Forward

The remnant in Haggai's day was pointed forward. "The Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts." Their hearts were directed to the coming of Christ, and the glory which is to fill His earthly house.
Are we behind them in this respect? Happily, we know we are not. The "blessed hope" today is the coming again of Him who loves us, and has given Himself for us. Nor do we fall short of the privilege of casting glances forward to coming glory as we listen to such wondrous words as those spoken to the Holy Father, "And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them.”
A practical word in conclusion is: "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood." This is uttered in many, though varied, forms in Scripture. There is wood still on the mountain top for workmen, and it is for them to go up there and bring it down to build into the house. Uninstructed effort may busy itself with material already gotten, not on the mount but on the plain or other unauthorized place. Why this waste for want of instructions when these arc amply supplied in Scripture? What is needed so much now is true-hearted obedience to these instructions. May the words written by Haggai so long ago be suggestive now. "All the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God," bearing in mind as well that "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning."
W. Sibthorpe