The Signs of the Times
June 8, 1891
Abiding in Christ
Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Those who truly come to Christ, find rest unto their souls; and is it not an evidence that you have not come to him if you find the Christian life one of hardship and perplexity? Does it not prove that you are wearing a yoke of your own manufacture? Have you not gathered up burdens that Christ never meant you to carry? We are to live a life of meekness and simplicity, following the example of Christ, our Master. Christ is close at our side to counsel and help us in every time of need. ST June 8, 1891, par. 1
Why do we go to others with our trials and difficulties? Why not take all our griefs and burdens to the Lord in prayer? The reason we do not bring all our care to Christ is that we have too little faith in him. ST June 8, 1891, par. 2
By living faith we must abide in Christ. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The promise is positive; there is no “perhaps” about it. We need more faith; we are not simple enough to believe just what the Lord has spoken. If you did believe, you would come and say, “I take thee at thy word, Lord; I am trusting, believing in thy promise.” This is living faith. We have an example of the faith that lays hold of Christ in the story of the woman who touched his garment. Christ was teaching by the seaside, and a crowd had gathered around him, and a poor woman who had suffered many years from bodily infirmity, pressed her way through the crowd, for she felt that if she could only touch the hem of his garment she should be whole. She finally came near the Lord, and reached forth her trembling hand, and touched his garment, and felt that she was made whole. Jesus recognized the touch of faith, and asked, “Who touched me?” His disciples were astonished that he should ask such a question, and said, “Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” ST June 8, 1891, par. 3
The touch of living faith brings virtue from Christ to the soul; but without this faith we are like the multitude that thronged the Saviour and yet felt nothing of his saving power, because they did not bring themselves in close connection with Christ. ST June 8, 1891, par. 4
We must realize our need of Christ, believe in his power to supply our wants, and then come unto him. Our love is to be quickened by the love he has given us. By trusting, confiding faith, we may have joy in the midst of sorrow. I know this by experience. Affliction upon affliction has fallen upon me. When my eldest-born was taken from me by death, I found Jesus a precious helper. And when my youngest-born was laid in the grave, I rejoiced that Christ was my Saviour. When my husband was taken away by death, and we laid the faithful, worn warrior away to rest till the morning of the resurrection, I felt that it was my duty to testify to the people of the sustaining power of Jesus’ grace and love. Since then I have taken up my life-work alone, and yet not alone, for Jesus has been with me. ST June 8, 1891, par. 5
The faith that will bring us peace in sorrow and tribulation is the faith we must all have, for it is an anchor to the soul, entering into that within the veil. In times of sorrow or joy we all need a Saviour to love us, and he is at our right hand to help and comfort in every time of trial and affliction. He says, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” ST June 8, 1891, par. 6
When our minds are engrossed with the things of this life, we cannot bear fruit to the glory of God. Living faith, expressed by a life of faithful obedience, will avail to lift us out of this bondage to the world. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Steadfast faith gives evidence that we are closely connected with the Saviour. Let us put away everything like fretfulness, and make melody in our hearts unto the Lord. Let us talk of his love, and sing of his grace and power. Faith will connect us with him, and we shall be part of the Living Vine, and bear much fruit. We shall be patient and loving, and all the powers of our being will be devoted to God. Whatever gift you have, it is of God, and it should be given back to him; but how many devote their God-given ability to the glorification of self! Christ wants us to come close to himself, to accept the great sacrifice he has made for us. He is anxious to be our Helper, to bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. Will you let him help you? Say to the world, “Jesus is my Saviour; he saves me today, making me his obedient child, and enabling me to keep all his commandments.” If you knowingly disregard one of God's commandments, you do not have saving faith. Genuine faith is a faith that works by love, and purifies the soul. Genuine faith will lead you to seek for the salvation of precious souls for whom Christ has died. We are to reveal Christ to them in our character and life. ST June 8, 1891, par. 7
If we are living Christians, we shall not inquire, when some new requirement is presented to us, “Is this convenient?” but we shall render willing obedience to all the commands of the Lord. It was not convenient for Christ to come from his throne of glory to this dark world and die, but it was expedient for us; for it is through his death that we are to find life and salvation. ST June 8, 1891, par. 8
Christ never repulses those who would come close to him; he welcomes them. Shall we not believe his promises, and become one with the Living Vine? If we do this, we shall bear much fruit. How I long to see the people of God come up to their high privilege. Jesus says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” ST June 8, 1891, par. 9
The Christian's mission in the world is to reveal the character of Christ, to represent the Lord to the fallen children of men. If we are ever to enter heaven, we must bring heaven into our life here. We must be pure and holy, and if we gain heaven at last, we shall be with the Saviour throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. We shall hear him say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” The crown of glory will be placed upon the brow of the overcomer, and he will enter the city of God a conqueror. We are now upon the battle-ground, and Jesus will do the fighting for us, if we will only let him. He will lift up a standard for us against the enemy; for he hears our prayers, and help will come when we most need it. Then let us live for the future, immortal life, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” ST June 8, 1891, par. 10