p. 43 | AN IMPRESSIVE DREAM by Sophia Parker

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 1, 1878

AN IMPRESSIVE DREAM.

By Sophia Parker

In my dream the coming of the Lord was represented to me by a train of cars. My mother and myself were waiting for the signal which should summon us to meet the Saviour at a specified place. While we were about our accustomed duties, suddenly the signal was given. There was no time to arouse our sleeping friends. We could only bid them good-by, and hasten away. If we waited for them we should miss the train, and to miss the train was to be lost.

My mother, one brother, and myself started to meet the Saviour. Already dusk had gathered over our rough, winding way, the sound of the Saviour’s train was heard rumbling through the earth, and the light that emanated from it was gilding the distant landscape. As we hurried along, I noticed that I was outrunning my mother, and she my brother; and when I thought of the trouble my mother had had, I made up my mind that I would not leave her even though I should fail to reach the train in time. I turned, and taking her by the arm urged her forward, saying every few steps, “Hurry, mother, hurry.”

Presently we came to the brow of a hill, and I was sadly thinking of my companion, my father, my brothers (for we had outrun the one that started with us), and my sisters. Oh, if they had not been left behind! My heart turned to the Saviour with a feeling, “I give them all up for thee,” and I was cheered and comforted.

When we reached the foot of the hill, we came to a door that opened to a steep, narrow flight of stairs. As I opened the door, my heart broke forth in an expectant song, “We are coming, blessed Saviour, accept of us.” I placed my mother before me, that I might assist her up the stairs. When we reached the top, we were but a few feet from the depot, we were nearly there; the train, too, was almost there, but I awoke.

It was only a dream, but the impression is lasting. As I lay pondering over it long after I awoke, questionings would arise in my mind like these, Will some of us be asleep when Christ comes? Will some of us start to run for the prize, but fail by the way? Will a few of us barely reach that better land? Such thoughts made me shudder. My parents, my brothers, my sisters, shall we not look a little more closely to our ways? Shall we not say, “Let others do as they may; as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Shall we not be up and doing while it is day? Lo, the day is far spent, and the night is at hand.

Severe trials have been ours, severe trials may yet be before us; but they will soon be over, for earth’s sad history is almost ended. These gloomy hours will soon be gone. These aching hearts will soon have ceased their painful throbbings. These days of trouble will soon be in the past; for He says, “And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

SOPHIA PARKER.