. It appears when Christ appears. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). "For I reckon," says the apostle, "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

    As we become more and more like Christ by beholding Him spiritually now, so shall we be like Him in glory, for by beholding we become changed (2 Cor. 3:18).

    Back in the days of slavery a visitor once watched a group of slaves slouching and shuffling off to their work. One tall, broad-shouldered fellow walked by, head erect, with a steady gait. "How's that?" the visitor asked. "Oh, he's the son of an African king" was the reply. "And he never forgets it." Let s not forget that we are sons and daughters of the King of kings.

MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee" (Ps. 118:28).

December 26, 2019

12/26/2019

        And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (1 Peter 5:4).

    In this the two apostles are in perfect harmony, for Paul declares in 2 Timothy 4:1 that the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing, and adds in verse 8: "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." This is the crowning time, at "his appearing."

    Everything depends upon His appearing, His return. We are to love His appearing. We are to look for the glorious appearing (Titus 2:13). He who appeared in the presence of God as our high priest will appear the second time without sin unto salvation to them that look for him (Heb. 9:24, 28). Are we looking for Him? When the Chief Shepherd appears, the undershepherds will find their reward, and the sheep their eternal home.

    Dean Farrar relates that Queen Victoria, after hearing one of her chaplains preach at Windsor on the second advent of Christ, spoke to the dean about it and said, "O how I wish the Lord would come during my lifetime."

    "Why does Your Majesty feel this very earnest desire?" asked the great preacher.

    With her countenance illuminated with deep emotion the queen replied, "Because I should so love to lay my crown at His feet."

                                And when I shall see His glory face to face,
                                Hear His glad welcome, feel His fond embrace,
                                And feast on the fulness of His heavenly grace,
                                I shall be satisfied then.
                                                                        __Horatius Bonar

MEDITATION PRAYER: "The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice" (Ps. 21:1).

December 25, 2019

12/25/2019

        For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).

    Who is this Child of Bethlehem, cradled in a manger? The angels will tell you, He is the "Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Adam will tell you, The Seed of the woman that shall bruise the serpent's head. Ask Abraham, and he will tell you, He is King of Salem, King of Peace. Jacob will tell you, He is Shiloh of the tribe of Judah. Isaiah will tell you, He is Immanuel, God with us. Jeremiah will tell you that He is "the Lord our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:6). Daniel will tell you, He is the Messiah, the Anointed One. Hosea will tell you, He is "the Lord God of hosts" (Hosea 12:5). John the Baptist will tell you, He is "the Lamb of God" (John 1:29). Ask Nathaniel, and he will tell you, He is the "Son of God;...the King of Israel" (verse 49). And God Himself proclaimed from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). "Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (Heb. 1:8). Ask the powers of darkness, and they will acknowledge Him as "the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24). And so may we well say, "This is Jesus, the Christ, our Savior, and the Redeemer of the world."

                                Incarnate God, laid in a manger,
                                        Born Son of man for death and pain;
                                Thy virgin mother, O tiny Stranger,
                                        The sword must pierce to seal our gain.

                                The star ablaze, its radiance stealing
                                        O'er shepherd hills, from heaven above;
                                We see the Wise Men, reverent, kneeling,
                                        And we, with them, O King of Love.

MEDITATION PRAYER: "Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee" (Ps. 67:5).

December 24, 2019

12/24/2019

        Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isa. 7:14).

    Who is this Son of the "sign," the virgin-born? Isaiah tells us, "Immanuel." Thus nearly seven centuries before the angel announced His birth to the wondering shepherds in the starlit fields of Judea, a gospel prophet announced the coming of the Holy Child.

    To Joseph, the espoused husband of the virgin Mary, the angel said: "Take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matt. 1:20-23).

    All this was done to save us who are alive today and all others who have ever lived or ever will live. "From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father....To this sin-darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God's love" (The Desire of Ages, p. 19).

    "He says, 'A body hast thou prepared for me.'...His divinity was veiled with humanity--the invisible glory in the visible human form....So Christ was to come in 'the body of our humiliation' (Phil 3:21, RV), 'in likeness of men.'...Yet He was the incarnate God, the light of heaven and earth....So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment....'The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth' (John 1:14, RV, margin)....By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; but His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God" (ibid., pp. 23, 24). This is the Incarnation; this is our Savior.

MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever" (Ps. 145:1).

December 23, 2019

12/23/2019

        And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more pain: for the former things are passed away (Rev. 21:4).

    No more tears, death, sorrow, crying, pain. Who would not wish to live in such a land? All these things are among the former things. Now they are passed away. How? Through a change in civilization? Through great wisdom, culture, education? Through human effort? No, never! By the power of God. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." So, friend, read His promise through your tears and have faith in God.

                                Have faith in God to bring the end of tears,
                                Have faith in God; no death, no pain, no fears.
                                Have faith in God through the eternal years.
                                Have faith, dear friend, in God.

    After his dream of the City of God, John Bunyan wrote: "Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them, and behold, the City shone like the sun; the streets also were paved with gold; and in them walked many men, with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises withal. They were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another without intermission, saying, Holy, holy holy is the Lord. And after that they shut up the gates: which when I had seen, I wished myself among them."

    And so do we all. May the Good Shepherd lead every one of us to that city at last.

MEDITATION PRAYER: "For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands" (Ps. 92:4).

December 22, 2019

12/22/2019

        Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert (Isa. 35:5, 6).

    The blind, the deaf, the lame, the dumb--how wonderfully Jesus healed them all, and how the water of life did flow when He was on earth! But how much more extensively and literally will all of this great promise be fulfilled in the new earth and in the New Jerusalem now above, "which is the mother of all" (Gal. 4:26). Some eyes that have never had one glimpse of the beauties of this earth, or of its sorrowful, sordid scenes either, will open wide in astonishment at the glory of Emmanuel's land. The ears of those who have never heard their names spoken by human lips will thrill to the music of angels and the voice of Christ. Limbs paralyzed through long years of suffering will leap for joy in the abundance of immortal health. Tongues that have never formed as articulate word will help fill the chorus of redemption's song. What a hope, what joy, what a land, what a Savior!

    Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5). And with the apostle Peter we too "look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). So this is a real promise for real people of a real home in a real land--the land, as someone has said, "Where dreams come true."

    But how shall we find that land? When asked the way to heaven, Bishop Wilberforce once said, "Take the first turn to the right and go straight forward." And to this land our Savior Himself is "the way" (John 14:6).

MEDITATION PRAYER: "To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever" (Ps. 30:12).