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Sure Evidences of Acceptance With God

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 22.

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Sure Evidences of Acceptance With God

By M. S. HUBBELL

M. S. HUBBELL
OFTEN in visiting the homes of our brethren and sisters who are struggling with the doubts and perplexities of this life, we hear such expressions as, “I feel so unworthy and sinful that at times I wonder if God has not rejected me, for he says, ‘My Spirit shall not always strive with man.’ I try so hard to do what I feel I should, and fail so miserably that it seems useless to continue the struggle.” Another will say: “If I could only be like Brother So-and-so, I should know that I was pleasing God, for I am sure that if any one gets to heaven he will, because he is so good, so gentle and patient, always the same, bringing a ray of sunshine with him, and leaving joy behind.” Still others will say: “I feel so cold and indifferent at times that I cannot realize that I am really looking for Jesus to come, or sense the importance of the message we are supposed to be bearing to the world. I sometimes feel inclined to think that my case has been tried and my name rejected.”
Too often such doubts are permitted to prey upon the minds of God’s people; too often do we allow our minds to brood over obstacles placed in our way by the enemy, the destroyer of peace; but these are only the outworkings of his plan to deceive us and accomplish our ruin; and if we do not resist his power by turning to Christ for strength to meet the temptation, our ultimate destruction is sure. The work of death is gradual. By constantly keeping before our eyes the mist of doubt and unbelief, Satan causes us to lose sight of the reward, and subtly leads us on to certain doom.
To such comes the longing call of the Spirit of life: “Let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Christ tasted death for every man. He was assailed with doubts of every description by the enemy of souls, and fiercer by far was the battle in that heart than ours can ever experience. Because Satan well knew that upon the result of that battle depended his only hope of perpetuating his reign of sin, he fully realized the necessity of pressing upon Christ the full weight and force of his mighty genius and power to tempt men to sin. Knowing his dominion over the flesh by right of the conquest of Adam, and the natural longings of the flesh as an inherent consequence of that conquest, he exerted every art at his command to overcome the Son of God.
But Jesus, knowing all this, and feeling his helplessness and the absolute necessity of dependence upon his divine Father for power to resist, appealed with all his heart to God for the needed help, and received it; thus he, having taken part in our flesh and blood, has suffered with us, and being tempted in a far greater measure in all points, is abundantly able to succor us who are tempted.
Beloved, listen! You who are doubting the love and longing embodied in that call, you for whom the Spirit is making intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered, did you ever stop to think that your concern about your spiritual welfare, your desire to lead a better life, or your feeling of condemnation, is certain evidence that the Spirit is calling, that he is still striving with you? Have these gracious words ever burned their way into your weary mind or left their impress on your aching heart: “No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him”? Are not those secret longings of your hungry heart for the bread you see others have, an evidence that the Father is drawing you?
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” Have you ever had an only son? Can you realize what it would mean to you to see that son mocked, falsely accused, shamefully abused, and finally put to death by a rebellious and ungrateful people whom he had been striving to save from a fearful death? Could you bear to see him struggling along for years, enduring the misrepresentations, insults, and contradictions against himself of shame and contumely, in sorrowful but patient silence?
Our Heavenly Father did. But what for? Listen: “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Do you believe? If so, then that means you; for he says “whosoever believeth.” The call is, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely;” and he says, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” My brother, my sister, that call is for you. Those are sure evidences that your probation has not closed, a positive assurance that you will be accepted if you will only believe his promises of life and come while it is yet called today, leaving doubt and unbelief behind.
God has no pleasure in those who persist in unbelief; but his heart is open to those who by faith claim his promises, plead for forgiveness for their failures, and press on in firm assurance of faith that victory is sure, and who in childlike simplicity commit themselves to him who is able to keep them against that day. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” And if we believe, then “are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
When we feel no condemnation in our hearts, then we know we are accepted, for “if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God;” and we know we are the sons of God “because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” These constitute the evidences of his Spirit’s striving with us, and of our acceptance with him. “Therefore let us come boldly unto the throne of grace,” knowing that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Will you not lay aside all unbelief, refuse to listen to any doubt suggested by the enemy, accept the Saviour’s gentle call, and come? Continued prayer, abiding faith, and a steady striving for the mastery are our only safeguards. Believe and press on; the end is not far away; already the watchman is heralding the dawn.