From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part eight (final) of a series. Read part seven.

Editor's Note: In a recent survey [2022], the majority of Americans of all political persuasions said that, given the radical societal changes of recent years, they feel like strangers in their own country. Doubtless this sentiment prevails in other parts of the world as well. But we as Christians, even in the best of circumstances, are called upon to confess, as our forebears in the faith did, that we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). Indeed, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that "our citizenship is" not here but "in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20-21).

As Arthur Pink concludes chapter three of Profiting From the Word he exhorts us, in view of our position in Christ and the promises that are ours in Him, to long more and more for His return.  - Dr. Paul Elliott

An individual is profited from the Scriptures when they cause him to long for the return of Christ. Love can be satisfied with nothing short of a sight of its object. True, even now we behold Christ by faith, yet it is "through a glass, darkly.�?�¢?�?�� But at His coming we shall behold Him "face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12). Then will be fulfilled His own words, "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me, for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24). Only this will fully meet the longings of His heart, and only this will meet the longings of those redeemed by Him. Only then will He "see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied" (Isaiah 53:11). And "as for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psalm 17:15).

At the return of Christ we shall be done with sin for ever. The elect are predestined to be conformed to the image of God's Son, and that Divine purpose will be realized only when Christ receives His people unto Himself. "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). Never again will our communion with Him be broken, never again shall we groan and moan over our inward corruptions; never again shall we be harassed with unbelief. He will present His Church to Himself "a glorious church, not having spot, wrinkle, or any such thing" (Ephesians 5:27). For that hour we eagerly wait. For our Redeemer we lovingly look. The more we yearn for the coming One, the more we are trimming our lamps in earnest expectation of His coming, the more do we give evidence that we are profiting from our knowledge of the Word.

Let the reader and writer honestly search themselves as in the presence of God. Let us seek truthful answers to these questions. Have we a deeper felt sense of our need of Christ? Is He Himself becoming to us a brighter and living reality? Are we finding increasing delight in being occupied with His lovely perfections? Is Christ Himself becoming daily more precious to us? Is our faith in Him growing so that we confidently trust Him for everything? Are we really seeking to please Him in all the details of our lives? Are we so yearning for Him that we should be filled with joy, if we knew for certain that He would come during the next twenty-four hours? May the Holy Spirit search our hearts with these pointed questions.

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