PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD by J. W. McReynolds

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 4, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 23

PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD.

By J. W. McReynolds

The subject of the coming of the Lord is one in which Adventists are intensely interested, and the evidences that that event is near constitute a theme on which we dwell in our meetings, in Sabbath-school, and in our daily intercourse with one another, as well as in our private meditations. It is a theme which never grows old and irksome to those who really love their Lord; but as they see the prophecies fulfilling which herald his return, they respond as did John in the Revelation, “Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.”

It is only those who are earnestly preparing for that event who will from the heart thus respond, and it is concerning that preparation that I now wish to offer a thought. I have frequently heard good people express a doubt of ever feeling that their work was done, and that they were ready to meet their Lord when he should come. But the Bible certainly teaches that it is our duty to be prepared, ready and waiting to meet our Lord. In the 12th chapter of Luke there are some statements which we think justify this conclusion. In verses 35, 36, our Saviour, by the preparation for a marriage feast, illustrates the completeness of the preparation necessary to meet the Lord. He says: “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he shall return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately.” Here there is a mature preparation, a complete fitness for the event before it comes. If we were called to attend the marriage feast of some honored friend, we would see that our clothing, deportment, etc., were timely, fitted to be acceptable on the occasion. So with those who are looking for the return of their Lord. They will have washed their robes of character and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and those who are not thus prepared will be treated as false guests, bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness. Matt. 22:11–13.

Again, Jesus says: “Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40. And Peter, in speaking about the day of the Lord, which will come on some as a thief in the night, says: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Pet. 3:14.

John presents the same thought when he says: “But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.” And when John saw the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from among men at the coming of the Lord, those who had passed through the last conflict and had gotten the victory over the beast and his image, he says of them: “In their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.”

Now, if any think that this faultless condition is not obtainable in this life, let them read the following texts: 2 Cor. 4:10, 11; Gal. 2:20. We see that the standard of character is high, and Christ directs us to be ready to meet him at any time. If he comes in the second watch, or if he comes in the third watch, the servant must be all ready, if he would have the blessing.

Now, let us notice carefully how the “blessed” servant is always ready to meet his Lord. Luke 12:37: “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching.” The watching servants, then, are the blessed servants whom the Lord will come forth and serve. In verses 42, 43, we find this “blessed” servant faithfully discharging his duty by giving to each of his fellow-servants their portion of meat in due season. Then to be watching is to be faithfully discharging those duties which our Master has given us to do, not doing them at our own convenience, but in due season. And how could that be anything but present duty? “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” Not that he has done, or expects to do at some future convenience, but “when he cometh shall find doing.” So he says: “And if he shall come in the second watch, . . . and find them so, blessed are those servants.” But if he does not come until the third watch, and finds them so, blessed are those servants. The servant who does his work timely and well is ready to meet his master at whatever stage of the work he may come. So the servant of God who lives in the daily discharge of present duty, is always ready to meet the Lord, should he come at any time.

What, then, is present duty? This is a question which each one must answer for himself. Answer it in the fear of God, with the realities of the Judgment before you. Giving to each his portion of meat in due season, i. e., disseminating the light of present truth, thus helping to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord, and teaching them how they may escape the unmingled wrath of God, which will be poured out on those who worship the beast and his image, is a work in which we can all have a part by distributing tracts and sending out our periodicals. We can also be diligent in meeting and Sabbath-school, in studying the Bible, and in a godly walk and conversation, thus doing all the good we can. Let the record of each day and hour be such as God will approve of, then we need have no fears but that if Christ should come to-day he would say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt. 25:23. J. W. McREYNOLDS.