WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?
By G. W. A.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Suffer for a few moments the word of exhortation while your unworthy brother shall attempt to speak unto you. How solemn is the time in which our lot is cast! We are standing on the very threshold of the eternal world. The next great event will be the appearing of the Son of man on the white cloud. What we do to be ready for Christ’s appearing must be done quickly. There is no time for the spirit of dalliance now. Already we have been too tardy in the great work of overcoming and drawing nigh to God that he may draw near unto us. But mercy still lingers, and the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. Oh! who will be so unwise as to slight Heaven’s proffered boon, and thus fail of the grace of everlasting life? The present is an hour of decision with many. As the prophet says, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision.” All things go to show that the stay of the church in this world of sin is short. The aspect of the times is ominous. The great signs of the times, moral, political, and religious, tell us in language unmistakable, that the end of all things is at hand. The condition of both the church and the world proclaims this startling truth in the most emphatic manner. These are the days of vengeance, in which all things written in the law and prophets for this time may be accomplished. Truly, in the language of the poet, “We are living, we are dwelling,
In a grand and awful time.” The great question with every person now should be, What must I do to be saved when Christ comes? Not every one that says, Lord, Lord, shall be saved in the kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of God in Heaven. Let us all show by our godly walk and holy conversation that we have been born from above, and that our citizenship is in Heaven, from whence we soon expect our Lord and Saviour. Now is the time to prepare for the latter rain, the mighty refreshing, which will soon prepare the harvest of saints for the garner of the Lord. Let us all frequently ask ourselves the question, Is the work of grace progressing in my heart, which shall fit me to stand in the day of war and battle just before me? Those only who are perfect overcomers, who stand complete in all the will of God, will at last sit down with Christ on his throne. With many, the work will not go deep and thorough; it will be too much of a surface work; and when the King shall come in to see the guests, they will be found wanting—not having the wedding garment on. May Heaven kindly grant, dear reader, that it may never be thus with you and me. The present is a solemn, searching time for the church in Battle Creek. Our meetings are generally characterized by such a spirit of earnestness and solemnity393as we have never known before. There are very few meetings of a happy, joyous character, but they are generally solemn as the judgment. We trust that, as a general thing, the church is trying to dig deep, lay the foundation sure, and get ready for the appearing of the Son of God. But this is not true with all. Some do not seem to get much burden in the present work of confessing, agonizing, and drawing near to God. Still we pray that God in his sovereign mercy will pity such, and open blind eyes, and soften hard hearts. You have all doubtless learned ere this, from Testimony No. 13, that God is no respecter of persons, and that he will sooner reprove sin in those who stand in high places than in those who occupy some other position in this solemn work. Let the sad experience of the Battle Creek church during the year past be a lesson to all. May it lead the people of God in other places to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness, and to so improve upon the means of grace that they, with us, may become a lump holy unto the Lord. God is good, brethren and sisters, and for this we will bow the knee, and reverently bless his holy name. Don’t, I beseech you, ever take this church for an example,—at least, it will never be safe to follow us only as we follow Christ. We believe it should be the all-engrossing topic now, how we can open the door of our hearts and let the Saviour in. Those hearts which are cleansed and purified by the blood of Christ, will soon become his ‘habitation through the Spirit.’ How searching in this judgment work! Who shall be able to stand? The axe is now laid unto the root of the tree, and the spirit of judgment and of burning is at work with the church. How thankful we ever should be that now, as in days of old, there are those who know what Israel ought to do. Let God and the Lamb be praised for this, and may there ever be with us that grateful spirit which would say, ‘Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.’ Brethren and sisters, pray for the prosperity of the work of God. And while, in view of our unfitness for the great work, the feeling seems to be, ‘Who is sufficient for these things,’ may we be able to say with the apostle, ‘I can do all things through Christ strengthening me.’
G. W. A.