Posted by HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place. 2 Chronicles 36: 15.
WHAT a touching and graphic phrase! How did God yearn over that sinful and rebellious city! Sending his messengers, “rising up betimes, and sending ” like a man who has had a sleepless night of anxiety for his friend or child, and rises with the dawn to send a servant on a mission of inquiry, or a message of love. How eager God is for men’s salvation!
From God’s eagerness, may we not learn a lesson of anxiety for the souls of men? We do not long after them enough or rise betimes to urge them to repent. Did we realize what heaven is, or hell, what men are missing or incurring, what our duty is, as saved ourselves, we should rise up betimes to seek their eternal interests.
But if God rises betimes to seek men, should they not do the same to seek Him? Think you not, that when Adam heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden at morning prime, he would be up and away to meet Him on the upland lawns of Paradise? Can we wonder that our Master would rise up a great while before day, to meet his Father on some unfrequented height? Let us not cling to beds of sloth when God is awaiting us; let us heed his loving remonstrances (a forcefully reproachful protest), that we may be saved in the overthrow of the world; and let us, like Lot, pass on the word to others enwrapt in fatal slumber around us, bidding them escape to the mountains, before the sunrise on the earth, lest they are consumed.
It should be our practice to rise up early before dawn to meet our Lord in communication, in prayer. I am sure once you make the effort and be genuine about your actions He will be there waiting for you. Remember Adam was always there waiting for him until that day when something happened and he didn’t show up. Then, it was God’s duty to find out what happened to him so He went in search. Do not let your excuse be like that of Adam. Get up and go meet the Lord.
THE MYSTICAL BROTHERHOOD 