"If only you had known, on this great day, the way that leads to peace! But no; it is hidden from your sight. . . . You did not recognize God's moment when it came." Luke 19:41-44, N.E.B.

We ought to know more than anyone else about the time of God's visitation. The idea of visitation in the Bible usually implies some special intervention on God's part in the affairs of men. Failure to know the time is followed by grave consequences. Such failure implies a serious decline in spiritual insight and experience.

The occasion for Christ's statement was His visit to Jerusalem following the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The people of Bethany led a triumphal procession and sang praises to Christ, "Hosanna to the Son of David." As they came within sight of Jerusalem, Christ stopped. He gazed intently at the Holy City. Then His eyes filled with tears. He saw beyond His day some forty years hence when the city would be destroyed. There followed His solemn words, "Thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

Let us put the question to ourselves, to our families, to our places of business, to our pleasures, to our comings and goings. Is our insight into the times any better than that of the Jews? The extraordinary thing would be if we are now unable to recognize that again we have come to the time of Christ's judgment and visitation to our world. To live in expectancy of the soon return of our Lord should motivate us to prepare to meet Him. This is the time to gain new spiritual power and insight. This is the time to acquire a warmer desire and love for Christ.

If we daily respond to the voice of God, if we daily dedicate ourselves to Christ and to His service and count the world but loss, then when Christ comes our hearts and lives will easily and naturally make the transition from this world to the next. We are to make sure it will be well with us. Seek Christ first and His kingdom. Make life with Him your ruling and supreme purpose.