What does this restlessness in the elements above us mean—the storms, the hurricanes, the cyclones, the earthquakes? What does the sighing of troubled people mean—the wars, the rumors of wars? What does the upheaval on earth mean—the great unrest among nations? What does the distress of the earth mean—the famines, the pestilences, the diseases? It is creation crying for a new and better age—"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:22,23).

Listen! and you will hear the voice of God in these things, telling us we are nearing the end of a swiftly departing age and announcing the approach of a glorious day, but one that is to be introduced through dire judgments—"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:8); "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him" (Revelation 1:7).

The world's dark night will end in glory for the believer—"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:4); "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).

What does it all mean to you, dear reader? How will this "world's dark night" end for you—in glory or in judgment? Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh" (Matthew 25:13). To be ready is to have your sins forgiven and washed away in the precious blood of Christ. Make Christ your personal Saviour today by confessing your sins to Him, believing that He died for you, and trusting His shed blood as being alone sufficient to prepare you for the glory of His presence.

—F.B. Tomkinson