the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20. These are they which have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 7:14; Revelation 22:14. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20.
There is a threefold coming of Christ, a threefold Advent. He is come, He comes, and He will come; thus "saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). By His incarnation and birth He came to the world and dwelt here for men’s sake. He comes daily to men, through faith and regeneration of the inner man, and dwells and lives in the heart (Revelation 3:20; John 14:23). On the day of His manifestation He will come against the world and the unbelievers to judge and to punish them, and to reward the pious. Christ’s first advent will not avail us, and the third advent will be terrible, if we do not make use of His second advent to us. If He come not into us, His coming for us will not avail us, and at last He will come against us. All depends, therefore, upon His advent into us, as the apostle Paul says, "Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? " (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Since His third advent seems to be very near at hand, and we know not how soon and suddenly it will fall upon the earth, inasmuch as He will come as "a thief in the night," we should above all things prepare for His advent into our hearts. Who shall stand against His wrath if he have not Christ dwelling in him? No man will be able to endure the last trials, the great hour of temptation, unless he has received Christ in his heart and is kept by Him. For the wrath of God will be unendurable to all who are without God and without Christ. Christ must dwell in your heart not on your tongue and in your head only; else He will not assist you at His judgment seat. He who has not Christ in Him, will, as a shell without the kernel, be found wanting and cast into the fire. He in whom Christ does not dwell, cannot say, "Come, Lord Jesus! " without calling for the flames of His fire that they consume him. O Lord Jesus. , come first into our hearts, that with joy we may see Thee also when Thou comest to judgment and retribution.
Arise, the Kingdom is at hand.
The King is drawing nigh;
Arise with joy, thou faithful band,
To meet the Lord most high!
