Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-02-06
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Topic For the Week BcGirr.ag Feb.
1o-Commeut by Rev. :. III. Doyle.


ToFro.If Christ should come tomorrow.-T
Thess. v, /, 2, as.
One of the first great subjects that
ngitated the Christian church was that
of the second coming of Christ. Paufs
first epistle was written to the church
at Thessalonia and was upon this
subject. The Thcssalonians looked for
the immediate return Of their Lord in
answer to the angels words at the as
cension OF Christ, This same Jesus
which is taken up frcm you into heav-
en- shall so come in like manner as We
have seen Him go into heaven" The
effect Of this belief upon the Thessalo-
mans was serious They ceased to be
interested In the affairs OF life and
were reduced to poverty and want.
They mourncd for their dead because
they believed that only the living
would participate in the glories Of
Christs reappearance. At the close of
every day they looked for Christ's COM
ing ON the morrow. Do we ever look
for 1t, long for it or expect it? What
if Christ should come tomorrow?
1. If Christ should come tomorrow,
we ought not 70 be surprised. The day
and the houg Of the Lords return to
earth have not been revealed. But it
has been revealed that He may appear
at any time. But of the times and the
seasons, brethren, We have no need that
should write unto you, for yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the
Lord SO cometh as thief in the night"
Since, therefore, we know that Christ
may come at any time. we should not
be surprised even ii He should come
tomorrow. Many. probably, would be,
but no Christian ought to be. The doc
trine of Christ's coming should be more
precious and more familiar to us. Sur
prise at His coming would clearly indi-
cate that we have not been as familiar
with and interested in this great Chris
tan truth as we ought to be.
2. If Christ should come tomorrow,
we should be ready. "Ye, brethren,
are not in darkness, that that day
should overtake you as thief. Ye
are all the children of light and the
children of the day. We are not of the
night nor of darkness" If the Thes-
salonians had been found in unreadi-
ness, 1t would have been inexcusable,
because they would have beer SHINING
against light and knowledge, The
same can be truthfully said of us.
We know that Christ viii come again.
We know that Christ may come at any
time. We have light and knowledge,
and therefore should not be taken I'M
awares. If we are not ready, we will
be inexcusable. The foolish virgins
sinned against knowledge and oppor-
tunity and were excluded for their
unreadiness If we should not be
ready, the responsibility will be upon
us. Are we ready If Christ should
come tomorrow?
3. II Christ should come tomorrow,
we should desire TO be found at our
posts OF duty. Asked what he would
do If he knew that he would die the
next night at II O'Clock. Charles Wes-
ley replied that he would do just what
he intended to do and wake up in
glory. On dark day in New England
it was believed that the world was
coming to an end A legislature in
session was about to adjourn to spend
the time in prayer and worship when
such action was successfully opposed
by member who declared that If it
was the end of the world he preferred
to be found at his post of duty. In
this spirit we should view the second
coming of Christ. The thought that
He might come tomorrow should not
unfit Us for our duties or lead to the
neglect of them. but should encourage
us to increased zeal and faithfnlness.
Is this our position? Could we 20
doing what We intend TO do If
knew that Christ was coming tomo1
row? If not we had better not Go
what we intend TO do--Christ may
come tomorrow.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Let the prayer meeting committee
arrange special programme, cover
ing every phase of the question of
Christs second coming.
RIBLE READINGS.
Math. xvi. 24-2S; XIV, 1-13. 31-46:
Acts l. I'll; Col. ill., 4. 5: Thess.
10, 20; Jas. v, {. s; II Pet. iii, Ills;
John iii. l-3; Rev. xxi. IL. IL.