The Longing that Leads us to Endure
1. The longing for Christ's appearing leads us to complete consecration for Christ (v. 6)
3231 Mr. Luke Warm
Recently I talked to a man I will call Mr. Luke Warm, for he is “neither cold not hot.” He says he is a Christian but seldom attends church. “I am under a great deal of tension where I work,” he explained, “and often go fishing on weekends for relaxation. Church is all right, but a person can’t do everything, you know.”
Mr. Luke Warm also had an uneasy conscience about his giving, for he continued, “I put a dollar or two in the offering plate whenever I go, and I think that’s all God can expect of me. If I gave a tenth of my income, it would amount to more than $2000. You just don’t know how expensive it is for me to maintain my cabin at the lake and pay dues to keep my membership at the country club and the bowling league. Anyway, churches put too much emphasis on money. Sometimes I get so disgusted with this talk about sacrificing for Christ that I feel like quitting altogether.”
—Our Daily Bread
2. The longing for Christ's appearing leads us to conclude what is good for Christ (v. 7 - 8)
We are Coming!
During the American Civil War, General William T. Sherman was driving his troops on his decisive march to the sea. He had left behind in a fort on Kennesaw Mountain a small contingent of men to guard the rations. General John Bell Hood of the Confederate Army attacked the fort, and a fierce battle followed. One-third of the men were killed or wounded, and J. M. Corse, the general in command, was severely injured in the fighting. Just as he was about to hoist up the white flag and surrender, a message came through the signal corps set up on a chain of mountains. General Sherman was within 15 miles of the fort and had sent the message: “Hold fast. We are coming.” Those few words so encouraged the defenders that they held on and kept the fort from falling into the hands of their attackers.
Our Heavenly Commander has also sent us the assurance that He is coming. The Lord Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2, 3). The fact that our Savior is coming again gives us a special incentive in our service for Christ. It makes us want to stand our ground. It encourages us to continue fighting the good fight of faith. It assures us of victory. Fierce as the battle may rage and difficult as the conflict may be as we serve Him, let’s never give up! Christ is coming again—perhaps today. Let’s hold the fort! - R.W.D.
Our Daily Bread, January 24
3. The longing for Christ's appearing leads us to continual practical ministry for Christ (v. 9 - 15)
4. The longing for Christ's appearing leads us to current faith in Christ (v. 16 - 18)
ILLUSTRATION 347
HOLDING MY HAND
Topics: Advocate; Comfort; Encouragement; Friendship of God; Presence of God; Security in God; Support
References: Psalm 16:8; John 14:27; 2 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Timothy 4:17; Hebrews 13:5–6
In Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities, a story of the French revolution, a grim procession of prisoners was making its way on the streets of Paris to the guillotine. One prisoner, Sidney Carton, who had once lost his soul but now had it back, was giving his life for his friend. Beside him was a young girl. They had met before in the prison, and the girl had noticed the man’s gentleness and courage. She said to him, “If I may ride with you, will you let me hold your hand? I am not afraid, but I am little and weak, and it will give me more courage.”
So they rode together, her hand in his. When they reached the place of execution, there was no fear in her eyes. She looked up into the quiet composed face of her companion and said, “I think you were sent to me by heaven.”
In all the dark valleys of life, God our Father, the God of all comfort, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, is at our side.
—Owen Bourgaize, “God at Our Side,” PreachingToday.com
5. The longing for Christ's appearing leads us to consideration of others for Christ (v. 19 - 22)
BEYOND POOR RESULTS
Topics: Despair; Discouragement; Endurance; Evangelism; Fruitfulness; Ministry; Missions; Perseverance
References: 1 Chronicles 28:20; Psalm 31:9–24; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9–10
“It seemed to me I should never have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for death, beyond measure.”
That is what David Brainerd wrote in the early 1700s about his early weeks as a missionary to Native Americans. Things didn’t improve much for the first two years. Brainerd felt his prospects of winning converts were “as dark as midnight.”
Three years into the work, though, he finally witnessed a revival among the Indians of Crossweesung in New England, and eighteen months later, the number of converts numbered 150—which was profoundly significant in his day. Brainerd died after only five years on the mission field, at age twenty-nine.
After Brainerd’s death, Jonathan Edwards—whom some consider America’s greatest theologian—published Brainerd’s journals. These were read widely in America and Europe. William Carey, the man who ignited the modern Protestant missionary movement, which has resulted in millions of conversions worldwide, said Brainerd’s journals were a key source of his inspiration to take up the missionary life.
Who, then, can judge whether our work is worthwhile? Certainly we cannot when we are in the midst of discouragement.
—Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya (Zondervan, 1983)