Christians Must be in Earnest by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 3, 1866

Christians Must be in Earnest.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THE following is from Nevins' Biblical Antiquities, p. 231. It sets forth in its true light how earnest we must be in order to gain the kingdom of God, and the great danger there is of being deceived, and of being lukewarm in serving God.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

“We have already seen how the Christian life is represented under the image of a laborious race, such as was common in the ancient Grecian games. The Holy Ghost has made use of the most significant things as well as the most forcible words, to teach us the greatness and difficulty of the work to which religion calls us, and to stir up to earnest concern and untiring, continual diligence in its pursuit. How strange, that men, with the Bible in their hands, should so generally feel as if religion did not need uncommon interest or uncommon exertion! Multitudes, who call themselves Christians, are passing onward through life hardly conscious of any struggle or trial of a religious sort whatever, and yet they dream that they are on the way to Heaven. If you talk to them of spiritual discouragement, anxieties, toils, and conflicts, they know not what you mean, or perhaps regard all such language as the sickly cant of fanaticism or gloomy superstition. They show far more concern about the affairs of this world, than about all the infinitely interesting realities of that which is to come, and seldom allow these last to engage their thoughts or their conversation; yet they pretend to be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. But let us beware of such delusion. The Devil would like to persuade us that the road to Heaven requires no great care or effort to be found or traveled; but Christ has assured us that it is difficult and narrow, and that few find it. The Devil will whisper to the soul that there is need to be continually watching and striving in order to secure eternal life; but the Bible warns us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The redemption of the soul is precious. The ruin out of which it is to be raised is most awful. All Heaven is moved with interest for its salvation. And shall we dream of having it lifted such a height from corruption to holiness, with no corresponding interest or exertion on its own part? No; religion claims, and certainly deserves, our highest regard and most serious labor. It sets before us a race; and we must run, laying aside every weight and casting off every hindrance, if we would win its prize. It sets before us a battle; and we must fight, arrayed in all the armor of righteousness, and resisting evil within and without, to the close of life, if we would secure its victory and be crowned with immortal glory.”