The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-10-16

went into a certain workingman's
home. Next day this workman told
his mates sadly: "I never expected
him, nor did my wife The house
was untidy, and ! hadn't washed. We
shall never forgive our selves. If
we had known he was coming we
should have been ready for him"
The Lord Jesus Christ is coming
soon in the clouds to gather His own
unto Himself to live throughout
Eternity with Him q Thessalonians
4:16, III. Are you expecting Him? |
Is your house tidy and are you
washed-washed in the precious
blood of the Lamb? Are you ready |
for Him? How sad for this country
man not to be ready for the visit of |
his Prince but how much sadder for |
the children of the Prince of Peace !
not to be ready for His coming
The Holy Spirit is diligently seek
ing to prepare the child of God for
the imminent return of the Lord. His
return is truly the blessed hope" of
the believer. The rapture of the
Church, which is composed of every
born again believer, is the next
scheduled prophetic event. There
fore it behooves us to consider the
question, "What is required on our
part for true readiness for the Lords
coming?"
Teaching us that, denying ungod-
illness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously and godly,
in this present world" 1t will be
wonderful privilege to dwell with
the Lord Jesus Christ and to be a
joint heir with Him. The Holy
Spirit, if given permission, will pur-
ify our lives that we might be ac-
ceptable in His sight and ready for
His coming. Ungodliness and world
ly lusts must be purged from the
lives of believers. However, man
cannot cleanse himself. He must
yield to the Spirit and through this
surrender the heart and life shall be
purified.
Ungodliness is anything that is un-
pleasing to God, Worldliness in the
lives of protesting Christians is the
tool of Satan and the curse of
Christendom today. The believer
should be light, shining through
the darkness of sin, pointing others
to Christ Ungodliness and worldly
Iusts becloud the believers light.
Neither is God pleased with the be-
lever who permits these things in
his life. The Word of God urges us
to ''deny ungodliness and worldly
Iusts"
The Lord Jesus Christ is anxious
ly awaiting the time when His bride
shall meet Him in the air. There is
a tremendous need now for spiritual
awakening among Gods people. The
command given here ''to live sober
T.. r1.4 &c
present world" is timely warning
to prepare for His coming. Christian
friends, let us do what God here
commands. We prepare for life here
in this world as if we were to be
here indefinitely. We need to pre-
pare for eternal life.
Even among Gods people today
there is envying, strife, bitterness
and sin. The believer is to esteem
others better than himself. Our lives
should be lives of devotion to Him
and lcve to Others All sin, confessed
and forgiven, will be permanently
forgiven and will not appear against
the believer at the Judgment seat
But sin must be confessed to Him
that He might forgive. The rapture
that Blessed Hope-includes every
born again believer, and immediate
Iy following the rapture each be-
liever will come before the Judg-
ment seat of Christ and the Holy
Spirit will give an accurate report oi
his life, Rewards will then be giVer
accordingly The great separation
between the wheat and the tareE
will take place at the rapture. Those
who are merely protesting to know
Him will not be taken but will be
left behind. Those who profess Hin
will be caught up at His coming
Those who reject Christ as Saviour
will be forever lost and will be lef
behind at that time to face the Grea
Tribulation which shall follow the
rapture. Many religious people viii
be left behind because they have
never been born again. Many good
moral people will be left behind be
cause they have never been bor1
again. The Word of God emphatical
Iy declares, "Ye must be borl
again" ..-,
be a partaker in the rapture. Ii yol
have never accepted Christ as you
personal Saviour, do so right now
believe that He died for you-tha
He took your place upon the eros
of Calvary-and thus accept Him a
your substitute for sin. The invita-
tion is to "Whosoever will" God
no respector of persons. He will saw
all who will believe and receive Hlr
into their hearts. No matter what ST
has taken possession of the life, onl
Christ can release the bond of sir
No matter how clean the life ha
been. Christ is still needed. "Veril
l say unto you, He that heareth M
word, and believeth on him that ser
Me. hath everlasting life, and sha
not come into condemnation; but
passed from death unto life" (Joh
5:24).
Beloved, are you looking for thf
Blessed Hope?" Are you expectin
Him? Have you yielded to the Hol
Spirit not only for salvation, bl
also in conservation to Him? AT tn
rapture. our books are to be audlte'
We will give an account to the Lor
and that account will be accurat
What have you done with your life
Do you really love him? II you loN
Him you will give Him first pla'
in your life. You will serve hlI
You will be His witness. You wi
bear fruit. Have you led any So
to a saving knowledge of Chris
Examine yourself.
That blessed hope will be glo
anrnarIn0 nf nj