Basic HTML Version
Preparation for Christ’s Coming, December 17
As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:37
.
Noah preached to the people of his time that God would give them one hundred
and twenty years in which to repent of their sins and find refuge in the ark, but they
refused the gracious invitation. Abundant time was given them to turn from their
sins, overcome their bad habits, and develop righteous characters. But inclination
to sin, though weak at first with many, strengthened through repeated indulgence
and hurried them on to irretrievable ruin. The merciful warning of God was rejected
with sneers, with mockery and derision; and they were left in darkness to follow
the course that their sinful hearts had chosen. But their unbelief did not hinder the
predicted event. It came, and great was the wrath of God which was seen in the
general ruin.
These words of Christ should sink into the hearts of all who believe present
truth: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you
unawares.” Our danger is presented before us by Christ Himself. He knew the perils
we should meet in these last days, and would have us prepare for them....
Belief in the near coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven will not
cause the true Christian to become neglectful and careless of the ordinary business of
life. The waiting ones who look for the soon appearing of Christ will not be idle, but
diligent in business. Their work will not be done carelessly and dishonestly, but with
fidelity, promptness, and thoroughness. Those who flatter themselves that careless
inattention to the things of this life is an evidence of their spirituality and of their
separation from the world are under a great deception. Their veracity, faithfulness,
and integrity are tested and proved in temporal things. If they are faithful in that
which is least they will be faithful in much.
I have been shown that here is where many will fail to bear the test. They
develop their true character in the management of temporal concerns. They manifest
unfaithfulness, scheming, dishonesty, in dealing with their fellowmen. They do
not consider that their hold upon the future, immortal life depends upon how they
conduct themselves in the concerns of this life, and that the strictest integrity is
indispensable to the formation of a righteous character (
Testimonies for the Church
4:308-310
).
Those who believe present truth should show their faith by their works. They
should be sanctified through the truth which they profess to believe, for they are a
savor of life unto life or of death unto death (
Testimonies for the Church 4:308
).
[366]
372