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ARE WE READY?

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 28, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 34, No. 14.

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ARE WE READY?

By A. D. Bress

Oh! what a solemn question, and how carefully and prayerfully ought we to examine ourselves, and be sure that we are ready. “Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke xii, 40.
If there were no danger of our being unprepared, this solemn admonition would never have been given. But our Saviour saw the danger to which we would be exposed, and gave us this warning that we might be without excuse. And if we do not heed the warning, the fault is ours, and the dreadful realities of the second death will be our portion.
Of what vital importance, then, that we should be ready, lest coming suddenly he find us sleeping. Mark xiii, 36. But what must we do to be ready? We have the answer in the words of our Saviour, for he who warned us against this danger has not left us without a rule by which to test ourselves: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come and follow me.” Matt. xix, 17, 21. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke xxi, 36.
We do know that the second advent of our Saviour is near, but the day and hour we know not, neither does it make any difference whether it is at even, or at midnight, at the cockcrowing, or in the morning, if we are only ready. But in order to be ready we must first realize what manner of creatures we are. We must enter into a close examination of self, remembering that those who stand upon the sea of glass are without fault, neither will guile be found in their mouths. Rev. xiv, 5. Then if we, full of sin and pollution, must be perfect before we can stand with the redeemed, it is time we commenced the work in earnest. We must be prepared before Christ comes, for it will be too late then to make preparation. Oh! how important, then, that we make proper use of every moment; that we seek the Lord with a whole heart; that we draw nearer to Jesus from day to day, and with earnest prayer and supplication implore God to give us strength to overcome, that we may be found of him without spot and blameless when he shall appear. A. D. BRESS.