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Presumptuous, Careless Delay, January 26
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his
garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Revelation 16:15
.
The evil servant says in his heart, “My lord delayeth his coming.” He
does not say that Christ will not come. He does not scoff at the idea of His
second coming. But in his heart and by his actions and words he declares
that the Lord’s coming is delayed. He banishes from the mind of others
the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly. His influence leads men to
presumptuous, careless delay.... He mingles with the world....It is a fearful
assimilation. With the world he is taken in the snare....
“If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
Revelation 3:3
. The
advent of Christ will surprise the false teachers. They are saying, “Peace
and safety.” Like the priests and teachers before the fall of Jerusalem, they
look for the church to enjoy earthly prosperity and glory. The signs of
the times they interpret as foreshadowing this. But what saith the word of
Inspiration? “Sudden destruction cometh upon them.”
1 Thessalonians 5:3
.
Upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth, upon all who make this
world their home, the day of God will come as a snare....
The world, full of rioting, full of godless pleasure, is asleep, asleep in
carnal security. Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord. They
laugh at warnings. The proud boast is made, “All things continue as they
were from the beginning.” “Tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more
abundant.”
2 Peter 3:4
;
Isaiah 56:12
. We will go deeper into pleasure loving.
But Christ says, “Behold, I come as a thief.”
Revelation 16:15
. At the
very time when the world is asking in scorn, “Where is the promise of his
coming?” the signs are fulfilling. While they cry, “Peace and safety,” sudden
destruction is coming. When the scorner, the rejecter of truth, has become
presumptuous; when the routine of work in the various money-making lines
is carried on without regard to principle; when the student is eagerly seeking
knowledge of everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief.
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