p. 3 | What They Did in 1844

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 29, 1904

What They Did in 1844

There is a paragraph in one of Sister White’s articles, designated for use during the recent week of prayer, which ought not to be dismissed with a single reading. It runs as follows: “Be always ready; ‘in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’ Go to your rest at night with every sin confessed. Thus we did in 1844, when we expected to meet our Lord. And now this great event is nearer than when we first believed. Be always ready, in the evening, in the morning, and at noon, that when the cry is heard, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him!’ you may, even though awakened out of sleep, go forth to meet him with your lamps trimmed and burning.” There is a directness and a simplicity in this instruction which make the thought of the nearness of the coming of the Lord very vivid. That event is now to be reckoned with by us just as it was by

the believers in 1844. Each day’s experience must now close with the positive assurance that we are justified by faith, and that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This must become a settled habit with us, so that we may be always ready to meet the Lord, though he should come suddenly. As we close the day with thanksgiving and intercession, let this instruction be remembered: ‘Go to your rest at night with every sin confessed. Thus we did in 1844, when we expected to meet our Lord.’ Sinners whose sins have all been confessed and forgiven will be ready to hail the Bridegroom with joy.