Sweet Communion and Visitations from LORD JESUS

"And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his own place." -Genesis 18:33 [KJV]

Love is the bond of friendship. Unless love be mutual, friendship cannot subsist. The sweets of friendship are enjoyed in free communications. Friends are delighted with each other’s presence. Long absence causes pain. This is true between God and the soul. If you feel concern at the absence of God, you love God: you are a friend of the Lord’s. The Lord stoops to earth: He takes our flesh: He visits and converses with us as friends. This same Lord communes with Abraham. 

Consider, (1st.) Abraham was a poor sinner, as we are; he could no more behold the essential glory of the Godhead, without a mediator, than we can. Nor can God in His essential glory, as perfectly holy and righteous, draw near to fallen man, without a mediator, but sudden destruction must be his awful doom. Therefore it was Jesus the Lord, the sinner’s Friend, Mediator, Justifier and Saviour, that communed with Abraham. It is Jesus “with Whom we have to do.” “He is the word of God to us,” (Hebrews 4:13.) This revives and refreshes our dejected spirits. 

(2d.) Though this visit and communion with the Lord was precious, yet it did not last long. The Lord went on His way. Do not you frequently find it so? Christ comes and pays a love-visit to your soul. He sweetly communes with you. He warms your heart. He comforts your soul. It is but for a season. He goes His way. You cannot but be sorry. You reckon those moments tedious that intervene between one loving visit and another. You say, with the disciples, “did not my heart burn within me?” (Luke 24:32.) And with others, “O Thou hope of Israel, the Saviour, why shouldst Thou be a wayfaring man, Who tarries but a night?” (Jeremiah 14:8.) But faith lives upon Jesus, though sensible comforts are wanting. 

(3d.) Abraham returned to his own place; to the tents in Mamre: which signifies rebellion, or bitter. He must again feel the rebellions, and taste the bitter of his fallen nature: there is love in this, as well as in the Lord’s visits and communings. Wisdom prescribes this portion. Love administers it. Grace makes it profitable. Says our dear Lord, “What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter,” (John 13:7.) 

Our Lord’s love is ever the same. His affections change not. Though He may leave off communing with thee below, yet He never ceases praying for thee above. This is precious to the faith of our hearts. Do we come unto God by Him? He is able to save us to the uttermost. He ever liveth to make intercession for us. -see Hebrews 7:25

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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