The Review and Herald
August 25, 1891
Meeting Trials
Our trials are often such that they seem almost unbearable, and indeed without help from God we could not bear them. Unless we rely upon him, we shall sink under the burden of responsibility that brings only sadness and grief. But if we make Christ our dependence, we shall not sink under trial. When all seems dark and unexplainable, we are to trust in his love; we must repeat the words of Christ, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” RH August 25, 1891, par. 1
When souls are converted, their salvation is not yet accomplished. They then have the race to run. An arduous struggle is before them, to do what?—To “fight the good fight of faith,” to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” There is no release in this warfare; the battle is life-long, and must be carried forward with determination and energy proportionate to the value of the object to be attained, which is eternal life. Immense interests are here involved. We are made partakers of Christ's sacrifice here in this life, and if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end, we are assured that we shall be partakers of all the benefits of the future, immortal life. RH August 25, 1891, par. 2
The promise is, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape.” Trials will certainly come, but we have a living Saviour, an Intercessor, one who will help us in every time of need. “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.” Eternal interests are here involved. Maintain to the last your Christian integrity. You cannot afford to become discouraged, and cast away your confidence; the Lord Jesus is your only hope. Make sure work for eternity. You must not murmur or complain; neglect no means of grace; encourage your soul to believe and trust in God. “Take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” RH August 25, 1891, par. 3
Satan is ever seeking to destroy; he is casting his hellish shadow between our souls and the light of the Sun of righteousness. When you talk doubts, and distrust your Heavenly Father's love, Satan comes in, and deepens the impression, and that which was only a shadow is made the blackness of despair. Your only hope is to cease talking darkness. In dwelling on the dark side, you cast away your confidence in God, and this is just what Satan wants you to do. He wants to sift you as wheat; but Jesus is making intercession for you. His love is broad and deep. Perhaps you will say, “How do you know he loves me?” I look where you may look, to the cross of Calvary. The blood shed upon the cross cleanseth from all sin. When tempted to go in the dark cave of doubt and despair, sing: RH August 25, 1891, par. 4
“Arise, my soul, arise,
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands;
My name is written on his hands.”
RH August 25, 1891, par. 5
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Let your prayers ascend to our Heavenly Father, and let this 51st psalm bring assurance and comfort to you. Do not stay away from Jesus, for he loves you. You may say, “He will not hear my prayers; I am a sinner.” But Christ says, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Then you are not to wait, but come now, and believe that he will receive you. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” RH August 25, 1891, par. 6
But you cannot enjoy his blessing without any action on your part. Salvation is a gift offered to you free; on no other condition can you obtain it, than as a free gift. But co-operation on your part is essential for your salvation. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The Lord would not have us forget that we are fitting ourselves for weal or woe. We are daily working out our destiny. We have a crown of eternal life to win, a hell to shun. We certainly cannot save ourselves, and we know that Christ wants us to be saved; he gave his own life, that he might pay the ransom for our souls. Then when he has made this infinite sacrifice, will he regard us with indifference? He is ready to help us whenever we feel our need of help, and come to him penitent and believing. Then let us come to him humbly, saying, “In my hand no price I bring;
Simply to thy cross I cling,” and Jesus will do the work in our hearts. Satan is seeking to counteract it, but as the Lord works in us, we must co-operate, and work out that which he works in our hearts, to our own salvation. The Holy Spirit works in us by bringing to mind, vividly and often, the precious truths concerning God's saving operations in the plan of redemption. We would forget the truths of God, which we neglect to obey, and for us his rich promises would lose their efficiency, were it not for the Holy Spirit working upon our hearts; he takes of the things of God, and presents them anew to our minds.
RH August 25, 1891, par. 7
Then why not put away unbelief? The promise is, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” And then, to make assurance doubly sure, the Saviour adds, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” What you need is faith, living, active faith. Even when affliction is in your home, do not go about with a gloomy countenance; for this but increases the sorrow for yourself and others. You want to encourage cheerfulness; do not go about in mournful sadness, as if Jesus were in Joseph's tomb, and a great stone were rolled before the door. Jesus has risen from the tomb. He lives. In the trial of your faith, show that you know you have a living Saviour, one who is making intercession for you and your loved ones. If they will only come to Jesus, he will receive them. You can show them the way. Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us. He has no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but rather that he should turn from his sins and live. What more positive language could be employed than the following: “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance”? To make God's grace our own, we must do our allotted part; we must believe Christ, we must show the grace of Christ in our lives, bearing fruit to the glory of God. Do not please Satan by carrying a sad, mournful countenance. When the furnace fire kindles about your soul, is the time to fight the good fight of faith, to reveal your confidence, your trust in Jesus. RH August 25, 1891, par. 8