December 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).