OUR SALVATION NEARING by D. T. SHIREMAN

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1867

OUR SALVATION NEARING.

By D. T. SHIREMAN

“And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom. xiii, 11, 12. While looking through the Bible, these verses fell with weight upon my mind. If the apostle could say in his day that it was high time to awake out of sleep, and that salvation is nearer, how much more the remnant people down here in these last days, where we have passed the signs that were to be given before the coming of the Saviour, and that have heard the sound of the last message of mercy that this world will ever receive. Can we not say in truth with the apostle, “that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep?” Yes; it is death to sleep. The faithful and true Witness counsels us to buy the gold that is tried in the fire, the white raiment and the eyesalve, if we would stand in the great day. Now is the time for us to work. Time is short. What we do must be done quickly. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us cast off the works of darkness. It will not do for the remnant to be conformed to the world; but we must lay aside the works of the flesh. We must be clad with the armor of light in this dark night of time. We are living in solemn times, in the hour of Judgment. Jesus is doing his last work in the heavenly sanctuary. We must confess all our sins; and before we can confess them we must know what sins we have about us. It will take self-examination to find out what sins are lurking about us, and this is a work we cannot do within ourselves; we must have help from on high. Jesus our High Priest will help us. Holy angels will help; and our dear brethren and sisters will assist in this great work.

It will not do for us to deceive ourselves and then plead ignorance. The light of truth is shining too plain not to be seen; and now, while the light is shining, is the time to arouse out of sleep. It is a great work to overcome and be ready for the coming of Jesus, to be found without spot or wrinkle in that great day. We cannot overcome without a struggle. Satan will bring every influence to bear upon us that he can to destroy us. Now is the time to watch and pray, lest we be ensnared by this wily foe.

Every step we take in the great reform will bring us nearer to God, and farther from the enemy’s ground. Then let us put on the whole armor of God, so that we may be able to stand. We have made many vows that we would live better. Let us pay those solemn promises.

There is a blessing connected with every sacrifice that we make. Praise the Lord for his goodness. He has promised help in time of need. I here wish to say that the health reform has been a blessing to me. It is designed to be a great help in overcoming. It is not right to try to make ourselves odd; but try to live in such a way that our life will have a gathering influence. May the Lord help us all to realize the time in which we live; and may we overcome, and at last be saved in his kingdom is my prayer.

D. T. SHIREMAN.

Marion, Iowa.