George Mueller , a leader among the Plymouth Brethren, once shared this testimony: “In July 1829 it pleased God to reveal to my heart the truth regarding the return of the Lord Jesus and to show me that I had made a great mistake by sitting back and watching for the complete conversion of the world. It produced the following effect on me: Deep within my soul, I was moved to feel compassion for perishing sinners and for a world lulled to sleep by the wicked Enemy. And I began to think, ‘Should I not do whatever I can for the Lord Jesus and try to awake His slumbering church before He returns?’”

There may still be many difficult years of hard work ahead of us before the fulfillment of His prophetic return, but the signs of His coming today are very encouraging. In fact, I would not be at all surprised if I saw the apocalyptic angel spread its wings for its last triumphal flight before today’s sunset. Nor would I be surprised if tomorrow morning’s news thrilled us with the proclamation that Christ the Lord had arrived atop the Mount of Olives or Mount Calvary to declare His worldwide dominion.

O dead churches, wake up! O Christ, descend! Scarred head, take Your crown! Bruised hands, take Your scepter! Wounded feet, take Your throne! “For thine is the kingdom” (Matthew 6:13 KJV). THOMAS DEWITT TALMAGE

It may be in the evening, When the work of the day is done, And you have time to sit in the twilight, And watch the sinking sun, While the long bright day dies slowly Over the sea, And the hours grow quiet and holy With thoughts of Me; While you hear the village children Running along the street— Among those passing footsteps May come the sound of My Feet.

Therefore I tell you, Watch! By the Light of the evening star When the room is growing darker As the clouds afar, Let your door be closed and latched In your home, For it may be in the evening I will come.

Christ died that He might make us a “peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV). A great many Christians are afraid that they will be peculiar.

A few weeks before God took Enoch to heaven, his acquaintances would probably have said that he was a little peculiar; they would have told you that when they had a bridge party and the whole countryside were invited, you would not find Enoch or one of his family present. He was very peculiar.

We are not told that he was a great warrior or a great scientist or a great scholar. In fact, we are not told that he was anything that the world would call great, but he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, and he is the brightest star that shone in that dispensation.

If he could walk with God, cannot you and I? He took a long walk one day, and has not come back as yet. The Lord liked his company so well that He said, “Enoch, come up higher.”

I suppose that if we asked the men in Elijah’s time what kind of a man Elijah was, they would have said, “He is very peculiar.” The king would have said, “I hate him.” Jezebel did not like him; the whole royal court did not like him and a great number of the nominal Christians did not like him; he was too radical.

I am glad that the Lord had seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal; but I would rather have Elijah’s little finger than the whole seven thousand. I would not give much for seven thousand Christians in hiding.

They will just barely get into heaven; they will not have crowns.

See that “no one will take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). Be willing to be one of Christ’s peculiar people, no matter what men may say of you! D. L. MOODY

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

The Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever.—The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back into perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

If they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed.—He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.—Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.—Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.—He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.—Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. I will; be thou clean.—Faith as a grain of mustard seed.

Cast not away . . . your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.—Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.—Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord .—The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.—So run, that ye may obtain.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.