Time, Yes, High Time by F. W. Paap.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 3, 1916

Time, Yes, High Time

By F. W. Paap.

The wise man says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Eccl. 3:1. And Paul, writing one thousand years later, and with special reference to the close of time, declared, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep.” Rom. 13:11. This surely must apply to the people living in the last days. For upwards of seventy years this great reformatory movement has been preached. From the very beginning unmistakable evidences have been given that “the day is at hand.”

The confidence and faith of the pioneers of this work were heaven born. If they were so assured of the ultimate and glorious victory of the cause in those early days, what should be our confidence and enthusiasm after the lapse of nearly three fourths of a century? As the message has advanced in all parts of the earth, the forces of evil have been marshaled, and steadily these evil forces have made inroads upon our faith. But today comes the living word to all the latent potentialities of the movement, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isa. 60:1.

The church is the light of the world; and to her is given the command, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The statement, “It is high time to awake out of sleep,” cannot be thoroughly appreciated apart from several thoughts: “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” The call is for consecrated activity. The church must awake. It is not only time for this, but it is high time. “Let the church awake, let every member take up his individual work, and vindicate the name of the Lord by which he is called.”—An Appeal, p. 8. In this solemn time, with such a tremendous task assigned us, we must not become discouraged or faint-hearted. Angels of God will open the way before us, and prepare hearts to receive the gospel message. “The Lord Jesus is our sufficiency in all things; his Spirit is to be our inspiration; and as we place ourselves in his hands, to be channels of light, our means of doing good will never be exhausted; for the resources of the power of Jesus Christ are to be at our command. We may draw upon his fulness, and receive of that grace which has no limit.”—Id., p. 20.

With the hour so late, with time so short, with souls all around hungering for a knowledge of Christ, yet still perishing for want of the bread of life, with

opportunities without number to do service for Christ, and with virtually every facility provided with which to do successful work in winning the lost to Christ, shall we not arise, awake, put on the armor, and go forth to the warfare, willing to do and dare for God?

F. W. Paap.