The Hope of the Church 299 hold as regards the race, and that the triumph of the kingdom in the race as an organic unity will be brought about only by a supernatural intervention of divine power and the introduc tion of humanity into a new order of things. 5. I t presents a sublime view of God’s great purpose in His creation. I t places the redemption of the whole world, the restoration of all things, in the very forefront of the di vine purpose regarding fallen man. Everything has been ar ranged and foreordained by God to this end. This is the di vine event to which the whole creation moves. He who has this hope has a large vision, a vision not limited to the pres ent day and its affairs. He sees the will of God moving on through the history of the ages. The present age is but pre paratory. A grander age is to be ushered in by the advent of the victorious Redeemer, an age in which man shall come to his own at last, and creation shall be restored to its har mony, under its true Head, the glorified Son of Man. 6. I t provides the most inspiring motive for Christian life and service. I t is a supremely practical hope. The re peated instructions of the Lord and His apostles to be ready for His return indicate the force this doctrine had as a mo tive in the lives of the early Christians. The great leaders who have left their impress on the history of the Church did not discard this doctrine, but made it a real hope in their own lives. Martin Luther, in the midst of the throes of the Refor mation, wrote, “I ardently hope that, amidst these internal dissensions on the earth, Jesus Christ will hasten the day of His coming.” The acute and learned Calvin saw that this was the Church’s true hope. “We must hunger after Christ,” he said, “till the dawning of that great day when our Lord will fully manifest the glory of His kingdom. The whole family of the faithful will keep in view that day.” The intrepid soul of John Knox was nerved by this hope. In a letter to his friends in England he wrote: “Has not the Lord Jesus, in despite of Satan’s malice, carried up our flesh into heaven ?
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker