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Waiting for the Cars

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 27, 1870

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 36, No. 15.

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Waiting for the Cars.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

A SHORT time since I had occasion to take the cars at midnight at a small way-station. At bed time all retired to sleep, the lights were put out, except one left for my use, and I was left alone to watch away the weary hours. Being a small station the train would not stop unless a sign was made; hence it was very necessary for me to be ready when it came. Anxiously I paced the floor and watched the time, for I could not afford to be left. When the time had about come I took my stand on the platform and carefully watched for the first signs of the coming train. Soon I heard the noise of it coming, then I saw the light, and directly it was there, and I got aboard. Probably there was not another one around the place that heard or saw any signs of the coming train. Why was this difference? Because they had no interest in its coming and were not watching for it.
I think this well illustrates the condition of the people of God, and of the world as to the signs of Christ’s coming. The world knows not that Christ is coming, it sees no evidence, no signs, of it. Why not? Because there are no signs? No; but because they have no interest in it and are not watching the signs of his coming—they are asleep. But those who have a deep interest in it, whose all depends upon his coming, are awake and anxiously looking for the least and every sign of his appearing. They have carefully studied all that the Bible has said about that event and they know every sign that is to herald its coming. So when these signs occur they immediately recognize them and mark them. Others may see the same events and yet never recognize in them any signs of Christ’s coming, because they are not enough interested in that event to learn what are the signs of its coming.
Signs are thickening all around us betokening the end, yet men are asking, “Where is the promise of his coming?” To which we say, “Can ye not discern the signs of the times?” If they could or would, they might be awakened to prepare for Christ’s coming.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Des Moines, Iowa.