The Closing Scenes and Your Decision
By A. Hayes
IN these troublous times, when nation is rising against nation, when there are wars and rumours of wars on every hand; when men's hearts are failing them for fear because of those things which are coming upon the earth, those who are wise will take an interest in that fast approaching event, the greatest in this earth's history,—the second coming of the world's Redeemer. Soon we shall see Him coming in the clouds of heaven as King of kings and Lord of lords, to gather together all those who through trial and tribulation “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Have you made preparation for that great day of the Lord? Will you view earth's closing scenes with joy and gladness? Is Christ to you a living, loving reality? Will you be one of that blood-washed throng who, with shouts of joyful praise, will cry, “This is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us”? Or will you tremble with fear at His coming because of the awful realisation that you have sinned away your day of grace and forever closed the door of God's mercy? The latter need not be your condition. The eternal God does not desire it, but in loving entreaty He says to all, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18. It is not His will that any should perish, but rather that all should turn to Him and live. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Do not trifle with your eternal destiny. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”; and then this glorious promise is held out to you that all other things you need will be added unto you. Then, in the name of Him who gave His life a ransom for all, “Ask, and it shall be412given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” We are living in the time of the end of all things, the last closing scenes of this world's history are upon us, “the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation,” prophesied in Dan. 12:1, is at hand. Soon the King in all His glory will appear and all earthly governments will forever pass away. “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His dominion endureth throughout all generations.” “At His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation.” Accept His pardoning love; let Him guide your faltering footsteps along the highway of righteousness, secure in Him who has all power to keep you from falling. Go not in your own way, heedless, careless, and indifferent to the loving entreaty of the Word of God. He seeks your eternal welfare. You cannot afford to reject the offer of divine love and mercy held out to you today. He alone can save you and keep you amid the trials and temptations of this sin-cursed world. What is your answer? God invites you to “choose this day whom ye will serve.” Let your decision be that which will open the glories of the eternal world to you and bring with it that life which will never end. Choose now, and choose in harmony with God's leading and His Spirit's pleading.