AWAKE! AWAKE! by An English Unknown Writer

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 10, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 50.

AWAKE! AWAKE!

By An English Unknown Writer

“Behold, the Bridegroom Cometh.”

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you; go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.” Matt. 25:1–13.

WHAT a difference it would make in the professing church, if this, and similar portions of God’s Word, were really believed. The invasion of England could not give greater surprise, or alarm, than would be the awakening of the slumbering church to the fact that the Lord was really coming; yet such is the case; and the ignorance and sleepy carelessness of the great mass of professors but proves the divine inspiration of this parable.

Let it be remembered that this parable was spoken before the present state of things had any existence, and yet, no person could now write a more striking description of the present state of that which bears the name of God on earth. True, it was spoken to the Jews; but its instruction to us is no less solemn.

Now, to come to the point at once, what would be the case with the multitudes who profess

the name of Christ, if He should come at this moment? What would mere profession be worth—the lamp without the oil?

It is written, the foolish “took no oil with them.” Yet they took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. How common this is in our day! It is quite enough to belong to some religious society; a name to live, but dead. Perhaps, a beautiful lamp; but no oil, and no light. Is this my reader’s condition? Then, there is not a moment to be lost—no, not a moment; for it is Jesus who says, “Surely, I come quickly.” Rest not day nor night, until you know, with certainty, that you have oil in your vessel.

These are the words of truth, “Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” And again, “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” 1 Thess. 5:2, 3. Yea, is it not the Lord Himself who assures us this awful event will take the world with as great surprise as did the Flood in the days of Noah, and the overthrow of Sodom in the days of Lot? Now, to say the least of it, does not this subject demand a most serious consideration? However men may explain away the Scriptures, the fact is the same; we are evidently approaching this great event—the coming of the Lord.

The very world seems conscious that some great event is at hand. If you have not oil in your vessel, then what a terrible day is at hand. What a test this is! Look at it fully. Test your condition by this great event. Suppose the trumpet sounds, to call the dead and living saints to meet the Lord in the air, in one hour from the time you read these words (and who can say it will not?), how are you ready to meet Christ? Does the thought give you joy? Are you sure you are His—that your sins are pardoned—that He is your Saviour, your Righteousness, your Sanctification, your all? Does your heart long to see Him who has loved you, and given Himself for you? O, what joy, then, to know, in one hour you may see Him, and be like Him! Before God, is this your blessed hope? Or, are you afraid to think of the possibility of this taking place in one hour?

Let me press home the madness of leaving this solemn question in uncertainty. The moment is fast approaching when, the door being shut, it will be utterly in vain to cry, “Lord, Lord, open to us.” How fearful the sound of those words, “I know you not!” Who can conceive the fearful anguish of heart to reflect on a life of self-delusion;—a lost soul to say, I was a professor, a teacher, or a preacher? I often read the parable of the ten virgins. O, fool that I was! little did I think my own case was described in that parable.

O, my readers, let me ask you, point-blank, Are you saved? Have you the blessed assurance that God has for Christ’s sake forgiven your sins? Have you received Christ? Let me once more remind you, it does not matter a straw what profession you make; if you have not Christ, your profession will only aggravate your misery. These are the words of Him whose name you bear, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” O dead, sleeping professor, “Behold He cometh.” What would you think, if you saw a child trying to stop a railway train? Just as soon will human reason and unbelief hinder the coming of the Son of God. “Every eye shall see Him.” The moment is fixed. What a moment for the five wise, and what a moment for the five foolish! What a moment to you and to me! Glorified in the presence of Christ; or cast into outer darkness. Momentous question. O, sleepy world, awake, awake!—An English Unknown Writer.