In the Hours of Waiting for Christ

All who sincerely love Jesus can appreciate the feelings of us who watched with the most intense longing for the coming of our Saviour. The point of expectation was nearing. The time when we hoped to meet Him was close at hand.LSMS 71.4

We approached this hour with a calm solemnity. The true believers rested in a sweet communion with God, and earnest of the peace that was to be theirs in the bright hereafter. None who experienced this hope and trust can ever forget those precious hours of waiting.LSMS 72.1

Worldly business was for the most part laid aside. We carefully examined every thought and emotion of our hearts, as if upon our deathbeds, and expecting in a few hours to close our eyes forever upon earthly scenes. There was no making of “ascension robes” for the great event; we felt the need of internal evidence that we were prepared to meet Christ, and our white robes were purity of soul, characters cleansed from sin by the atoning blood of our Saviour.LSMS 72.2