Day 274

Fiction has painted the picture of a maiden whose lover left her for a voyage to the Holy Land, promising on his return to make her his beloved bride.  Many told her that she would never see him again.  But she believed his word, and evening by evening she went down to the lonely shore, and kindled there a beacon-light in sight of the roaring waves, to hail and welcome the returning ship which was to bring again her betrothed.  And by that watchfire she took her stand each night, praying to the winds to hasten on the sluggish sails, that he who was everything to her might come.  Fiction has painted the picture of a maiden whose lover left her for a voyage to the Holy Land, promising on his return to make her his beloved bride.  Many told her that she would never see him again.  But she believed his word, and evening by evening she went down to the lonely shore, and kindled there a beacon-light in sight of the roaring waves, to hail and welcome the returning ship which was to bring again her betrothed.  And by that watchfire she took her stand each night, praying to the winds to hasten on the sluggish sails, that he who was everything to her might come.   Even so that blessed Lord, Who has loved me unto death, has gone away to the mysterious Holy Land of Heaven, promising on His return to make me His happy and eternal Bride.  Some say that He has gone forever, and that here we shall never see Him more.  But His last Word was, “Yea, I come quickly.”  And on the dark and misty beach sloping out into the eternal sea, each true believer stands by the love-lit fire, looking, and waiting, and praying and hoping for the fulfillment of His Word, in nothing gladder than in His pledge and promise, and calling ever from the soul of sacred love, “COME, LORD JESUS; COME QUICKLY.”  And one of these nights, while the world is busy with its gay frivolities, and laughing at the maiden on the shore, a form shall rise over the surging waves, as once on Galilee, to vindicate forever all this watching and devotion, and bring to the faithful and constant heart a joy, and glory, and triumph which never more shall end! Watch!  Tis your Lord’s command; and while we speak, He’s near.  Mark the first signal of His Hand, and ready all appear.  O happy servant he, In such a pasture found!  He shall his Lord with rapture see, and be with honor crowned! [Joseph Seiss]