HIMSELF—The Coming ONE!

It is not only a glorified Man Who is coming, but God’s Son who is coming to meet His saints. God is coming—the second Person of the Godhead. May the thought of His humanity not hide His divinity.

If the thought of our transformation gives more joy than looking for the Coming One, then there is something wrong. It will not do for Christ to come and find the mind occupied only with personal expectation. May each heart be glad to see Him.

May each one not only desire to be in heaven, but to be with the Lord. May the thought of heaven not take the first place, but the Lord Himself. May the desire to see Him be greater than the desire to be in heaven, and greater than the desire to see relatives and friends. May there be true love towards God, and no selfishness about getting past death. May heaven be loved because God is there, and may He be first.

May God test each one over their motives as to whether they love Him or heaven.

Which is first? The Coming One or the transformation itself. May He be first, and His coming more than the transformation itself, and His coming more than the escape from death. Pure love is lost in its object. It does not think of itself . . . may all self-love be crucified, and pure love flow oceanward towards Him.

May there be a real delight in God. May God Himself be more than His word. May He Himself be the centre and continue to be the centre for eternity. May He be loved more than His work, more than the work of saving souls, and more than the work of sanctifying the Church.

May the gifts not take the place of the Giver. May the peace be not more than the Peacemaker; and the forgiveness not more than the Forgiver; and the salvation not more than the Saviour. May things not come in instead of God Himself.

May God unveil Himself in all His glory and beauty and majesty and power, so that the heart can rejoice in Him.