The times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.–Acts 3:19
To whom shall these times corneal To every sinner who repents and turns to Christ for salvation. From whence shall they come? From "the presence of the Lord." Here then see whether you have repented and turned to the Lord. If so, your soul will delight in God's presence. You will earnestly long for and highly prize these refreshing seasons. You will say with David, "Thou art my God, my times are in thy hands: I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 31:15; 35:1. Hence you will turn from your sins, your self-righteous hopes, carnal pleasures and worldly vanities, to seek all your happiness in the enjoyment of the presence of the Lord; and you will wait in the patience of faith for the coming of refreshing seasons, assured that they shall come.
Is it now a night of gloom and sadness? Are we tried and afflicted, bowed down and dejected? Is the sun of comfort set? Does the moon withhold its shining, and the stars their light? Yet times of refreshing shall come. Believe this: hang on this word; bless the Lord for it. That blessed COMFORTER who brought us to Christ, will refresh our souls with a sense of the love of Christ, the peace of God, and the joys of the heavenly world: he will. refresh us with his witness to our hearts that we are the children of God and heirs of glory. He does preserve in our minds a sense of the precious truth, that Christ is both an able and a willing Saviour: that he calls our weary, laboring souls to him, and promises us eternal rest. This is refreshing to our hearts.
Is sin our burden? Do we want rest? Are our souls troubled for want of peace? Are our spirits distressed for want of refreshment? Christ says, "Come unto me." But more precious times of refreshment shall soon come: yet a little while, and we shall behold, and be in the eternal enjoyment of the presence of the Lord. O, a lively view of this by faith is refreshing indeed! Then we long to be absent from the body and present with the Lord: we are sick of the world: sick of ourselves: we triumph over sin and Satan, smile at death and welcome its approach. "And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee." Psalm 39:7. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us." Tit. 2:13, 14.