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What of the Night?

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 2, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 35.

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“What of the Night?”

By M. Shepard

M. SHEPARD
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep.” Rom. 13:11. These words of counsel and admonition apply in a special sense to the children of God who know the times and seasons, and at the time when the Saviour is about to appear the second time “without sin unto salvation.”
Physically, sleep is needful. It is also true that there is a time to sleep; and in this proper time, it may be perfectly safe to sleep. But he who sleeps out of season may suffer great loss, and subject himself to great danger, both of life and of property; and not only so, but as a result of this untimely or unseasonable sleeping, others may suffer great loss. “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.” Rom. 14:7.
Spiritual sleep is not needful. “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Ps. 121:4. Neither has the Lord made any provision for spiritual sleeping in Israel. It is therefore neither safe nor profitable for any one to be found so doing at any time. “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Eph. 5:14. The call to awake out of sleep, based upon the knowledge of knowing the time, “that now it is high time,” implies the possibility of it being the last call, or even the last opportunity to receive life. Let us therefore awake, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, neither with the workers of iniquity, who are saying to the works of their hands, Ye are our gods. For in Jehovah the fatherless findeth mercy.
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep,” let no man beguile you of your reward, neither spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the ways of the world, and not after Christ. Col. 2:18, 8.
“Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isa. 8:13.
“For the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . . So shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chron. 20:15, 20. What of the night?
The night is far spent.
Wayne, Mich.