Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30
Preparation for
the Messiah
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMIiINS.
Text, Malachi Ill.,, 1-12.

The world was being prepared for
the first coming OF Christ even as Il is
hcins prepared for His second coming
Those who were in the midst Of the
hrst preparation did not realize the
Importance or even the real meaning
or all they were doing. And the world
now certainly does not realize the
meaning OF tho world wide struggle
which has TO do with His coming We
are all unconscious workers IL we are
loyal to Christ; but none the less IS
cur work significant and guided by
Gods Holy Spirit. Ezra and Nehemiah
rad no idea ;hat their efforts TO re-
store Jerusalem and the Temple ware
part OF Gods plan for the advent
OF the Ions participated Messiah. In
dtcd, IT was a long time after-ncarly
four hundred years--bcfore the angels
proclaimed His coming with their first
Christmas carol. II may be many years
before He comes again. but neverthe-
less wc are preparing for il IL wc are
true children OF God. And this is
what makes our lives and our work so
important. There is end 10 be
gained. glorious day TO which We
may look forward. Isaiah and Daniel
declared concerning IL; and later NAL
achi prophesied: The Lord, Whom We
seek, shall suddenly come TO His tenn.
PIE, even the messenger of the COW
enant Whom! sc delight in; behold He
chall come, saith tho Lord of hosts"
And Christ himself declared concern
ing His second coming: Then shall
they sec the Son Of Man coming in
cloud with power and great glory"
y.,i<o r..
OF. divine event to which the whole
creation moves"
PREPARATIONS MADE
FOR COMING OF CHRIST
Notice some o! the characteristics OF
tho preparation made for the first com.
inr and see how nc are likewise to pre-
pare. And FIRST. the prophets and work
ors simply went on trying to do what
God asked them TO do They did not
stand still and look up into tho sky for
sign. They did not even study how
what they were doing was related 20
the coming OF the Messiah They s.,aply
kent doing all they could 10 make
the sorld better. The prophets prca ched
and warned. The workers. like Ezra
and Nehemiah, strove TO make their
part OF the world good EVIL things
were fought. Good things were for
warded T. was tho old battle Of life
which had been from tho first and
which still holds. You are trying TO
live God wants YOU to live You pray
and read your Bible and 20 70 church
and seek TO help people. You contend
against evil IN yourself and in the
world. You try TO grow bette. and
pufer and happier. And you take an
earnest part in the contest with wrong
everywhere. Il does not seem 20 you a :
IL you were doing much. You would
like TO head a great army OF rctormcrs
to sweep through the world ana han
ish wickcdncss anu cruelty at once
You would feel better satisfied with
Yourself IL you could only nc ncrfcc;
in moment. lsut this Is not Gods
plan as noted ia history and in the
Bible. There arc. indeed world con-
nictS, AS now. when wickedncss and
cruelty are fought against; there are
reforms in tho community which We
arc called upon to forward But the
whole life IL to he looked upon as Il
quiet, persistent march toward the
end which is 10 come som" time; and
II each one docs his part he has full
hl!cd his share Of the preparation.
am preparing for Christ's coming when
49, anu WI ~ anu pray rs Know
Cod would have men in tho place to
which He calls mo
SOUGHT TO DRIVE: EVIL.
FROM JERI'S SALEM
Notice again how the religious ard
moral work was tho chief thing 10
which these men of old gave thc!.
strength. The Jews did not try t. con-
1uer their enemies OF Babylon They
did not even seek to mako Jerusalem
Tree, though there was much conf1ict
OF this kind between the time OF Ma
lachf and the birth of Christ No
they urged the law of God upon tho
people. the law which had to do with
worship and good living. They sought
to drive evil from tho city OF Jerusa.
lem. They rebuilt: the temple and made
the walls secure and commanded that
the Sabbath day should he observed
and that :he sacredness OF the mar
rage tic md OF the homo .houll be
maintained. think that here is where
our work OF preparation lies TODAY
we must hold to our love for God
ana 10 our worship. Sometimes Dco-
PIE cry, 20 let the church go fo-
wn,ic when the world calls for bat
TIC H't VIC answer: NO: the wor-
snip OF God is the all-important thing
BOOK. SO only can VIC pc ready for
Whatever of conflict Cod may be plcascd
TO place before U.S. We can never do
Gods work or rightly aid in His nlan
unic*s we live near TO Him. Church
worship was never so important az
to-day. Tho Sunday-schooI WORKER
the ono who visits the hospitals snd
SEEKS TO help the poor. is doing some
thing for the worlds victory over un.
righteousness as we'll as the soldier
IN the trenches. Mora. isencs fought
ny 'ruc retormcrS are rs essential as
me o'ieat of Germany. TIE act Of
congress In passing .hc prohibition
hi'i (Which. let us pray. may be in
dorscd the Statcs) was as ip,oort.
ant as the war Legislation. Never can
the world he redeemed and made ready
FOR the coming OF the King unless We
look we'll to religious and mora! issues