WHAT WE MAY SEE by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 24, 1898

WHAT WE MAY SEE.

By T.

The disciples asked the Saviour, “When shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” Luke 21:7. Matthew’s statement of the same questions is, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Matt. 24:3. To these direct questions the Saviour replies that “there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25-28.

We are here plainly told that there shall be “signs” in the sun, moon, stars, etc., and “then shall they see the Son of man coming.” And “when these things begin to come to pass,” the disciple of Christ is to “look up, and lift up his head; for his redemption draweth nigh.”

Then the Lord points to signs of His coming. And they are not only signs to the believer, but are for the direct purpose of leading the unbeliever to a positive knowledge of the soon coming of Christ. Now, in the very nature of things, the Lord would not point to commonplace occurrences as “signs” of His coming. But marvelous things, in such proportions as the world has never seen the like of them before, stand out as the signs of the coming day.

And just as surely as these “signs” appear, there will come with them an irresistible conviction of what they portend. To say that men, as they behold the marvels which betoken that we are in the last days, will not be deeply impressed with their meaning, is to limit the power and wisdom of God. For when the Lord points you or me to evidence of the greatest of all events, that evidence must be clear and conclusively convincing. Hence, just as surely as our God is infinite in His power and resources, and just so surely as He has pointed to signs of the coming of the Son of man, those signs as they rise in colossal magnitude all about us will deeply impress the mind that the end of all things earthly is at hand.

Then how carefully should we heed the voice of conscience when we know in our very souls that God is speaking to us in these “signs” so long ago foretold in His Word! To say that every one will not have the clearest evidence that the second coming of the Lord is near at hand, is to deny the truthfulness of His Word. And to say that the evidence he presents will not carry conviction to every heart, is to limit the power of the Infinite, and cause Him to appear as a tyrant. Our God, who is all powerful, could not be either just or kind, in presenting “signs” of the coming of His Son, if those signs were not abundantly sufficient to convince.

In His Word the Master tells us of the “signs” by which we may “know” when His coming is near. Have you looked into that Word to see what those signs are? If not, you should hasten to do it. For have not many of the things that are confronting the world to-day filled you with perplexity as to what they portend? As you see the increasing of crime and violence in the land, are you not impressed by the thought that a just God can not endure the scene much longer, and hence must bring the world to an end? This is none other than the voice of God calling to you through the signs given in His Word. He loves you and seeks to save you from the destruction that is even now hanging over this world.

Will you not yield to the entreaties of the Master? For in yielding to Him we are granted the infinite liberties of the eternal day. If your soul is perplexed, if your heart is failing you “for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth,” remember that it is not Jesus who is thus loading you with dread. It is the hand of the Satanic adversary that is oppressing you. But all the while the tender Shepherd is standing near you, offering you the cleansing from sin and the crown of immortal life and joy. The faintest beckoning will bring Him to your side, your Saviour, your Keeper, and your everlasting strength.

And you should not overlook the fact that as the signs of His second coming appear before you, striking conviction into your heart, if you stifle the voice of God, and refuse the messenger of peace to your soul, only hardness of heart awaits you, and you will sustain an infinite loss. And the facts and signs that now strike conviction to your heart, if resisted, will soon fail to affect you, and so you finally place yourself beyond the reach of your dearest Friend, who is seeking to save you.

Heed the voice of God that is speaking to you to-day. Eternal are the consequences of your choice. T.