Now I Know That Thou Fearest God by D. H. KRESS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

“Now I Know That Thou Fearest God”

By D. H. KRESS

D. H. KRESS

HEROES are not made on the field of battle nor in a time of crisis; they are merely then made manifest.

The tares and the wheat grow together until the harvest. The time comes when all can discern between the wheat and the tares.

In the church both the evil and the good are planted. It is often difficult to distinguish between them; but the peculiar tests that are permitted to come to the church, will enable the universe, angels, and men to discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that has not served him. God imparts to us means, then permits us to be brought face to face with difficulties in connection with his work. He permits his institutions to get into financial embarrassment, then he says to each member of the church, “Lovest thou me?” Here an opportunity is given for all to manifest their love. The true disciple cannot endure to see God’s cause or its institutions or its agencies naked or hungry, while he is clothed and fed. I was naked, the Saviour says, and ye clothed me; I was hungry, and ye fed me.

The service of God demands sacrifice. God called Abraham to offer up Isaac, the one in whom all the promises centered. Here was a test. The words were whispered to Abraham, Lovest thou me? Abraham made the offering, he gave all; then the angel of the Lord appeared and said, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” Then the angel of the Lord said, “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, . . . and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”

God’s blessing today will rest upon those who will demonstrate before the universe, before angels and men, that they love God better than all else. The time has come, it seems to me, when all should be laid on the altar, the time when we should “bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.” Why is it necessary to bind it?—Because at the very time when it is most needed, we may be tempted to withdraw it. We may be tempted to erect commodious

dwellings or make promising worldly investments. But this is a delusion; the time is coming when no further need will exist for money. Many will then offer their means to the Lord’s cause, but it will be too late. Now is the time to heed the admonition, “Sell that ye have, and give alms.”

Can we not in some way wipe out our entire indebtedness speedily, and thus remove a reproach from God’s cause and give our institutions a chance to live? Young men and young women should be in training, should be receiving an education, to take part in this closing work. Shall we not encourage these young people, even at a great sacrifice on our part, to qualify themselves for usefulness? We shall be in need of church-school teachers, tract and missionary society workers, bookkeepers, nurses, doctors, workers for our health restaurants and treatment rooms, canvassers, etc. There is a place for every young man and young woman who desires to have a part in the work. God has established educational institutions among us where young men and young women may receive the help they need to fit them for usefulness.

We are living in the time, as it were, of the eleventh-hour call. There can be no excuse now for any one’s saying, There is nothing to do, no one has hired me. God calls all to go into active service or into preparation for such service, and says, “Whatsoever is right I will give you.” God has need of young men and young women. Like Abraham, fathers and mothers may be called upon to make a sacrifice of their only child. But we cannot afford to withhold from God his own.