THE MANNER OF CHRIST’S COMING
‘Behold, I come as a thief.’
What a striking, startling figure it is. If our Lord had not Himself likened His coming to that of a thief, it would have seemed an irreverence for any man to dare to use such a comparison.
I. It is upon the unwatching, careless world that our Lord will come as a thief. To those who look and long for Him He will come as a most welcome Deliverer and Friend. Yet the fact of our Lord giving this warning to an unbelieving and careless world shows that He wishes nothing but good even to those who have injured Him.
II. There are two classes of men, those that watch and keep their garments, of whom He says, ‘Blessed are they,’ and those who neglect to watch, and defile their garments with sin, of whom He says that they shall be shamefully exposed.
III. The thought of our Lord’s coming, the daily looking for it, should have a practical effect upon our lives, cheering us when we are sad at heart, spurring us on to fresh exertions in His service, giving earnestness to our prayers, reality to our worship, joy to our Sacramental Communions with Him, supplying constant food for our meditations, and hallowing our whole life and conduct.
The Rev. Prebendary J. E. Vernon.