Good Works
"I go to prepare a place for you." John xiv 2. This is the language of our dear Redeemer just before his betrayal and Crucifixion. Having instituted the Lord's supper and washed his disciples' feet, Jesus told them and his followers for all time to do the one "in remembrance of me," and to impress the duty of the other he said, ye ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you." Having loved those the Father had given Him which were in the world, He was now about to prove His great love for us by suffering and dying for us, that we should live with Him in our sweet home in heaven. Jesus needed not to prepare for Himself, for His glory was complete with the Father before the world was. But He was going to prepare a place for His beloved church-for all loving believers. So in view of His great love for us and the great trial of suffering and death ahead, in this discourse to His beloved bride informing her of His early departure, He affectionately says to her--ah, He says to you, brother, He says to you, sister, "I go to prepare a place for YOU." As if some good man among you, a wealthy man. having proved his love for his wife, now informs his loving bride of his departure to prepare a home for her comfort, He lovingly tells her to be loyal and obedient to him. He instructs her to be true to him. As his interest is her interest, he lovingly reminds her to be watchful and careful every way as she loves him to be always loyal to him and to obey his every command. He tells her he will come again and take her to enjoy with him their prepared and glorious home. Now this kind husband is very careful to arrange everything for his wife's comfort and happiness, even at the great cost to him of much previous self-denial and suffering. But if when he returns, suppose his bride has been disobedient and shamefully untrue. She has wasted her husband's goods. She has made feasts for her enemies, and her own deceptive and ruinous foes. She has received unlawful, pretended lovers, and bestowed her affections upon them. Ah! Suppose she has thus degraded herself in disregarding her husband's love and disobeying his loving words. Such disloyalty would deserve the shame that will surely come to all such persons. The lasting reproach of all good people would be incurred. And God's word says, "that reproach shall not be wiped away." Likewise, such disobedience and disloyalty of the church or professed believers, would be equally shameful, but Jesus does not suffer true believers to disobey Him to Such an extent as this. He will not leave his beloved to continue in the hateful way of sin. "How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein ?" Rom. iv. 2. Oh! Bless our Lord Redeemer evermore, He leads those composing his bride "in paths of righteousness." The prudent earthly husband, by sincere love, shields his bride from evil ways, and leads her to love and obey him. Much more does Jesus our Divine Husband, by His great lore, check and shield the members of His bride from continuing in a sinful way. Yes, He gives them repentance, and works in them willing obedience. Praise the Lord for such wonderful love. Oh! my friends we are so weak and wayward that we cannot return as we should, that full degree of gratitude and obedience which is due our dear Saviour. But our loving Husband in His strength and mercy, from time to time comes and delivers us from temptation, and leads His trusting bride in willing obedience. O! may the unmerited forgiveness of our Redeemer towards us bind us close to Him, and so arouse the gratitude of our hearts, that we may consecrate our lives to His service. May His great love and affection for us, increase our love and obedience to our Divine Husband yet more and more. Oh! My friends, if you love Jesus, I humbly beseech you to faithfully endeavor now, to keep all His commandments. May the Lord God, according lo His holy will, bless you with a sweet home in heaven for Jesus' sake. Yours in hope of heaven through the cleansing blood and imputed obedience of Jesus. Princeton, Tex. M.D. DENMAN.
|
