"Who Shall be Able to Stand?"
By J. Morrison
"For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?"—Rev. vi, 17. READER, 'tis a solemn question. It concerns you and me, and every one of us. Read it again; think well about it before you attempt to answer it. It cannot be answered thoughtlessly, if considered prayerfully. Oh, reader, think me not trifling when I ask you to ponder this deeply solemn question. "Who shall be able to stand"—"to stand" the terrors of that day of wrath; "to stand" the all-searching eye of God; "to stand" the test of the judgment; "to stand" when the unconverted shall be banished from God's presence forever; "to stand" when you shall hear the sentence "depart from me ye cursed," (see Matt. xxv, 41-46); "to stand" when this world shall be wrapt in flames of fire, (see 2 Pet. iii.,) "to stand" when the wails of the damned shall sink deeper and deeper in perdition, and the songs of the redeemed rise higher and higher in glory! Will you—oh will you "be able to stand?" Can you say from your very heart— "Bold shall I stand in that great day,
For who aught to my charge shall lay!
Fully absolved from these I am,
From sin, and fear, and guilt and shame."
That "great day" of "God's wrath" to the wicked, but of "redemption" to the righteous, is coming fast; "it hasteth greatly;" it will soon be here. "That day," dreaded by sinners, hated by devils, scoffed at by skeptics and worldly-minded professors of religion, will soon, very soon, be here. That "great day," "longed for" by prophets and apostles, sighed for by martyrs, and wished for by all true saints, will soon, very soon be here. Are you a scoffer of this solemn and awful truth? Then you would not be able "to stand." Are you a Sabbath-breaker, a blasphemer, a liar, an adulterer, a pleasure-seeker, a covetous man, a drunkard?—in short, are you yet unconverted? Have you never been born again, your sins forgiven, and your wicked heart changed? If not you would not be able "to stand." Are you a backslider, minister, or church member? Are you feeding yourself, and not "the flock?" Are you a dead formalist, or poor moralist? are you a worldly-minded professor, instead of being a "heavenly" minded Christian? Are you "cold," instead of "hot?" Are you "dead in trespasses and sins," instead of living "in Christ?" If so, if you are indulging in any sin, you will not be able "to stand." Great God! who then, shall be able "to stand?" Only "the righteous," only the "sin forgiven," only the "blood washed," only "the redeemed," only sinners "saved by grace." None there shall "stand" and say, I "saved myself," or boast, saying, "our works and deservings saved us." Oh no, thanks be to God, the swelling chorus, loud as mighty thunders, will then ascend "forever and ever:" "For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation." And then hear the glorious refrain: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Rev. v, 9-12. Amen and amen. Reader, if you are unsaved, come to Christ, where you are, as you are, and take "the gift" of salvation. Christian, a word to thee: cling to Christ. Minister, a word to thee: hold up Christ, preach Christ, and so doing, thou shalt "stand" now and evermore. Great God! shall I, even I, be able "to stand?" Holy Spirit, enforce the solemn question to every reader's conscience, and lead us all to "the blood of Christ," which "cleaneth from all sin." Amen.—J. MORRISON, in Advent Herald.