p. 110 | JESUS SOON IS COMING by M. E. LOCKWOOD

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 30, 1869

“JESUS SOON IS COMING.”

By M. E. LOCKWOOD

Yes, Jesus is coming the second time without sin unto salvation. Once he came to this earth a babe in Bethlehem. He was cradled in a manger. He took upon himself our nature. In childhood he was subject to his parents. In manhood, he was a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief. Guile was never found on his lips. Although tempted in every point like as we are, yet he sinned not. What an example of meekness, patience, and submission. Go to the garden of Gethsemane. Behold his agony. The sins of the whole world are upon him. See him sweat great drops of blood, then listen to his prayer, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Follow him to that accursed judgment hall. Listen to the false witnesses. Behold the mockery. See the blood issue from his temples pierced by that cruel crown of thorns. Hear him condemned to death, then follow him to Calvary. Behold him fainting beneath his heavy cross. Listen as the nails are cruelly driven through his tender hands and feet. Now behold him extended in midheaven. Does he call for vengeance on his merciless persecutors? No! he only prays, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” What wondrous love! Can it be that mortal man should ever be ashamed of Jesus, or crucify him afresh, and put him to an open shame? His sufferings ended, but the grave could not hold him. No, he unlocked the prison doors, and has now the keys of death and the grave. More than eighteen hundred years he has been interceding for our fallen race. Now he is finishing up his work of mercy. Soon he will lay off his priestly attire, and arrayed in kingly robes will come to claim his own. Then mercy, sweet mercy, will cease to plead for the guilty. Yes, he is soon coming again; not as a babe in Bethlehem, but as a mighty conqueror. He is coming to receive the purchased possession.

Jesus soon is coming. How precious the sound. How it cheers the heart of the lonely one as he journeys on his pilgrimage through this wilderness of sin. There all his hopes center. Then and there he expects redemption, freedom from temptation and sin, victory over the flesh, the world, and the Devil. Then will the last battle with the powers of darkness have been fought. And is it true that Jesus is soon coming?

Yes, lone, weary one, fight on a little longer, and the great Deliverer will come. Signs are thickening on every hand, that speak in thunder tones, that the great day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly.

Then lift up your head and rejoice, for your redemption draws nigh. Does earth look drear? Are you weary of the turmoils, perplexities, and trials, of this wicked world? Weary of the buffetings of Satan? Does your courage almost fail? Look to Jesus. Cast your eyes away from earth to the heavenly sanctuary. Still he is pleading for sinners. He is pleading for you. Hear his gracious words, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Do you believe it? Then trust in him.

The third angel’s message is now being given as the last merciful warning to a world lying in wickedness; and yet how few heed it. Cast your eye on the political world. It is like the troubled sea that casts up mire and dirt. Look at the religious world, and darkness covers the land, and gross darkness the people. Old earth is groaning beneath her weight of human misery and woe. Yet the sages of the day gravely tell us there is a good time at hand; that the world is growing better and better, and soon it will be converted; when the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waves cover the sea. Indeed! the world is already converted, but, alas! it is to the world, and the deceptions of Satan cover the earth, not the glory of God. This indeed is the false cry of peace, peace, when there is no peace. So drunk are they with the wine of Babylon, and filled with surfeiting and gluttony, that their spiritual eyes are blinded. The god of this world has lulled them to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. Ask them, Watchmen, what of the night? You will readily discover that the prophet’s predictions are literally fulfilled in them. See Isa. lvi, 10, 11. “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs, which

can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand.” But are there no true watchmen in this dark and weary night of sin and woe? Is there no chart or compass to guide the weary pilgrim through the quicksands and shoals of time’s tempestuous sea? What saith the prophet? Isa. lii, 8: “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice, with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Ask again, Watchmen, what of the night? You may gain a response from a few of God’s chosen watchmen, “The night cometh, also the morning.” A dreary night of woe awaits those who have rejected offered mercy, but a bright and glorious morning to the weary pilgrim whose very being is animated with the welcome sound, Jesus soon is coming.

“Jesus soon is coming, This is my song, Cheers the heart when joys depart And foes are pressing strong.”

M. E. LOCKWOOD. Holly, Mich.