"Then shall appear the sign of the
Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth
mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels
with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together
His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other."
"Watch therefore: for ye know not
what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman
of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he
would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to
be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour
as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful
and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household,
to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom
his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto
you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and
if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth
his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and
to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall
come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that
he is not aware of, and shall cut
him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:30,
31, 42-51.
Brethren, be careful, very careful. There
is a work being done by the medical missionaries which answers
to the description given in verses 48-51. The Lord is working
to reach the most depraved. Many will know what it means to be
drawn to Christ, but will not have moral courage to war against
appetite and passion. But the workers must not be discouraged
at this; for it is written: "In the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines
of devils." 1 Timothy 4:1. Is it only those rescued from
the lowest depths that backslide? There are those in the ministry
who have had light and a knowledge of the truth, who will not
be overcomers. They do not restrict their appetites and passions
or deny themselves for Christ's sake. Many poor outcasts, even
publicans and sinners, will grasp the hope set before them in
the gospel and will go into the kingdom of heaven before the
ones who have had great opportunities and great light, but who
have walked in darkness. In the last great day many will say:
"Lord, Lord, open unto us." But the door will be shut,
and their knock will be in vain.
We should feel deeply over these
things, for they are true. We should have a high estimate of
truth and of the value of souls. Time is short, and there is
a great work to be done. If you feel no interest in the work
that is going forward, if you will not encourage medical missionary
work in the churches, it will be done without your consent; for
it is the work of God, and it must be done. My brethren and sisters,
take your position on the Lord's side and be earnest, active,
courageous co-workers with Christ, laboring with Him to seek
and save the lost.