p. 166 | Coming to Jesus by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 24, 1866

Coming to Jesus.

By Editor

Into many a house The Independent will come this week, and find there an anxious inquirer for salvation. To that seeking soul let us say a kind word; and we do it more hopefully because some of our readers in times past have gladdened us by saying that our former articles have led them to the Saviour. To this seeking soul we have one simple counsel, first of all and above all, it is—come to Jesus!

Do you ask, "How shall I come? What are the practical steps?" We answer, Your first step is honest prayer. The heart must move, and as it draws toward Jesus, its first instinct is to pray. Do not wait for deep feeling before you go to your knees. You may have but little distress of mind and no agonizing compunction; your eye may be "unsullied with a tear;" but if you sincerely desire a better heart and a higher life, this is enough "feeling" to start with. Do you believe that Jesus is a Divine Saviour and has died for your soul? Then that is enough faith to start with. Go to Jesus in the boldness of prayer. Own up your sins without concealment. Tell your long-suffering Master no lies. Pray honestly, pray simply, and ask Jesus for just what you most want. You have sinned against God's law and his love fearfully; ask him to open your eyes, that you may see yourself. Do you long to have that old account that stands against you on God's "book of remembrance" wiped out? Then ask Jesus, the pardoner; his blood "cleanseth from all sin." Do you want a new heart? Then ask for it. Do you want help from Heaven to meet the first sin that assails you with its sly temptation? Then ask for it as directly as your child asks for bread at the table. Prayer is not a set speech to the Almighty. It is simply asking of God just what you desire to have; no more, no less. Prayer is direct converse with God. By it you confess your sins; by it you tell your wants; by it you offer your thanks to Jesus for his atoning love; by it you bring down infinite blessings. You know what it is to knock at a door you wish to enter. Jesus says, "Knock, and it shall be opened to you."

II. But while you are thus praying one way with your lips, be careful that you do not pray in the opposite direction with your conduct. Do not pray to be delivered from sin, and then go off and straightway commit sin. Let us illustrate this. A man attends an inquiry-meeting, and asks his friends to pray with him for his salvation. The next morning he goes over to his place of business, and among the articles for sale in his store he sees a long row of bottles and demijohns. They have an ugly look to his conscience. One is filled with woes, and another with curses, and another with woman's tears, and another with liquid damnation. But an old customer comes in and calls for a basket of choice wines. "I may as well sell him this and get the profit as any other man," whispers a cunning calculator within, and the bargain is struck. The merchant comes home uneasy at night, and when his pastor drops in to ask him what progress he is making, he sits sullen and moody, or else replies, "I don't know why it is, but I feel no better than I did last night." Why should he feel better? He is further from Christ than he was the night before. His conduct has been praying right against the prayers of his lips all day! He has been grieving the Holy Spirit by doing what he knew was wrong. He has been selling his Master for money as directly as Judas did. How long will it take for a man to become a Christian by prayer who is making himself a sinner by his practice?

This principle of praying one way and living the opposite way is fatal to salvation. What right has a person to pray, "Lead me not into temptation," when he has a ticket to the theater in his pocket? What right has a man to ask Christ to pardon him when he has passed an "enemy" on the street without speaking to him, or has shut his own door against a poor, erring daughter? How can a man expect mercy from Christ when he has been wringing the last dollar from the thin-clad widow who rents her garret from him, or has paid a starvation price to the poor seamstress who sat up all night to make his daughter's rich ball-dress? How can a young girl expect her Saviour's smiles when she is trifling with another's affections, or is concealing the truth from her mother, or is setting her whole soul on frivolities? How can a man of business admit Christ to his heart when every nook and cranny in it is filled with the fierce greed for wealth?

We know of scores in our own congregation who have never yet come to Jesus, even when they were wrought upon in powerful revivals; and the only reason was that they refused to "pluck out the right eye" of lust, or "cut off the right hand" of favorite transgressions. The holy Jesus would not accept them as long as they kept their cherished sins concealed under the garment. Nor will he accept you, my anxious friend, until you not only lay your heart at his feet, but lay down your darling sins also. He that denieth not himself and taketh not up his cross and followeth after Christ cannot be his disciple.

III. Our third counsel is, Take hold of actual duty and perform it.

Salvation is a free gift on the part of God; but on your part it is a work. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Co-operate with the Holy Spirit. Begin to serve God. Lay hold of the first duty at your hand. You have been living to Please yourself; now try to please God. Paul's first question, when awakened to his guilt, was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" A neighbor of ours who commenced to pray with his family last night, got more help from that one act of duty, than from a dozen sermons.

IV. Finally be in earnest. Make no compromise—no delay. Keep open no door of retreat behind you into the world. When Sherman commenced his decisive march to the sea, he put the torch to Atlanta, and extinguished all hope of retreat. When Cortez set out for Mexico, he burned his ships behind him. Look not back. Christ, the cross, duty, usefulness, hope, honor, Heaven are all before you! Lay hold of them. On the delay of a day may hang your destiny.

"How vain the delusion that while you delay Your heart will grow better by staying away; Come needy, come guilty, come just as you be, The blood of redemption is flowing for thee." [Cuyler.