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Be Not Afraid

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 14, 1865

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 26, No. 24.

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“Be Not Afraid.”

By N. Orcutt

TWELVE men, voyagers in a frail bark, once amid the darkness of the night were "in the midst of the sea tossed by the waves; for the wind was contrary." One who had power to rebuke the winds, in the fourth watch of the night, went unto them walking on the sea. They were troubled and cried out for fear. He speaks words of comfort, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
Ye weary, sorrowing ones, sailing over life's rough sea, amid the gloom of night, does the way seem dark and dreary? Do the billows roll mountain high, wind and wave seeming to retard your progress and threaten your destruction? We are amid the rocks, shoals and quicksands of the last and most dangerous part of the voyage. The prophetic word is being fulfilled. As we near the shore, perils thicken—perilous times have come,—times of clouds and thick darkness, of winds and storms. But can we not hear, above the raging storm, the cheering words, “It is I; be not afraid?” With the increase of danger has come an increase of light. “Our Father” has shown unto his servants things that must shortly come to pass, so that they are “children of the light and children of the day.” We have a sure word of prophecy. We have had the messages of the first and second angels, and even now we hear the voice of the third uttering his solemn warning.
We look back and upon the coast and we see the waymarks we have passed. We see a lighthouse upon the coast of Babylon, of Media Persia, of Grecia, and of Rome. We look forward, and a little in the future, amid the toes of the image,—upon the coast of divided Rome, we see break forth a light brighter than the noonday sun, marking the entrance to the haven of eternal repose. As says the poet:
“We've looked astern, and many toils The Lord has brought us through. We're looking now ahead, and lo! The land appears in view.”
May the prospect cheer our hearts, and lead us to seek righteousness and meekness; that when the wine of the wrath of God shall be poured out without mixture, we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. As God continues to lead out his people, may we be prepared to obey when he shall command to go forward—keeping pace with the light, rising with the truth. Then may we with confidence believe that all things will work together for our good.
Soon the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom. Soon the last storm will be passed, the last battle fought, the last tear shed, the last prayer offered, the last enemy destroyed, and the tabernacle of God be with men.
Oh, happy, thrice happy and blessed is the humble saint that in the time of trouble, in every hour of trial, in every season of affliction, can hear Jesus say, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
N. ORCUTT.
Troy, Vt., Nov. 1, 1865.