IF WE ARE ONLY READY

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 10, 1859

"IF WE ARE ONLY READY."

YES, if we are only ready for the coming of the Lord that will be enough. We heartily subscribe to the sentiment ; but we do not so heartily subscribe to the use that is sometimes made of it. Some would make it a pretext for putting a general quietus on the whole doctrine of the advent in whatever shape. If we are only ready that is enough; there is no use in agitating the question; it matters not whether the end comes in our day or a thousand years from now; it matters not whether we know anything about it or not; if we are only ready, that is enough.

This conclusion is certainly true enough, that if we are ready for the great event, ready for the end of all things, ready for a safe transition from this dispensation into the next and everlasting one about to commence, that is sufficient. Yet we apprehend there is a great fallacy lurking in the above method of reasoning; and we fear that those who reason thus for the sake of quieting their consciences on the subject of the Lord's coming will find themselves not ready when the event takes place.

Granting then the truth that if we are only ready for the coming of the Lord, that is sufficient, we inquire, What is it to be prepared for that coming? and is it not necessary to have some knowledge of the approach, and to be in expectation of the event, in order to be prepared to meet it? With this question in mind, we ask the reader to think upon all the warnings to watchfulness, and all the directions laid down for the instructions of the people of God, in view of this very event—the coming of the Son of man. Why all this, if a special preparation for that event is not a requisite qualification?

We are aware that moral character must be the same in all ages in those who are candidates for the kingdom of heaven; and hence that the position of those who have lived in past ages, when the day of Christ was not at hand [2 Thess. ii, 2], and that of those who are commanded to be looking for him at every watch [Mark xiii, 35–38], must be similar in many particulars. But there is a difference in the course of a man who expects to remain long in a certain locality and that of a man who has his goods packed, his affairs settled, and his arrangements all made to move immediately to some distant land.

We, brethren, occupy the position of the man about to move. To apply the figure, our goods must be packed, our affairs arranged, our connection with the world broken, and our accounts closed up, so that a final exit will leave nothing unsettled behind. This must be the position of those who are ready for the coming of the Lord. Plans and calculations are wholly incompatible with their position, which might be allowable if it was a fact that time would continue. To be ready for the coming of the Lord calls for a degree of action, of devotedness, and separation from the world, involved in no other position. This position we must occupy if we are ready for his appearing; but this position we shall not occupy, unless we are looking for the event, knowing that it draweth near. For any one to pursue the course of action which such a belief calls for, and yet not maintain the belief, would be anomalous indeed. We might as consistently look for a train of cars to move off without an engine. Therefore to be looking for the coming of the Lord is indispensable to a preparation for that event. And hence that theory which tells us that it is no matter about the doctrine, if we are ready for the event, is a syren song, which will lead all who heed it into false security.

According to his long-standing promise, He who went away to prepare mansions for his people, is about to come to take them to himself. If we are ready all will be well; but let us consider what this involves, and not fail of our hope at last.