'He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be wondered at in
all them that _believed_'; as that word ought to be rendered. That is to
say, they who on earth were His, consecrated and devoted to Him, and in
some humble measure partaking even here of His reflected beauty and
imparted righteousness--these are they in whom He shall be glorified.
They who 'believed'; poor, trembling, struggling, fainting souls, that
here on earth, in the midst of many doubts and temptations, clasped His
hand; and howsoever tremulously, yet truly put their trust in Him, these
are they in whom He shall 'be wondered at.'
The simple act of faith knits us to the Lord. If we trust Him He comes
into our hearts here, and begins to purify us, and to make us like
Himself; and, if that be so, and we keep hold of Him, we shall finally
share in His glory.
What a hope, what an encouragement, what a stimulus and exhortation to
humble and timorous souls there is in that great word, 'In _all_ them
that believed'! Howsoever imperfect, still they shall be kept by the
power of God unto that final salvation. And when He comes in His glory,
not one shall be wanting that put their trust in Him.
It will take them all, each in his several way reflecting it, to set
forth adequately the glory. As many diamonds round a central light,
which from each facet give off a several ray and a definite colour; so
all that circle round Christ and partaking of His glory, will each
receive it, transmit it, and so manifest it in a different fashion. And
it needs the innumerable company of the redeemed, each a several
perfectness, to set forth all the fulness of the Christ that dwells in
us.
So, dear brethren, beginning with simple faith in Him, partially
receiving the beauty of His transforming spirit, seeking here on earth
by assimilation to the Master in some humble measure to adorn the
doctrine and to glorify the Christ, we may hope that each blackness will
be changed into brightness, our limitations done away with, our weakness
lifted into rejoicing strength; and that we shall be like Him, seeing
Him as He is, and glorified in Him, shall glorify Him before the
universe.
You and I will be there. Choose which of the two halves of that sky that
I was speaking about in my introductory remarks will be your sky;
whether He shall be revealed, and the light of His face be to you like a
sword whose flashing edge means destruction, or whether the light of His
face shall fall upon your heart because you love Him and trust Him, like
the sunshine on the Alpine snow, lifting it to a more lustrous
whiteness, and tingeing it with an ethereal hue of more than earthly
beauty, which no other power but an indwelling Christ can give. He shall
come with 'everlasting destruction from the face'; and 'He shall come to
be glorified in His saints, and to be wondered at in all them that
believed.' Do you choose which of the two shall be your portion in that
day.