For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15.
When man has taken the lines in his own hands to guide and drive, he will be rewarded, for the work of God will reveal terrible mistakes. Reason becomes blinded, even with the greatness of light, unless that agency is under the yoke of Christ. Every day some plan will be devised when Satan thinks he can lend a hand to sow his tares among the wheat. Vice is not to be commingled with virtue, and the cry may have to go forth in no measured tones, even now while missionary work is being done, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). God is now working for His people, but how many do not recognize the work of God from a strange work.
Drawing aside the veil which conceals the glory of God, it shows Him in His place, high and holy, and lifted up, not in a state of solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy, happy beings, every one waiting to bear the message, to do His bidding—all heaven is in active communication with every part of the universe through a variety of channels, and that holy One is actually stooping, bending from His throne, listening to every sound uttered, observing the movements of every earthly power. It is the highest Being condescending to the lowliest, approving or condemning every action which is developed.
He is interested in the oppressed, and sends messengers to engage in the work in connection with the gospel for the beings who have corrupted their whole mind and thoughts, and they are placed in connection with truth and righteousness. Unless they become righteous themselves, they will contaminate others. There is a work to be done in our world, but if the way of the Lord is not distinctly followed, to put them in the way of life through conversion, there is reason to be afraid lest Satan shall introduce himself to work the abandoned ones our institutions undertake to help.
Satan is playing a game of life for the souls of men and women for whom Christ has died. In our zeal to do a work for the Lord, we must be sure we are not going before Christ, in the place of following after Christ.—Letter 171, January 9, 1900, to Edson and Emma White.
The Upward Look p. 23
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for us as we expand our work in _____ including a TV and school project. Elisha
—–Please pray for Justin he is in his early 30s and he is on life support and they will be unhooking him tomorrow. He is a good friend of my son’s and I don’t know if he is a Christian or not but he really needs prayer for his eternal salvation and a miracle of healing! He is on life support from extreme alcohol and drug abuse in his past. Please pray for him urgently. He has a wife and 2 little kids that really love him. Connie
—-My dear mother has been in so much pain with her fractured spine and pelvis. Last night my mom said she just wanted to die. They gave her some Norco for the pain and now she has been sleeping nonstop for hours. I’m not ready to lose my mom. Please pray for God’s healing hand to be upon her. Connie
—-Requesting prayers for a friend being admitted to the hospital. No details, God knows the need. Danette
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, some friends had asked if it was alright for them to spend the night at our house on the way to their home. They were traveling across the USA which is a drive of about 2500 miles—a very long way when traveling with three children under the age of five. I assured them that we would be happy to have them visit.
There was one trouble. I forgot. I got so busy with normal day-to-day life (with some trials and tribulations thrown in) that their visit was totally forgotten. So, when they called, I blurted out, “Oh, was that today? I totally forgot!” I assured them that they would be welcome but that I had made no special preparations and that we all left for work at 6:45 AM. I don’t think that they believed that I would be happy to have them since I had forgotten.
We sprang into action. Ronnie Jay volunteered to put the “finishing touches” on the house so it would be ready for company, while Ron and I went to a couple of stores to get some items we were needed. When we got back, they called and said that since they were running later than they had planned and that since we had to be to work early in the morning and that we would have no time to visit, they would stay in a motel for the night. I suggested that they come anyway and stay until Thursday morning, but they declined as they were anxious to get home. I felt sad. I am afraid that my forgetting about their coming was the real reason.
How many times we forget our very Best Friend Who is longing to dwell with us. How often we make excuses as in Jesus’ parable, “A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Luke 14:16-24 We get so busy with the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches, that we neglect Bible study and prayer. Before we realize it, we are no more prepared for Jesus’ coming than I was to receive my friends.
Jesus warns, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:32-37 May we never be caught unprepared for that great day is my prayer.
Rose

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5.
Wonderful opportunities are opened before the human agent to understand the unsearchable riches of the wisdom of God. In this work, which nothing less than divine power can accomplish, nothing can be perfected without the cooperation of the human agent. Then the divine and the human are blended, as in the life of the Son of God….
The sincere Christian, in his [acceptance] of grace, feels that his success is wholly dependent upon Christ. Here is the Source of divine energy. He urges no claim founded on his own merit; he has no faithfulness to present to heaven. He feels his own weakness and inefficiency, and is convinced that he must be transformed in character. Self-abasement, and self-renunciation reveal that the soul has beheld Jesus. The heart made penitent by the Spirit of Christ will act from principle. He is a partaker of the divine nature…. In his daily walk and conversation he represents the character of Christ….
What will it profit [us] to cherish pride of spirit, and pray for humility? What will it profit to seek eagerly the friendship and applause of the world, and pray for heavenly affections? What will it profit to indulge in passionate temper and un-Christlike words, and then ask for the meekness of Christ? This is not watching unto prayer. In the lack of that faith that works by love and purifies the soul lies the secret of unanswered prayer…. I tell you in the name of the Lord: if the church will arise in the strength of God to meet her responsibilities, consecrating to God every power, the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out in rich abundance….
Some who profess to be Christians need a genuine conversion. They desire to be accepted of God; they pray in a casual way that they may be accepted, and yet through their desire for gain, their worldliness and selfishness, their robbery of God, they shut themselves away from Him. His curse is hanging over them for their selfishness and worldly lusts. Their prayers will be wholly in vain unless they comply with the condition specified in the Word of God….
The uncertain experience of many professed Christians—sinning and repenting and continuing in the same dwarfed spiritual condition—is the result of worldliness and unholiness of life. The saving grace of Christ is designed for everyday life. Christ came not to save man in his sins, but from his sins. The principles of truth, abiding in the heart, will sanctify the life.—Manuscript 35, January 8, 1893, “Publishing Work.”
The Upward Look p. 22
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Prayer Requests
—-My dear mother is in so much pain in her back and neck that she is crying out over and over even though she is on pain meds. Please pray that God will take her pain away and that my mom can come home with me instead of a convalescent home! She will get very good care with me and my daughter in law . Connie
—-Desi is in the ER very sick, and will be having emergency surgery. Please keep son Johnathan and her in prayers. It is life threatening. Ann
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Dear Friends,

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:20, 21.
Financial speculations are Satan’s snares, laid to catch souls. In all business transactions the only safeguard for a man is the love and fear of God. In our world today there are seen the same dishonest practices which prevailed before the Flood swept this earth of its moral pollution, and which prevailed in Sodom before fire from heaven consumed its wicked inhabitants. Satan engrosses men’s minds with dreamlike prospects of great gain, and in their greed for gain, those who yield to him make representations which are positively untrue. God and the truth are forgotten….
God desires His servants to avoid all speculation. Satan may pave the way by making the first investment successful, but O, how bitter will be the final outcome! If the professing Christian has success in his first speculation, his ruin is almost certain. Visionary schemes are wildly entered into as schemers present promising enterprises, which they declare will pay a large percentage on all money invested. Good men are fascinated and deceived….
Instead of entering into speculation, let those who know the truth find some steady, honest employment, in which they can earn their living in a way that glorifies God. Those who encourage the thirst for speculation will extinguish the light that God has given to guide their feet aright. Making money easily, they will spend it unwisely, and their prodigality will be their ruin. To maintain their habits of selfish indulgence, they must continue to make money rapidly. The effort to make money fast enough to meet their extravagant expenses, draws many into the gambling hell….
My prayer to our heavenly Father is, Lord, let the clear light shine forth. Carefully and prayerfully studied, God’s Word keeps men well-balanced. In this Word we find God’s way clearly defined. No one who searches the Word with sincerity will walk in darkness. But we cannot cast aside the light God sends, and at the same time walk in its rays. To be Christians at all, we must be Christians in all things, revealing His virtues, doing His works. The truth is our safeguard. Planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, it enables us to see clearly the difference between what is right and what is wrong.—Manuscript 26a, 1890, “A Warning Against Financial Speculation.”
The Upward Look p. 21
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Prayer Requests
—- Been battling vertigo all week. Start feeling better and it knocks me down again. Monday went to emergency room due to nausea so bad with every movement I threw up. Got my neck adjusted, it was off it’s axis. But that has not resolved the problem. Pray God will guide me to know not only what to do but what not to do so this can heal. I’m barely functional. Plus now my sinuses are acting up adding insult to injury and my tear in spinal cord is getting aggravated from not being mobile enough. Darla
—-please pray that I can take my mother home to be with me without any problems. Then I will come and get my uncle and the doggies asap! Please continue praying because knowing the “caregiver” I will have a real battle on my hands. Connie
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Dear Friends,
One day, when Esther was about twelve or thirteen, she played a joke on her sister that gave Eileen a terrible fright. All had seemed normal when she had driven Esther and Ronnie Jay to school on that particular day, but it didn’t stay that way. After dropping them off at the door, Eileen decided to park the car so she could visit the restroom before about her day. Esther, who sat by the window noticed this and asked if she could be excused. The teacher, not expecting anything, nodded his permission.
Quietly, Esther tiptoed into the restroom. She could hear her sister humming softly to herself in one of the stalls. Smiling, Esther entered the far stall and lifted herself up onto the metal crossbeams at the top of the stalls. Carefully, she inched her way from stall to stall until she was directly over her sister.
Suddenly, Esther jumped down in front of the startled Eileen. Then she quickly let herself out of the stall’s door, ran from the restroom but slowed to a walk when she reached the hallway. Then she entered her classroom and sat down as if nothing had happened.
As soon as Eileen recovered from her fright, her fear became anger. Moments later, she burst into the classroom, shouting threats at her little sister. Seeing the shocked looks upon the teacher and students’ faces, Eileen stopped shouting and quietly closed the door. After she was gone, the teacher asked Esther what caused her sister to burst angrily into the room. When Esther confessed what she had done, the whole room erupted with laughter.
How often wrongs that are no laughing matter are committed by those we should be able to trust. How many times our feelings are hurt by those we love the most. How often church members become disillusioned and devastated by our words or actions and leave never to return because we will not humble ourselves enough to apologize for what we have done.
Our Dear Saviour reminds us, “whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matt 23:12 In fact making sure that all is right between ourselves and our brethren is so important that He tells us, “if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matt 5:23,24 He, Who “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” longs for us to be as He is, “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Phil 2:7,8; Ex 34:6
Our Saviour was kind and tenderhearted, full of love and pity for the erring. He did not come to this world to force His will on anyone. He does not manipulate us. He does not make us love Him. Instead, He gives us a choice. He pleads with us, “therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut 30:19 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11 He wins us to Himself through His loving kindness and tender mercies. (Jer 31:3) He draws us with cords of love. (Hosea 11:4) “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps 103:13,14 He gives us an example of how we should treat those who disagree with us or even despitefully use us. Even as He was nailed to the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Our Loving Redeemer is to be our example. Paul explains how each should live in harmony. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil 2:3,4 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Rom 12:3-5 “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Cor 12:12-27 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12
Rose

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, … even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31, 32.
The great controversy going on in the world is waging more sharply today than at any period of this world’s history between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. Bear the fact in mind that, wherever there are plans set in operation to advance the cause of God in the world, Satan will be on hand to counteract, if possible, the workings of our merciful heavenly Father…. He will use every possible advantage you give him to control minds….
God’s people, rescued from the fire by Jesus Christ, have a sense of their sin, feel humbled and ashamed. God sees and recognizes their repentance, and notes their sorrow for sin, which they cannot remove or cancel themselves. But as they pray their prayers are heard, and this is the reason that Satan stands by to resist Christ; because He hears their prayers, He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. He regenerates the sinner, and pardon is written off against his name. This stirs Satan up to resistance. He steps in between the repenting, believing soul and Christ. He seeks to cast his hellish shadow before that soul, to dampen faith, and to make of none effect the words of God….
If Satan stands between the soul and Jesus Christ, then the love and acceptance and pardon of Christ are eclipsed—man will be constantly striving to prepare a robe of righteousness to cover his deformity and sin, when Christ wants him to come to Him just as he is, and believe in Him as his personal Saviour. In His tender love, a forgiving Father brings forth His best robe in which to array His returning child….
Satan is a vigilant, untiring foe, and he sleeps not. He knows that his time is short, and he will work until the end with every species of deception to draw souls into his snare and ruin them. I have a message for you—“Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Give no place to the devil to stand between you and Christ, lest you savor of the things that be of men and not of God. If your faith is genuine, it must and will produce obedience. God commands us to do nothing which we cannot do. He will give strength to every believing, trusting soul….
Cherish the love of Jesus in the heart, respect each other, for Christ has given His life for you. Every soul is precious in the sight of God. It is a wonderful thing to be remembered and cared for every hour by God.—Letter 65, January 6, 1894, to the ship’s crew on board the Pitcairn.
The Upward Look p. 20
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Prayer Requests
—-Paul was just rushed to ER with bad chest pain and blurry vision. Requesting prayer please. Arlene
—-My grandma’s health is failing and she can’t see the cardiologist for a week. Please pray she will be ok and the procedure she needs goes well. Also for her husband’s comfort and strength. Daisy
—-Could you please say some prayers for my grandson? He is autistic and getting very violent towards his parents and they cant get him to his doctor until Friday. I am getting pretty scared for my daughter so please pray for her too. Becky
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Dear Friends,
Many years ago, my mother discovered an old family Bible in the attic. The first entry in the title page of that Book was “Jeremiah Carpenter, 1749.” As she was leafing through the pages in the front of the book, she found a genealogy page that began from that point. From that moment, she became interested in researching our family tree on both the Harmon and the Phillips sides. She really put her whole heart and soul into this project interviewing elderly relatives, checking birth and death records, etc.
As I was reading it one day, I noticed that in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds, the infant mortality rate was very high. Many of my ancestors had lots of children, but only one or two of them reached adulthood. It made me feel so sad for them. How hopeful they must have been as they held their little one in their arms and how devastated they were when that little one was snatched away from them by death. The saddest of all was a man and his wife who, as they began to have children, started naming them according to what was in their heart. “Hope,” “Faith,” “Victory,” but there was no victory for them. Every one of their babies died. Eventually, they died childless. It was passed down through the generations that they died of a broken heart.
Our pastor, Vernon Bliss, used to say that no one ever died of natural causes. Death is always unnatural because death was never in God’s plan. He desired this world to be like the rest of the universe: perfect, beautiful, filled with happy, holy beings. God assures us, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil. Jer 29:11 What sadness must fill His heart as we live our lives with hardly a thought heavenward. How His eyes must fill with tears as He watches us destroy ourselves through our own selfish desires. He pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
Praise God! He has provided a way of escape. He has sent His only Son, to save us, not in our sins, but from our sins. Paul tells us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:5-8
All Heaven is a bustle of activity working together to help mankind find “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Jesus bids us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev 22:17 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
May we come to Him just as we are—all sin-sick and weary, full of cares and sorrows and disappointments. May we give ourselves to Him unreservedly. May we serve Him this day with our whole heart and mind and strength is my prayer.
Rose

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. John 15:26.
Those who have Jesus abiding in the heart by faith, have actually received the Holy Spirit. Every individual who receives Jesus as his personal Saviour, just as surely receives the Holy Spirit, to be his Counselor, Sanctifier, Guide, and Witness. The more closely the believer walks with God, the clearer his witness, and, as a sure result, the more powerful will be the influence of his testimony upon others of a Saviour’s love; the more he will give evidence that he prizes the Word of God. It is his meat, it is his drink, to satisfy the thirsty soul. He prizes the privilege of learning the will of God from His Word.
Some souls who claim to be believers have slighted, and turned from, the Word of God. They have neglected the Bible, the wonderful Guidebook, the true Tester of all ideas, and claim that they have the Spirit to teach them, that this renders searching the Scriptures unnecessary. All such are heeding the sophistry of Satan, for the Spirit and the Word agree, say the Scriptures, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). He only is a free man whom the truth makes free….
The Lord loves you, and His guardian angels are round about you. If you are doers of the Word you will obey the instructions of Jesus Christ…. In our own strength we are perfect weakness, but, when we put our whole trust in Jesus Christ, we are kept by His power, for He is fully able to keep every soul that puts his trust in Him. The peril to which every soul is exposed is very great.
The great adversary of God, and the enemy of man, is watching to find an opportunity to take us when we are off our guard. Jesus has told us of our danger and warned us against the wily foe. He has repeatedly enjoined upon us the duty of always watching and praying, lest we enter into temptation. Believe in Jesus, trust in Jesus with living, constant faith, and rely without doubt upon Jesus to keep and save you. One mighty to save has hold upon you, and as long as you will submit to be led by Him, to learn of Him, to confide in Him, He will keep you from falling. And, when God engages to keep you, He is a sure defense.
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Eileen, as her incision is infected. She is on antibiotics but they don’t seem to be helping. Rose
—-N needs Prayer, she feels like killing herself as she’s pregnant the father left her. Arlene
—-I’m asking for prayer for my oldest son who is facing some legal issues today. Please pray for grace and mercy for him and may God’s will be done in his life. Cora
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Dear Friends,
This year on the fourth of July, we went to the parade in a nearby town in the morning and then in the evening we sat on the back porch and watched fireworks from many neighbors and the professional ones from our small town. All in all, it was a very nice day.
Some years ago, however, it was far different. Ron and Ronnie Jay read a schedule of all of the Fourth of July celebrations in the area. Excitedly, they talked about going to one of the area parades. We had even thought about going to see the fireworks even though I don’t like crowds and avoid them as much as possible.
On the Fourth, we slept in, however, so by the time we ate breakfast and had morning worship, it was too late to go to the parade. We didn’t say anything more about the fireworks and each of us got busy with other things throughout the day. Before long, it was too late to go to the fireworks display.
There is a far more important event coming that we all are in danger of letting time slip by. How easy it is to get caught up in the pleasures of this world so that spiritual realities are rarely thought of. How often we get so busy dealing with the troubles and trials of daily life, that we fail to put “first things first.” So many things catch our interest that before we know it the days, months, and years slip by. With surprise one day, we awaken to find that we are old and all of our good intentions to accept Jesus as our Saviour, all our dreams of winning souls for His Kingdom that we have put off for “a more convenient season” will never be realized. Act 24:25 How many will lament (as they see Jesus coming in the clouds to receive His own unto Himself,) “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Matt 24:30; Jer 8:20
There is nothing in this world more important than getting ready for Our Dear Saviour’s coming. He warns us, “take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” ” And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken…And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:34-36,21-28
That great hymn by G.W. Sederquist reminds us: “Tis almost time for the Lord to come, I hear the people say; The stars of heaven are growing dim, It must be the breaking of the day. The signs foretold in the sun and moon, in earth, and sea, and sky, Aloud proclaim to all mankind, The coming of the Master draweth nigh. It must be time for the waiting church To cast her pride away, With girded loins and burning lamps, To look for the breaking of the day. Go quickly out in the streets and lanes And in the broad highway, And call the maimed, the halt, and blind, To be ready for the breaking of the day.”
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thes 5:6 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we [first] believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” Rom 13:11-13 Let us be diligent to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in [us] both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12,13
Rose