I Want by I. D. Van Horn

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1866

"I Want."

By I. D. Van Horn

I HAVE had many serious reflections of late, upon the import of these two words, caused principally by hearing the brethren and sisters in different localities bear their testimony in our social meetings. Sometimes these meetings are cold and formal, but little zeal for the truth is manifested, and like the door on its hinges, we go to and from them realizing but little if any benefit therefrom. On such occasions we often hear testimonies given in a careless and almost indifferent manner, in substance as follows: "I want to know my duty, and be willing to perform it at all times. I want to be a Christian, and have a more realizing sense of what God has done for me. I want more of the Spirit of God that I may be willing to obey him in all things. I want to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I want my heart cleansed from all sin. I want to overcome and go with the remnant to Mount Zion," &c. Thus they go on expressing their "wants" till I have thought sometimes they might be when the Lord comes, like one of whom we read, "weighed in the balances and found wanting."

Now I am not going to say that it is wrong to express these wants; but I believe the place to express them is in the closet, where God alone can hear us. I believe it is the Christian's privilege to obtain what he wants of the Lord; and when he has done so, let him go to the social meeting and tell that he has had his wants supplied, has gained the victory over sin, and been able to resist temptation. Then his testimony will be effectual in the encouragement of others, and God's name will be honored and glorified.

There is probably not an individual in the world that does not want eternal life; yet there will be but few of them saved, because they will never make an effort to obtain what they want. It becomes us therefore, as believers in present truth, to make our calling and election sure by working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in due time; casting all our care upon him, for he careth for us. Let us go to him in meekness and ask him for the things we need, that our wants may be all supplied, and we fitted for a home with the redeemed in the kingdom of God.

I. D. VAN HORN.