Watchman, What of the Night?

Another year of the long-suffering of God has nearly come to a close. "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come." Isa. 21:11, 12.
Let us meditate a little on the year that is passed, a measured portion of "the night," the long, dark night of man's rejection of Christ. God has His own, those whom He has chosen out of the world who are not of it, but given to Christ. But let us not shut our eyes to the awful fact that this world has rejected and killed the Son of God, and still rejects Him. Satan, the great enemy of man, is the god of this world and nowhere does Satan display more enmity against Christ than in the professing Church. Is not Christendom a caricature of the Church of God, as seen in Scripture in the beginning?
How rapidly infidelity is increasing everywhere, and if not infidelity, the grossest idolatry. As a Hindu idolater said to a professed Christian: "We have no idolatry like yours. We worship an idol, as representing God; but you bake a god, worship it as God, and then eat it." Surely this is the lowest depth of dark idolatry. And Satan calls this wickedness "holy communion"! Watchman, what of the night? Is it not getting darker and darker, ripening for the terrible judgment? And what is the state of the world around? Violence and lawlessness, dishonesty publicly defended. There never was a time when Christians needed more to cry to God to preserve the members of the government.
Further Shocks
Yes, the long night of man's rejection of Christ grows darker and darker. Soon men's hearts will fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Is it not even so now in measure? Are not the powers that be, which are ordained of God, being rudely shaken? Who can say what further shocks may be felt before this year is out?
“Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night." In the watchman's reply there are two facts brought before us, and then he says, "If ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come." Let us at the close of this year of the dark night, return and inquire concerning these two things:
First, "The morning cometh.”
Second, "And also the night.”
Oh, happy morn! the Lord will come,
And take His waiting people home,
Beyond the reach of care:
O morn, too bright for mortal eyes,
When all the ransomed Church shall rise,
And wing their way to yonder skies
Called up with Christ to reign.

“The morning cometh." "Behold the Bridegroom." "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”