Certain people – who are more desirous to find arguments to support their personal theories – have inferred from this passage that a day in Scripture is typical of a thousand years. Hence, they say, ‘inasmuch as God took six days to create the heavens and the earth, and then rested on the seventh, so must we expect a thousand years for every day in God’s preparation of the new heavens and new earth. That period would then be followed by a seventh day of perfect peace and holiness, lasting a thousand years.’
Now, that could possibly be the case. It may so happen that when the sixth- thousandth year of labor is over, we shall enter our millennial of rest. The last chiliad – or thousand years – may be a Sabbath to the preceding six thousand years. Of course, even if we knew this, I am not sure it would be of any great assistance to us in foretelling the day when the church on earth would rise universally triumphant with the coming of her Lord. The chronology of the past is surrounded with such obscurity that we question whether any man is able to tell when the six thousand years is over, or within a hundred or two years of how old the world is. Even if this theory could be verified, our curiosity would be tantalized, rather than gratified. The fact is, for all the chronologies that we have – even those timetables that the translators of the Bible have put into them – are matters of conjecture. Their accuracy is far from indisputable. Thus, we could not ascertain the times and seasons – neither with any certainty nor should we desire to know. The Father keeps those times and seasons in his own power. As for the time of the end, no man knows when it shall come – no, not even the angels of God in heaven know.
Brethren, we should neither wish to discover what God has kept hidden, nor question those things which he declines to answer. It is certain, however, that our text does not teach the doctrine of the Sabbatic seventh thousand years. Indeed, if you looked at the whole drift of the passage, you would see that the words were written to address those who said, “Where is the promise of his coming; for since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” “No,” answers the apostle, “It is not so.” He then quotes, as an example, the memorable case of the flood as an instance of Divine intervention. Moreover, knowing that even the faithful began to chide the tardy hours and that the promise of Christ’s coming was long in fulfilment, the apostle rebutted the adversary and consoled the friend by the words of our text. He as much says by the words in our text, “You know not what you say when you speak of length of time, for you forget that in God’s estimate one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
The apostle, no doubt, wrote this also for the encouragement of Christians in our day. We too are growing weary, because the chariot of Christ is long in coming to the triumph. Christians are ready to cast down their arms and leave the conflict. However, like a good officer rallying the dispirited, he exhorts them to patience; “Beloved, it is not long; it may seem a tedious age to you; but it is fitting that you tarry for a while. Cease your impatience, and while you cry, ‘Why are his chariots so long in coming?’ remember that the time is not long to him; to him one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as one day.” What the apostle seemed to teach was the general principle that our estimate of time is not the right one… certainly not the Divine standard. Indeed, when we look at time in relation to God, we must remember that the distinctions known to us are not observed by him.
Now, before I begin my thoughts on the subject matter, let me comment on what the apostle goes on to say. Specifically, he would not have us ignorant concerning this matter. Beyond any doubt – he attached a great importance to his instruction to those who were ignorant. Some have a willful ignorance. Of them, the apostle said in the preceding verse, “This they willingly are ignorant of.” See to it, brethren, that you do not commit this sin of shutting your eyes to the light. Others have an idle ignorance. They will not study; they do not search the Scriptures; and, as a result, many things are not revealed to them. It is not good that the soul is without knowledge. For a Christian’s mind to be without knowledge of God must be exceedingly harmful. While we cannot form an idea of what God is without firsthand knowledge, we should be very careful and not make any off-handed comments on what he is and is not. Our apostle is the more earnest that we should make no mistakes on the point of God’s eternal state. We should not estimate and measure the Infinite One’s existence based on our rules and standards because the worst effects may flow from our error… impatience may ripen into unbelief… unbelief may rot into petulant complaint, and any complaint may breed inaction… sloth… disobedience… rebellion. We do not know how many other evils may harmfully arise within the church.
With that, we turn to the text. We will handle it – as God shall help us – in three ways. First, we shall say a little as to the general principle of the text. Secondly, based on the words of the passage, we shall dwell upon God’ s estimate of a day; and then, thirdly… all the while still keeping to the words of the text, we shall enlarge upon God’s estimate of a thousand years.
- First of all, then, as a general principle, we shall examine the statement, “that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
In opening this general principle for our consideration, we remark that all time is equally present with God. Consider, when we know an event will take place to-day, the event appears very near to us. However, when we know that the event will not occur until a thousand years have elapsed, we think nothing of it. We feel that we shall have long gone to our graves before that era. Thus, the event does not strike us as having any connection with us. Now, that is not so with God. In his view, all things are equally near and present. The distance of a thousand years until the event occurred, is no more to him than the interval of a day.
Indeed, with God there is neither past, present, nor future. He takes for his name the “I AM.” He does not call himself the “I WAS.” If so, we would then conceive of him that he once was something which he is not right now… some part of his character changed… some attribute ceased from existence. Indeed, there is an ominous sound of annihilation in the sound of the word, “He WAS. Is not the word WAS a knell for the dead, rather than a name for the living? Nor does our Lord God speak of himself as the “I SHALL BE. That name might lead us to imagine that he is not now something that he will be in the ages to come. No, no – we know his being is perfect… his essence infinite… his dominion absolute… his power unlimited… and his glory is transcendent. No, no – development is out of the question, he is all to-day what he will be in the future. Consider this: We read of the Lord Jesus that he is the Everlasting Father, and yet he has the dew of his youth. Childhood… manhood… old age… all belong to creatures, but they have no place at the right hand of the Most High. Growth, progress, advancement, all these are virtues in finite beings, but to the Infinite the thought of such change would be an insult. Yesterday, to-day, and to-morrow belongs to the dying mortal. The Immortal King lives in an eternal to-day. He is the I AM; I AM in the present; I AM in the past; and I AM in the future. Just as we say of God that he is everywhere, so we may say of him that he is always. He is everywhere in space and everywhere in time. God is to-day in the past; to-day and is already in the future. Yes, he is to-day in the present as we are to-day.
Now, I concede this is a subject that we can talk about without fully understanding what we say. Perhaps if we used a metaphor that would make the subject a little simpler. There is a river flowing along in gentle slope towards the sea. A boatman is on it. His boat is here, soon there… later still, it will be at the river’s mouth. Of course, all along as he sails, only that part of the river that he is on is present to him. But up yonder – on a lofty mountain – a traveler stands. As he looks down from the summit, he marks the source of the river and gazes upon its infant stream. At this point, the river appears to be a narrow line of silver. Then, with a clear eye, he continues to follow that stream until the stream swells into a rolling flood; then, he tracks it until it is finally absorbed into the ocean. Now, as that climber stands upon that Alp, that whole, sparkling line of water that adorns the plain below is equally present to him. He can follow the river from its source to its mouth. There is not one part of the river that is nearer to him than another. In the long distance, he sees the whole of it, from the end to the beginning. Yes, the boatman himself has shifted his place. The traveler watched him from the top of the mountain. The boatman cannot see the whole river… beginning to end. He can only speak of the river in reference to where he started, where he is presently and where he will be at journey’s end. However, again, the traveler on the top of the mountain sees the river and can speak of it as a whole, it is all in his view.
With such a metaphor in mind, we can now imagine the stream of time that God sees from his high tower. From the altitude of his habitation, he looks down upon the earth – sees all humankind – and sees all at one gaze. He takes in – not in many thoughts – but all at one thought… all the revolutions of time… all the changes of ages. He sees the thousands of years that have gone by, and thousands yet to come – all is present and in one view before his eye. Or, if you want another concept, there are some stars that are known as double-stars. With the strongest telescope it seems impossible to discover any distance between them. From our perspective, they are joined as one. An astronomer, on the other hand, perceives they are two stars – not one, but two, based on each star’s motion and movement. Because of that movement, the astronomer is perfectly certain that there may be millions and millions of miles of space between those two stars. Nevertheless, from our perspective, as I said, they resolve themselves to appear as one.
So, it is with the events of time – as the fall of man and redemption. To us, there is a space of some thousands of years, but God, who is far-seeing from his lofty throne, looks down upon those two events – Adam’s eating of the forbidden fruit and Jesus on the cross – resolving them into one. He sees the fall as taking place in the morning of time; the redemption completed when even-tide has come. To God they are one thought. As for us? We look at the fall and weep over it, and then afterwards, we view the restoration in Christ and rejoice. Yes, but, God regards the whole as one — indeed, the fall and the rising again of Israel are one. He links all events so closely together that he clearly beholds the glory whereby the whole occurrence is brought to him. Yes, he beholds the common good that he gave to the creatures, made by his own hands.
Yes, I know that by metaphor or conceptual imagery – however simple we make the thought, we cannot show you God – the face of none of his attributes can be seen. Nevertheless, it seems to me these ideas may lead you to remember that a thousand years in the future are as one day to God, and so too with the past. Indeed, God looks upon all things in one eternal NOW, as they stand perpetually present before his eye.
I say, let the sinner especially remember this. He says his sins were committed ten or twenty years ago. To God – at this moment – his sins are ever-present in an unmitigated hue of scarlet. Let the sinner think of this when he thinks of death and of the penalty after death. “Ah,” he says, “it is a long time to come.” Not so, sinner. To God the appointed day of your death is but as a day. If you could estimate correctly that day… how near the judgment is to you… how close those consuming flames are into which impenitent souls must be cast! Think of this, I pray thee, O dying man: tremble, and God help you to look upon your years as one day. And oh! remember, that one day in hell will be more painful than a thousand years on earth. God keep you from that place for his name’s sake!
Still considering the text as a general principle, “that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” the text teaches us that God is not affected by time. Time is powerless. Consider – a day does not make any particular change in us that we can notice. We do not meet our friend at night after seeing him the previous morning, and say to him, “My dear Sir, how much older you look!” No doubt we all grow older in one day, but the change is not very perceptible – at least by the course, common optics that mortal men possess and call eyes. However, if you see your friend after a span of fifty years, what a difference is seen in both of you!
Indeed, some of my dear friends around me are now grey or bald. Fifty years ago, they were fine, tall, handsome young men – full of strength and vigor. Others of us – twenty years ago were prattling boys, fond of play and frolic. Now we have come to manhood, and are bearing the burden and heat of the day. The fingers of time blot the epistle of life very sadly. As to this present congregation, wait another hundred years and where shall we all be? Unless the Lord comes we shall be slumbering in the dust – every one of us. We shall be awaiting the trump of the archangel. Nevertheless, as a day seems to make no change in us, we can say – far more truthfully – that a thousand years does not change God. Ages roll on, but he abides the same as when the waves break against the rock, but the rock forever stands fast.
Brethren, we need not fear that God will ever be weakened over the revolutions of time. The Ancient of Days, ever omnipotent, faints not. Neither is he weary. Is the Lord’s arm waxed short? Is his ear heavy that he cannot hear? Is his arm shortened that he cannot save? We shall find – if this creaking earth is to perform revolutions upon its axle for another thousand years longer – that the Lord will shew himself as strong to help his servants, and as mighty to crush his foes as ever he was before. And as time brings no weakness to God, certainly it shall bring no decay. Upon his brow there is ne’er a furrow; no signs of palsy affect his hand. We are told in John’s vision his head and hair are white like wool… white as snow as the emblem of his eternity… as the Ancient of Days; but “his locks are bushy and black as the raven,” said another. That description of him stands as the emblem of his perpetual youth and his eternal strength.
O Sun, your fires shall one day become extinct! O Moon, thou shalt hide your light! and you – you Stars – when you are ripe you shall fall like fig-leaves from the tree! and as for thee, O Earth, your ancient mountains already crumble to decay, and you yourself and all that dwells on you shall pass away as a garment that is worn out! but as for you, O God, you are the same, and of your years there is no end – from everlasting to everlasting thou art God! And as time can neither bring weakness nor decay to God, so time does not change his purpose over and through the revolving years. To that which he has set his seal, he stands fast. What his heart decrees, he will do. He is not a man that he should lie… neither the son of man that he should repent.
Moreover, as his eternal decrees are changeless, no unforeseen difficulties can intervene to prevent the accomplishment of what he has so ordered. Has he said, and not do it? Has he not commanded, and not brought it to pass? There shall be no unforeseen and unprovided energy required to finish his work… yea, verily, no unexpected impediments shall block his path. Until to-day he has leveled the mountains and bridged the seas… until now his own right hand and holy arm have won him the victory… until now no weapon that was formed and used against him prospered, and every tongue that lashed out against him he has condemned in judgment. So shall to-day be a world without end. As long as there is a work to do, he shall do it. As long as there is an enemy to conquer, that enemy shall be overcome. Conquering and to conquer is your course, O Lord, and throughout all ages you are the Lord strong and mighty – the Lord mighty in battle. One day – in the matter of any changes that affect men – is to God as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Yet further; the text no doubt intends to teach us that time is insignificant to God. Now consider this: We are told that within the compass of a drop of water sometimes a thousand living creatures may be discovered. Now, no doubt, their size is something very important to those creatures, although we can only see them inside that droplet using the strongest microscope. Still, the creatures that we see there are a hundred times larger than their observed neighbor, and no doubt, the larger creature finds the difference between itself and its neighbor most amazing… extraordinary.
However, to you and me, we – who cannot even see the larger creature with the naked eye – the larger animalcule is as imperceptible as his dwarfish friend. They both seem so utterly insignificant that we squander millions of them, and are not very penitent if we destroy thousands. Nevertheless, what would one of those little infusorial animals say if some prophet of its kind told them that there is a creature – a being – that is alive and could count as nothing their whole world, contained within a drop of water. Moreover, their prophet told them that being could take ten thousand, thousands of those droplets… scatter them without exerting half its power and would not be burdened if it carried all the thousands that lived in their great world on the tip of its finger — a world existing in a mere drop of water? More than that, to think that that being who carried them would not be disturbed – even if the great king of one of the empires in that droplet gathered all of his armies against that being and led his army to battle? What would they say to their prophet? Why, the little creatures would say, “How can this be; we can hardly grasp the idea?” Even if the infusorial philosopher within that droplet grasped the idea of such a being, and recognized the utter significance of its own self and its own little, narrow aquatic world, then what that philosopher was asked to grasp was an easy task compared to man when we attempt to grasp an idea of God.
The fact is the only reason that God can observe our existence is because he is infinite. To consider the infinite nature of God… his ability to marshal all of the stars… govern all the orbs which adorn the brow of night…. Given the magnitude of his heavenly creation, it is a great wonder to me that he should even know that we exist – such insignificant nothings as we are in existence. How much more that he should count every hair of our heads, and not suffer one of them to fall to the ground without his express decree. Indeed, the Infinite One’s presence is as much known in the minute as in the magnanimous. Thus, God may be as really discovered by us as those creatures in that drop of water or as displayed in the rolling orb! What is most wonderful about God? He observes us at all!
What do you think now, brethren? We make so much fuss over a thousand years… which is comparable only to a drop of water. As for that one day within the drop? It is but a particle. Is it far-fetched that God sees both the drop and the particle alike and both are utterly insignificant to him? They are not to be mentioned… they are but cyphers – quantities of no importance. They are but one leaf in an eternal forest of existence… one grain of sand on the mighty shore of the perpetual being of the ever-living one. A thousand days are as a day, and a day as a thousand years.
Besides being changeless and insignificant, the text also teaches us that all time is equally obedient to God. You and I are the servants of time. God is time’s sovereign Master. I cannot make an hour longer than it is — I often wish I could, but I cannot. If one could, and they only had an hour, one would pull an hour at both ends to allow more time to prepare some important labor. Sadly, an hour is rigidly set in measure and refuses to be lengthened. Indeed, if we could, there are times when we would make a day much shorter. When we are racked with pain in the morning, we say, “Oh, if only God made it evening!” Thus, we want to bring the two ends of the day together, but unhappily, they refuse to change from their fixed position. Time, inexorable time, goes on. With so many ticks of the clock – and though every motion of the pendulum may feel as the cutting of a sword into our vitals – yet time will not relent. Time goes on. To those miserable, time will ne’re be fast. To those who are happy? Time will ne’re slow. Time, and his footsteps, incessantly retain one ordained motion.
Not so, however, with God. Time is not his master. If he shall say to the sun, “Stand still, and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon,” There, time must stand eternally, unless he bids time to move again. If, on the other hand, he should bid time to speed its course till the dial moves forward many degrees, it must be so. The horses of the sun must hasten their speed… they must fly onward as God himself ordains for he is their charioteer, and the reins are in his hands. If the days were longer, or if they were shorter, to him the length of day is nothing – he cares not. Oh, brethren, we do not understand him but let us adore him. We cannot comprehend him, but let us admire him. I say again, t’is wonderful that God is time’s Master, and God bids time to move slowly or rapidly. Time is obedient to the behests of the Eternal God. One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
- Now, for only a few words about the second point — GOD’S ESTIMATE OF A DAY. He can make a day as useful, and to him it shall be as long as a thousand years.
Brethren, I think God’s estimate of a day is one of the most brilliant of the Church’s hope. We have been saying, “How many converts have been made by the Missionary Society during fifty or sixty years?” We have said, “Well, at this rate, how long will it be before the world is converted?” Ah! “At this rate…?” …but how do you know God’s rate? God can do as much in a day as he has done in the past thousand years if he so wills it. To the snail a furlong is a very long distance, but to a stag or a hound how little it is. Then, again, to a steam-engine it is nothing but then to a ray of light? Nothing at all. Then, there may be something that travels faster than light travels faster than a snail – ah, yes, but then where would a furlongs distance be? It is annihilated; it is gone. So is work, and labor, and toil with God. For you and me? We must continually work, work, and work. If our pace is that of a snail, we must still persevere, hoping to reach the end. But the day may come when God shall make one minister mightier than a thousand… a day when one sermon shall be enough to convert a congregation and in an instant, that congregation shall be endowed with fiery tongues and all of the brethren shall go forth and become preachers. E’re one day – one natural day is set – when it is possible for God to make the light of the gospel flash from one end of the earth to the other… yes, as quickly as the light of the sun travels from east to west. Limit not the Holy One of Israel.
“When he makes bare his arm,
What shall his work withstand?
When he his people’s cause defends,
Who, who shall stay his hand?”
Indeed, when he cometh forth out of his chamber like the sun, what thick darkness shall shade his light? He loosens the bands of Orion, and guides Arcturus with his sons… shall he not do this when he chooses to loosen the bands of his Church? Guide forth the stars of his right hand — the chosen preachers of the gospel of Christ? Only let him will it, and in one day, there shall be written in the records of the Church achievements that shall equal any thousand years of her history e’re recorded. This should lead us to remember that when God speaks of judging the world at the day of judgment, he will find no difficulty in doing it. In one day, two hundred judges might find it difficult to try all of the cases that might be brought before them in a single nation, but God – when he holds the great assize – he shall be able to convict every guilty one, and to absolve every penitent – all in one day. The Judgment could not be performed better if it took a millennia. His judgment could not be worse if it is done in a day. Oh Master, let us see thy great works! Come forth, and once again, make your day’s work illustrious things. When you brought up your people out of Egypt… when you lead them through the Red sea. You did not need a thousand years to break the chivalry of Egypt or to raise a wail from the sons of Mizraim. T’was but an uplifted rod… a few hours of divided sea… a terrific union of the parted floods, and lo, Egypt’s horses and chariots passed away. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. You did not need a thousand years to break the power of Jabin, king of Hazor. You merely spoke and the mighty river – the river Kishon – swept them away. The stars fought from heaven, and against Sisera. The might of the heathen was broken, and Israel was free. You did not need a thousand years to drive back Sennacherib. Lo, you put your bit into his mouth and your hook into his nose – then, in one night the angel of the Lord smote the horse and the rider. They lay dead, and you led Sennacherib back into confusion into the house of his God. His offspring killed him. Glory be unto you, Jehovah! When you rise up in the greatness of might, you shall slay and overthrow mighty kings… the two-leaved gates of brass shall open and the bars of iron shall be cut in pieces. In one day’s, time, you shall cause the nations of the earth to say, “The Lord, he is God, the Lord, he is God, the Lord, he is God alone.”
III. Finally, then, we turn to notice GOD’S ESTIMATE OF A THOUSAND YEARS. Yes, a day is to him as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The mournful complaint brought by those unbelieving in Zion is, “He is long in coming; his widowed spouse waits for him, but the bridegroom tarries.” Oh, the long and dreary winter, oh, the dark and dreary winter, when will summer come? When shall the rain be over and pass, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land? We have tarried 1860 years and more, and yet no coming of the Son of Man. The dweller in the isle brings no tribute… the inhabitant of the wilderness does not bow to lick the dust. Christ neither reigns in Jerusalem, nor do his ancient sons and daughters behold his face wearing the crown of his Father David. “How long, how long?” the saints under the altar cry. “How long?” as the saints here at the altar to-day take up the same wailing notes. “How long? how long? how long?” But he answers. “I am not long. What if I have waited and the time is long to you? Yet it is not long to me.”
God bids you to think for a moment. If you correctly understand the days, t’is no lengthened period of time that he envisioned in his tarrying. See first, my brethren, that the time that has elapsed since Christ’s crucifixion is not long… not compared with eternity. Try if you can… go ahead, measure Eternity. You will find your task impossible. Even if another thousand years rolls on, what would three thousand years be compared with Eternity? You might be able to form a comparison between a shell full of water from the sea to a child’s hand and compare what is held to the whole of the finite sea, but to compare two or three thousand years with Eternity? Nay, the comparison cannot be made. What you are doing is contrasting what is nothing with all things. But to compare a finite anything with what is infinite. Limitless? Boundless? Therefore, do you think him long in his promised coming. If – throughout eternity – you meditated on the riches that Christ revealed to you these past 6000 years… if – through all of those eternal cycles – those riches were the only subject… would you wonder that your meditation lasted so long? Nay, you would marvel that your meditations took so short a time compared to the incomparable riches given to you.
Then, again, when you say that God is taking long in accomplishing his great purposes, remember that he has no need to be in a hurry. Whatever you and I are called to do, we must do it with all our might for there is neither work nor device in the grave and that is where our days are hastening us. But God lives, and lives forever! Our sun goes down. If the laborer gets his day’s work done, he must toil with the sweat on his brow. However, God’s sun never goes down. God may take his own time – go about his work leisurely. Surely, he does not need to run to reach his purpose. When two little kings are offended with one another, they hasten straightway into war; but when some mighty monarchy is provoked, he can take his time, and wait to marshal all of his troops for the affray.
You might have seen yesterday, the clouds gathering hastily – the fierce winds pursuing them. Their black host speedily covered the face of the sky… the rain fell in rattling drops… pouring upon the earth in torrents. There was haste and fury, but we knew from the very haste with which the clouds came together, they only threatened a hurried storm. However, when the clouds come slowly together in a great rendezvous — when at last God’s trumpet sounds to summon his black warriors to the battle? When you behold, at length, the sharp flash… the glitter of his spear… a spear held by the Lord of tempests, while his mighty ones are marshalled and form their line… yes, that is when the trumpet will sound. Exceedingly loud and long… for many an hour the earth shall be deluged with the rain… men shall shake when they hear the voice of God breaking the cedar and rending the mountain-tops. That which gathers long lasts long; what is little is always in a hurry, but the great can wait. “He that believeth shall not make haste,” simply because believing makes him great; and God – on whom believers rest – makes no haste because of his greatness. He may well take his time… go leisurely about his work. We say, there is no need that the Lord our God – who is rich in years – should spend his time as we must spend ours – men, who have but a slender number of days in store.
Besides, there is an advantage in his being slow. Why? His seeming slowness tries our faith. Some of us are getting weary because we have little faith. However, if – from this day forward and for another thousand years – yes, if the Church of Christ shall keep sending out the pick of her ministry to the most desolate regions to preach… if she continues to send her young, brave sons fresh to the altar of distant martyrdom… if our Churches at home continue to pay a spiritual taxation like that which Israel paid when Solomon’s temple was being built… if every one of us shall be willing to spend and to be spent for God… and if the Church shall stretch her days for two thousand years to come… yes, we pray to God that she may not have the trial, but if she should come under trial, then there is honor unto God for he sustained her by his grace… and she will be honored for her faith, which thus honors God.
To win a fight when it lasts for an hour, what is there in the battle? One gallant charge and the foe fled. Comrade, a battle that is worthy to be written about takes in your Waterloos… your marathons… when hour after hour, and day after day, valor despises to succumb, and patience endures the fight as the soldiers stand foot to foot. Oh, to see gallant courage fiercely longing for the charge, but obediently awaiting the signal. Look, brethren, how they stand like lions at bay… stand bearing wounds, and agony… and the horrors of death, until at last, the captain gives the triumphant signal, and they dash upon their foes… the ranks of the enemy are broken… and the foe fall at their feet. So is the battle today. We are standing in our Churches – like British soldiers in their solid square – we roll our deadly musketry against our enemy, but the foe is in the distance. We cannot reach him as we would like to engage him. Great Master, you shall come, and then at one triumphant charge, we shall give one great cheer — “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” and our enemy shall fly like chaff before the whirlwind, and like the mist before the storm.
Further, it is well that God should take so long because he is unravelling revelation. I fear me. I have seldom been in the position of hearers who wished their preacher took longer. Still, there have been books you could hear one say when he reached the last page, “I wish there was another volume, that my interest might continue!” Now, what is the history of the Church, but the great book of God’s revelation of himself to man? The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed to loosen the seals, and to open the book for us. Year after year, he reads another page, and yet another volume is written in the Church’s history. Brethren, if Christ should come to-day – if we should have no more conflicts… no more difficulties… no more trials… then we might suppose that the book had come to its brilliant, golden finis. But, if it keeps on another thousand years to come, so much the better: the glowing eyes of angels do not wish for the end of the story. Moreover, the bright eyes of immortal spirits – speaking of us, dear friends – when we are before the throne… when time is all over, we shall not regret that the end took too long. No, let it go on, great Master; let a thousand years run on; our loving hearts will patiently bear it, as though it were but one day.
And more: the victory of Christ at the end will be all the greater, and the redemption all the more glorious. Why? Because of this long time of strife and confusion. I have often admired, in reading history, how in the grand duel between good and evil, God seemed to give all the advantage to his foe. Did you notice this in the combat between Patience and Suffering? God is in Job; Job is on a dunghill. Job’s friends – the messengers – come in such an order that would most naturally break his spirit. At last, he is touched in his bone… his flesh stricken with sore blisters, swellings, and yet in spite of that, Job, who is on the dunghill, is master over the Prince of hell with Providence at his back. God gave the foe the advantage, and yet won the victory. So, in the greater battle which is waging now; when first the gospel was preached, Christ disdained relying upon man’s learning, eloquence, and power. All these might have aided the cause, but Christ still disdained them. “No,” said he, “my enemy shall have the learning; the philosophers of Greece shall have the wisdom of men; their orators shall wield all eloquence, but not my apostles; as for power, I have not chosen the great ones of this world.” So, with that Christ set aside the eloquence, learning, pomp, and power of nations and put them into an opposite scale. T’was then that Christianity came out like a naked wrestler – unarmed against a foe that was clothed from head to foot wearing its worldly armor. The gospel comes out like a David – with nothing but a sling and a stone – standing against one whose spear is like a weaver’s beam. See the hosts of Philistia come up? They are armed to the teeth every one of them, and there are thousands of them.
Now, look there – there is another – God’s hero; he is but one man. He has no weapon except the decayed jawbone of an ass. Still, he dashes at them right and left… hip and thigh… with a great slaughter, and smites them – heaps and heaps – with his jawbone. He has slain a thousand men. Brethren, whenever you see anything in the world that would lead you to believe that the enemy is getting the upper hand, say, “Ah, it is only God throwing in the advantage on the side of his enemies.” The battle was fair enough before, but God is giving all of them their side… letting them have every weapon… bidding them to take all the power, and all of their eloquence and learning. We will beat them yet.
Now in the name of him that lives and was once dead, we – those who are God’s servants full of weakness – throw down the gauntlet against the world. Yes, the world seems omnipotent; stands against you in their learning… their eloquence… their multitudes… their authorities and their dignities… their powers and state alliances. Still, throw down the gauntlet, oh, Church of Christ! Take it up, O earth, if you dare, but remember when we make the challenge, we expect stern fighting. We know from God’s authority – which cannot lie – that a glorious victory awaits us. Now do you see, brethren? This is why God is a thousand years about ending it. He can shake the old harlot of the seven hills to-morrow if he will… he could knock down the idol gods to-day if it so pleased him. To-night, before you and I go to sleep, every idol might be cast to the moles and to the bats if Jehovah willed it, but he does not. “No,” says he, “they shall have their time… they shall have their opportunity… they shall strive against me. I will hold in my power. I will not go forth against them. I will let them lay their plans with deliberation and execute their schemes at their leisure, but I will laugh at them in their preparations, and I will at last crush them in my hot displeasure.” When that to-day comes, the shout shall be the louder… the choral song shall be the more mighty… the everlasting hallelujah shall have a deeper bass – yes, and yet it shall have a shriller note of glory when the triumph shall be won at last.
After the four hundred years of Israel’s bondage, Egypt’s power was broken and Israel went free. While Miriam took her timbrel and danced before the Lord, so shall we also in a few days sing and dance when all the adversaries are overthrown. We shall take up the same song of Moses and the Lamb— “Sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he cast into the sea. So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord, and let them that hate thee become as the fat of rams.”
With that, I am done. I now leave the faithful to consider what I preached. May it cheer your hearts. If you think the work has been long and tedious, you will not think so any more, brother, if you obey Peter’s exhortation, “Be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” As to those present who do not know Christ, may the one day of your conversion take place to-day. If so, then that one day that you find God’s grace and favour in your hearts you will find to-day that day as good as a thousand years spent in the pleasures of sin. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned.” For Christ’s sake, may God help us to believe!
Amen.
