The Signs of the Times
1906
January 3, 1906
Christ Our Helper
The only-begotten Son of God came to this world to redeem the fallen race. He has given us evidence of His great power. He will enable those who receive Him to build up characters free from all the tendencies that Satan reveals. We can resist the enemy and all his forces. The battle will be won, the victory gained, by him who chooses Christ as his leader, determined to do right because it is right. ST January 3, 1906, par. 1
Our divine Lord is equal to any emergency. With him nothing is impossible. He has shown His great love for us by living a life of self-denial and sacrifice, and by dying a death of agony. Come to Christ just as you are, weak, helpless, and ready to die. Cast yourself wholly on His mercy. There is no difficulty within or without that can not be surmounted in His strength. Some have stormy tempers. But He who calmed the stormy sea of Galilee will say to the troubled heart, “Peace, be still.” There is no nature so rebellious that Christ can not subdue it, no temper so stormy that He can not quell it, if the heart is surrendered to His keeping. ST January 3, 1906, par. 2
He who commits his soul to Jesus need not despond. We have an all-powerful Saviour. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, you can say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, tho the earth be removed, and tho the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; tho the waters thereof roar and be troubled, tho the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” ST January 3, 1906, par. 3
Do not think that the Christian life is a life free from temptation. Temptations will come to every Christian. Both the Christian and the one who does not accept Christ as his leader will have trials. The difference is that the latter is serving a tyrant, doing his mean drudgery, while the Christian is serving the One who died to give him eternal life. Do not look upon trial as something strange, but as the means by which we are to be purified and strengthened. “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” James declares, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” ST January 3, 1906, par. 4
Our sea will not always be smooth. We shall have storm and tempest. Meeting difficulties is a part of our education, necessary to the formation of a strong, symmetrical character. ST January 3, 1906, par. 5
In the future life we shall understand things that here greatly perplex us. We shall realize how strong a helper we had, and how angels of God were commissioned to guard us as we followed the counsel of the Word of God. ST January 3, 1906, par. 6
To all who receive Him Christ will give power to become the sons of God. He is a present help in every time of need. Let us be ashamed of our wavering faith. Those who are overcome have only themselves to blame for their failure to resist the enemy. All who choose can come to Christ and find the help they need. ST January 3, 1906, par. 7
The world is enshrouded in the darkness of error. Satan and his angels are urging on their warfare against the truth. We must have help. But the help we need will not come from human beings. We must look to Him who has said, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth,” “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” ST January 3, 1906, par. 8
There stands among you the mighty Counselor of the ages, inviting you to place your confidence in Him. Shall we turn away from Him to uncertain human beings, who are as wholly dependent on God as we ourselves are. Have we fallen so far below our privileges. Have we not been guilty of expecting so little that we have not asked for what God is longing to give. ST January 3, 1906, par. 9
“I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His loving-kindness. For He said, Surely they are My people, children that will not lie; so He was their Saviour. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” ST January 3, 1906, par. 10
Let us have more confidence in our Redeemer. Turn not from the waters of Lebanon to seek refreshment at broken cisterns, which can hold no water. Have faith in God. Trustful dependence on Jesus makes victory not only possible, but certain. Tho multitudes be pressing on in the wrong way, tho the outlook be ever so discouraging, yet we may have full assurance in our Leader; for “I am God,” He declares, “and there is none else.” He is infinite in power, and able to save all who come to Him. There is no other in whom we can safely trust. ST January 3, 1906, par. 11