“LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER.”
By John G. Matteson
Those, who truly wait for the Lord, and prepare to meet Jesus, are “the children of light, and the children of the day.” 1 Thess. 5:5. The children of the night, and of darkness, sleep. They are slumbering on the brink of the abyss of destruction. They rest securely at the base of a burning mountain whose fiery, seething billows are about to pour forth without warning at any moment. They hasten on merrily over the smooth ice which is undermined by strong currents. They are sailing with song and music over the turbulent waters of life’s ocean, and pay no attention to the threatening clouds which darken the horizon, or the quick lightning-flashes which portend the coming storm. The mouth of hell is opened widely beneath to swallow them up, the snares of death are all around them, but they know it not. Satan has caught them; sin upon sin is weighing them down with heavy chains, but they make no effort to get loose. The servants of God lift up their voice like a trumpet. The watchman cries aloud, Flee, flee from the sins of Babylon! but they are not moved. The warning voice of the last message of mercy is sounding; but they slumber on securely in sin and unbelief. Oh! what terror will be manifested, when the thunder of the judgment-day wakes up all the children of darkness. Then it is too late. The sun of mercy has set. The longsuffering of God is past. They chew their tongues for pain. The plagues of the last day have come upon them. They blaspheme the God of heaven, but repent not of their sins. Behold, how they sink down with terror in hopeless destruction! Hark, what cries of distress, as they go away in outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth! All the children of the night are hastening on to this terrible end. The great day is coming upon them like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape. But the children of God are not in darkness. They do not sleep as do others. They watch and are sober. This proves that they are the children of light. And every one who will hear the word of the Lord, and the warning to flee from the wrath to come, and receive Christ as his Lord and Saviour, can find room among the children of light. For God has not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is now high time to awake out of sleep. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Rom. 13:12. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Eph. 5:14. Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Cor. 15:34. Dear reader, do you watch with the children of light? or do you sleep as do others? Have you put on the whole armor of God: the breast-plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation? How long will you halt between two opinions? If Baal is God, serve him. But if the Lord is God, serve him. Serve him with all thy heart, and with all thy strength. Behold, how the fields are white for the harvest! Do you serve the Lord of the harvest? Will you not to-day give your heart to the Lord? Come, go with us to the goodly land. Trust in your Saviour. Love him who loved you first. Serve and worship him alone. The day of grace is nearly past. Will you bend your knees and your heart before the Lord now? Then he will be gracious unto you, and save you in the name of Christ. JOHN G. MATTESON.