Time Nearly Finished

Sis. White states, I saw that the time for Jesus to be in the most holy place was nearly finished, and that time can last but a very little longer. As the subject was presented before me the period of Christ’s ministration seemed almost accomplished. Am I accused of falsehood because time has continued longer than my testimony seemed to indicate?” No. It should be remembered that the promises and threatenings of God are alike, that is, conditional. How is it with the testimonies of Christ and His disciples? Were they deceived?

Paul Writes to the Corinthians:

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they were not: and they that rejoice, as though they rejoice not.” 1 Cor. 7:29,30.

Again, in his epistle to the Romans, he says:

“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.” Rom. 13:12.

And from Patmos, Christ speaks to us by the beloved John:

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Rev. 1:3). “The Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which most shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Rev. 22:6,7.

The angels of God in their messages to men represent time as very short. God had committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The third angel’s message was to be given, the minds of the believers were to be directed to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His people… The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice, that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning.

The people of God must purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand without fault before Him at His coming.

“If we would at last share the reward of the righteous, we must wisely improve the time of our probation. Moments are more precious than gold…

“The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. We have but a little time in which to make ready. If precious opportunities are slighted, it will result in eternal loss. We need a close connection with God. We are not safe a moment unless guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit

“The months are swiftly passing. Soon this year, with its burden of records, will be numbered with the past. Let the precious months remaining be devoted to earnest soul labour for the Master. Could we behold a faithful record of the manner in which we have spent the months already past, would the view be satisfactory? Deduct every action which would benefit no one… and how little remains of willing service, performed for the glory of God: is not the record alarming? How many precious hours have been squandered in selfish gratification! How often, to please ourselves, have we neglected opportunities to work for Christ!…

“Life, with its marvelous privileges and opportunities, will soon be ended. The time for improvement in character will be past. Unless our sins are now repented of and blotted out by the blood of the Lamb, they will stand in the ledger of heaven to confront us in the coming day.

“Life is short. The things of the world must perish with the using. Let us be wise, and build for eternity. We cannot afford to idle away our precious moments, or engage in busy activities that will bring forth no fruit for eternity. Let the time hitherto devoted to idleness, frivolity, worldliness, be spent in gaining a knowledge of the scriptures, in beautifying our life, and blessing and ennobling the life and character of others. This work will meet with the approval of God, and win for us the heavenly benediction of “well done”. E.G. White, Our High Calling, p. 187.

Let us pray to the Lord for all the isolated souls in all our fields. Consider the question in Isaiah 6:8. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And consider the fact that : “the harvest is truly plenteous. But the labourers are few.” Matt. 9:37. Are those who work directly with the church the only labourers that the Lord has? Set Jesus as your example. John 4:34 tells of Jesus’ unselfish love for us and for His Father. “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.”

Is this not our main objective to do His will and finish His work? The Lord is calling you to make a sacrifice, and to get away from the comforts of life.

Answer the call with, “here am I; send me.” Like Nehemiah, take up the work in establishing the truth in the habitable globe, and be assured that God’s presence will be with you even there. Labour in faith and confidence; for the time will never come when He will forsake you.

“Workers for Christ are needed everywhere. There should be one hundred earnest, faithful labourers in home and foreign mission fields where now there is one.” FE 488 (1903).

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth (you) labourers into His vineyard.” Matt. 9:38.