Watchfulness in the Last Days
By D. M. Canright
and expecting that event. Paul proceeds to tell why it is that they will not be overtaken as a thief. "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." Here we have the admonition, to watch, and not sleep as do others. Again the Saviour says, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" Matt. 24:44, 45. If they do not watch they will be overtaken as a thief and they will not know when He comes. But if they have watched will they then be in darkness? Will they then be overtaken just the same as if they did not watch? So the prophet Daniel in speaking of the time of the end says: "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Dan. 12:10. Yes the wise will understand but the wicked will not. The apostle Peter very plainly declares that in the last days there will be two classes. One class proclaiming the coming of the Lord, looking for it, and warning others, while another class will be mocking at it and despising those who are preaching it. "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Peter, 3:3, 4. This scripture the opponents of the second advent are fulfilling every day. Once more: Our Saviour in describing the condition of the church at the second advent thus illustrates the different positions which the two classes of professed Christians will occupy. One is watching, waiting, knowing that his Lord is immediately coming, while the other one says "my Lord delayeth his coming," and is feasting with the ungodly and is classed as an evil servant. Thus he says:— "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour of that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 24:46–51. Dear reader, let us not be among those unfaithful, blind servants, those who are scoffing and mocking at the second advent while God's faithful servants are doing their utmost to warn the world of this solemn event.
D. M. CANRIGHT.