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The Grand Opportunity

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 25, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 4.

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The Grand Opportunity

By M. E. Emmerson

Among all the grand opportunities that have come to mankind, the one coming to us in this generation is the greatest.
To Noah was given the work of building the ark of safety for his house and for all who would hear his message. He warned the world of its impending doom; and tho none but his family entered the ark, yet he did the work well. He used the opportunity thus afforded him, and gained for himself an incorruptible crown, which will be given him when Jesus comes. Surely his opportunity was great, and he indeed made a success of life. The "well done" will be said because he was faithful in performing the duties God gave him.
Abraham had the honor of being called the father of the faithful. He did a work the result of which was to be seen for all coming ages. God called him His friend. Truly Abraham had great opportunity. By using it he became heir of God.
Daniel had the opportunity of standing before the world's mightiest sovereign, and declaring to him things concerning the God who reigns in the heaven of heavens. God used him as an instrumentality through which He made Himself known to the world. To Daniel it was said, "Thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." Thus the Lord assured him that when his name came up in judgment, Jesus Christ would plead his cause, and that with the righteous he would shine as the sun through endless day.
To John the Baptist was committed a great work, that of preparing the way for Christ's first advent. He was the forerunner of Christ the Lord. He preached repentance and conversion, urging the people to turn from their sins to God. Many were moved by his mighty preaching. He was free to say, "I am not the Christ." In answer to the question, "Who art thou?" he replied, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord." This also was a great work, and faithfully performed, for John the Baptist was faithful unto death.

The Greatest Opportunity

All these men spoken of, and many others, together with the people living in their times, have had great opportunities; but to those living in the present age, it has pleased God to give the greatest, the grandest, the most precious message of truth ever committed to man or angel. The message is this: "Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." Then the reign of sin will end.
On every hand we can see fulfilment of prophecy. Destruction by land and sea tells that the day is nearing. How can we doubt the prophecy? The children of Israel, after reaching the promised land, found that among all the good promises of God, not one had failed. The same can be said of the signs of the times now. Not one predicted has failed. Everything prophesied has occurred just as the prophecy foretold it would. Crime and vice are increasing. Some of the most enterprising and beautiful cities have been destroyed by earthquakes, storms, and tidal waves. Signs in the religious, political, and social worlds, all speak to us in no uncertain tones that the end of all things earthly is at hand.
The end indeed is near. The Gospel of the kingdom is being preached to all the world. Right and Wrong are locked together in the last great conflict for supremacy. Truth and Justice and Purity are often outcasts when they should be constant, abiding inmates. Be faithful a little longer. Even now the gray dawn of the eternal morn can be seen. The eye of faith catches faintly the first gleanings of the glories of the eternal world. Heaven is at hand.
M. E. EMMERSON. Kolo, Basutoland.