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world understood not His union with the Father; the excellency and
glory of His divine character were hid from them. He was therefore
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“despised and rejected of men,” and “we did esteem Him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.” Even as Christ was in the world, so are
His followers. They are the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ;
and the kingdom and dominion belong to them. The world understand
not their character and holy calling; they perceive not their adoption
into the family of God. Their union and fellowship with the Father
and Son is not manifest, and while the world behold their humiliation
and reproach, it does not appear what they are, or what they shall be.
They are strangers. The world know them not, and appreciate not the
motives which actuate them.
The world is ripening for its destruction. God can bear with sinners
but a little longer. They must drink the dregs of the cup of His wrath
unmixed with mercy. Those who will be heirs of God, and joint heirs
with Christ to the immortal inheritance, will be peculiar. Yes, so
peculiar that God places a mark upon them as His, wholly His. Think
ye that God will receive, honor, and acknowledge a people so mixed
up with the world that they differ from them only in name? Read again
Titus 2:13-15
. It is soon to be known who is on the Lord’s side, who
will not be ashamed of Jesus. Those who have not moral courage to
conscientiously take their position in the face of unbelievers, leave the
fashions of the world, and imitate the self-denying life of Christ, are
ashamed of Him, and do not love His example.
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