Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-12-26


One of the chief reasons for The
worldliness in our churches TO-DAY
the indifference toward soul win {
ming, and the neglect of personal no y
illness. is that preachers and people
alike have neglected the truth Of +
the second coming of Christ. He Is
coming again-are you ready? Am
/? These are serious and urgent
questions.
I. The Lord Is Coming-Be Wait
ing wv. IS, 36).
Lights burning and loins girtu
ready to serve Him, such should bel
our daily attitude toward His com.
ing. Believers are to be Hooking
for" Him Titus 2:13). They 'love
his appearing" QI Tim. 4:8). Their
hope is not in this world. but they
are looking forward earnestly de-
string" (II Pet. s:l1. IL, R. W tn.
outworking of Gods plan and pun.
pose.
II. The Lord Is COming-Be Ready
wv. 37-40).
He may come at midnight, or i
the morning; we do not know tn
day or hour ". 40, Ct. Matt 24:3G,
but it will be when the world does
not expect it wv. 80. 40). BE y.
ready" is the command to ever
Christian, ever watchful for the
coming Of our Lord.
The full meaning Of verse 81 We
will not know until we come to that
glorious day, but it clearly indicates
a great blessing and reward for
those who are ready when He
comes.
III. The Lord Is Coming-Be Busy
wv. 41-44).
Peters question is not directly
answered, but by inference he Is
told that he may be one of those
to whom this blessing win come by
being about the Masters business.
Critics of the teaching Of the hope
Of the Lords return sometimes say
that looking for Him 'cuts the nerve
of missionary endeavor"; that is
makes men impractical and vision
airy, not willing to work for God.
To prove how untrue that is one
need only investigate who it is that
furnishes most Of the men and
means to evangelize the world. He
will find that it is the evangelical
believers in the Lords return.
Looking for Christ means occupy.
ing until He comes duke 1919. do
ing the Lords work here and nov
". 42). while awaiting His coming
Jesus compares teachers to
house stewards Matt. 24:45, As;
Acts 20:28: Cor. Al; I Pet. 4:10l.
A stewards business is to give b
each one in the household his pd
ton of meat in due season (Jo&
21:15-17: Pet. So; Jer. 3:15). II y
faithful and wise steward is the d
who actually does this. There d
many foolish and unfaithful ste
ards who feed themselves not
household (cf Eek. 1912, 81;
they feed only a portion Of
household; or they give someth
else than food philosophy or soci
ogy, instead of the pure Word
God: CT. Pet 30; 4:10. III; d
they do not give the food in d
season The steward who is fai
full and wise is also blessed. Havi
proved his fitness to rule. he is r.
warded with larger rule. At the
bottom of the unfaithful stewards
neglect of duty lies his view that
Christ's coming is far OFF, Grad
bury).
Nv. The Lord Is Coming-Be holy
WV. 45-48).
The belief that the Lord win delay
His coming leads to all manner Of
unbelief, betrayal of trust and Of
sin. In the case of the servant in
verse As. there was FIRST oppression
Of those under him, and then glut,
tony and drunkenness. The picture
is revolving, but it was really pro
phetic of what has taken place even
within the ranks of processing Chris
tians in the church itself.
Neglect of the truth Of Gods
Word, scofing at the promise Of
Christ's coming (read carefully Il
Pet. $3.50 leads to that perversiOn
Of Christianity which is evident ia
much Of the life Of the church to.
day, and which causes thinking PEG.
pie to turn away in disgust. Let
US stress the fact that this may be
religion" but it is not real Chris
tianity.
There is a solemn word here Tor
preachers teachers and Christian
workers. A time Of judgment Is
coming, and we are to answer to the
Lord for the faithful use Of our priv
leges and opportunities. It is mat
ter to which we need to give care
ful attention. II God has given usI
great opportunities. our measure Of
responsibility will be great. Ever
chance you and have to present
gospel. influence the life of our
quaintances for God, turn the in
est Of our community or neighE
hood toward righteousness; Ia
are Gods gifts of opportlrnfty 70
We shall answer one day to
for the manner n which we
them.