Evading the Truth by Roswell F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 6, 1866

Evading the Truth.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

STRANGE as it seems, men who profess to believe in God—"that he is, and that he is a rewarder" of all according to their works—will still trifle with his laws, and fancy they can shirk their responsibility and escape the scrutiny of his all-seeing eye, because they cannot see things as they are plainly expressed in the word of God. They dare not trifle with human laws and expect to escape punishment on a plea of ignorance; but in respect to the divine law, they think it makes no difference if it is not obeyed with exactness. But for fear that they may be compelled by the force of convincing arguments to see the glaring falsity of their position, they will not hear or read.

But what will it avail them in the judgment, that, when they might have learned the truth, they shut their eyes and said they could not see? Their flimsy covering of falsehood cannot hide them from the piercing view of the Almighty. They must be aware of this, if they do believe in God. Hence we must conclude that, notwithstanding they profess it, yet they have no living faith at all.

This is the great difficulty—it is want of true faith. The Jews rejected Christ in his first advent for want of faith in the Scriptures they professed to believe. While professing faith, they were infidels. Just so it is now. Thousands are in a similar condition—professing faith, yet closing their eyes and their hearts against the truth, the present truth, the only truth which can sanctify and save them. "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke xviii, 8. Campbell's version says, "And will not God avenge his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he linger in their cause? I assure you, he will suddenly avenge them. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find this belief upon the earth?" This belief, that is, the faith that Christ is suddenly coming to avenge his elect—to slay their persecuting enemies and save them.

Oh, that professed Christians had faith in Christ!—that they believed his promise that he will come again, and that he will appear to the generation that have witnessed the promised signs. If men had living faith they would obey the word and keep his commandments. But for want of faith they evade the law of God, and hide behind their own ignorance.

"Though ample views of truth they once have got, They shut their eyes and say they see it not."

But all is naked and plain to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. We shall be judged according to our opportunities. If we have improved them, well; but if we have been "willingly ignorant," there is no excuse.

R. F. COTTRELL.