Present Opportunity by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1874

Present Opportunity.

By Jos. Clarke

To-day, the ambassador of Jesus Christ stands pleading with thee, O sinner. His heart overflows with love. He knocks at the door of thine heart. Wilt thou open the door, and admit the heavenly messenger?

To-day, Jesus pleads before his Father for thee, lukewarm professor; and the angels beckon thee on to victory. The Spirit of God is already near thee; and thine eyes are moved to tears; and thine heart is tender. Wilt thou repent and reform.

To-day, thy sins are set in order before thee. The heavenly messenger has softened thine heart; but it is not yet purified. The showers have softened the soil. Now is the time to pull up the weeds.

To-day, he stands knocking at the door of thine heart. Wilt thou remove the rubbish, and open wide the door? Perhaps some vile habit, or some unruly passion, or unhallowed desire, or bitter feeling, closes fast the door, and shuts out the heavenly guest.

For six thousand years Jesus has stood pleading for sinners. A few have accepted his mediation, and the work is nearly accomplished. As we near the end, we more highly prize the great atonement soon to culminate in victory. The resurrection is near, and the final reward.

To-day, we hear the startling voice of the angelic message, calling to all who love God and his word to come out and separate themselves from error and sin; calling to all who love purity to rally around the standard of the cross, and by lives of obedience, humility, purity, and holy love, to win the approbation of God.

Jos. Clarke.