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Now—Always Now, February 16
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein
the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:13
.
The coming of Christ will be as it were at midnight, when all are
sleeping. It will be well for every one to have his accounts all straightened
up before sunset. All his works should be right, all his dealings just, between
himself and his fellow-men. All dishonesty, all sinful practices should be
put far away. The oil of grace should be in our vessels with our lamps....
Sad indeed will be the condition of the soul who has had a form of godliness
but has denied the power thereof; who has called Christ, Lord, Lord, and
yet who has not His image and superscription....
God graciously grants a day of probation, a time of test and trial. He
gives the invitation: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon
him while he is near.” ...
Today the voice of mercy is calling, and Jesus is drawing men by the
cords of His love; but the day will come when Jesus will put on the garments
of vengeance.... The wickedness of the world is increasing every day, and
when a certain line is reached, the register will be closed, and the account
settled. There will be no more a sacrifice for sin. The Lord cometh. Long
has mercy extended a hand of love, of patience and forbearance, toward
a guilty world. The invitation has been given, “Let him take hold of my
strength....” But men have presumed upon His mercy and refused His grace.
Why has the Lord so long delayed His coming? The whole host of
heaven is waiting to fulfil the last work for this lost world, and yet the work
waits. It is because the few who profess to have the oil of grace in their
vessels with their lamps, have not become burning and shining lights in the
world. It is because missionaries are few....
Every week counts one week less, every day one day nearer to the
appointed time of the judgment. Alas that so many have only a spasmodic
religion—a religion dependent upon feeling and governed by emotion. “He
that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Then see that you have the oil of
grace in your hearts. The possession of this will make every difference with
you in the judgment.
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