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Worldliness in the Church
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time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds
of heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His
ministration in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, when
He lays off His priestly attire and clothes Himself with garments of
vengeance, and when the mandate goes forth: “He that is unjust, let
him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and
he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let
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him be holy still.”
When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever
decided. This is the time of reckoning with His servants. To those
who have neglected the preparation of purity and holiness, which
fits them to be waiting ones to welcome their Lord, the sun sets in
gloom and darkness, and rises not again. Probation closes; Christ’s
intercessions cease in heaven. This time finally comes suddenly
upon all, and those who have neglected to purify their souls by
obeying the truth are found sleeping. They became weary of waiting
and watching; they became indifferent in regard to the coming of
their Master. They longed not for His appearing, and thought there
was no need of such continued, persevering watching. They had
been disappointed in their expectations and might be again. They
concluded that there was time enough yet to arouse. They would be
sure not to lose the opportunity of securing an earthly treasure. It
would be safe to get all of this world they could. And in securing
this object, they lost all anxiety and interest in the appearing of the
Master. They became indifferent and careless, as though His coming
were yet in the distance. But while their interest was buried up in
their worldly gains, the work closed in the heavenly sanctuary, and
they were unprepared.
If such had only known that the work of Christ in the heavenly
sanctuary would close so soon, how differently would they have
conducted themselves, how earnestly would they have watched! The
Master, anticipating all this, gives them timely warning in the com-
mand to watch. He distinctly states the suddenness of His coming.
He does not measure the time, lest we shall neglect a momentary
preparation, and in our indolence look ahead to the time when we
think He will come, and defer the preparation. “Watch ye therefore:
for ye know not.” Yet this foretold uncertainty, and suddenness at
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last, fails to rouse us from stupidity to earnest wakefulness, and to