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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 6, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 34, No. 2.

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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE.

By D. A. EDDY

Those only who are self-denying and who love a life of sobriety and holiness are true followers of Jesus; and such cannot engage in empty conversation with the lovers of the world. Alas! how many shrink from the purifying process; they are unwilling to appear singular in the eyes of the world. Oh! that we might feel the power of our example as we go out into the world. Those that profess to be Christians in these last days (which are full of peril) and do not imitate the humble, self-denying Pattern, place themselves in the enemy’s ranks; and what then is their influence? Others take them for an example, and by following them will lose Heaven; when if they had not professed to be Christians, they would have shunned their example. Oh! why is it so hard to live a self-denying life? Because we are not dead to the world, but have a disposition to dress and act as nearly like the world as possible. But alas! what is our example? It is not in harmony with our teachings. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him; for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father.”
If any wish to have their influence tell in favor of the truth, let them live it out and imitate their humble Pattern. Oh! that the Lord would help us to cut loose from the world and all its fashions, rend the heart and not the garments, and get our hearts in order, lest he visit us in judgment. We must awake to our wrongs, and search up our sins and zealously repent of them. The ax must be laid to the root of the tree. God has a peculiar people, and such he is purifying unto himself; for the pure in heart alone will see him.
Now we have an opportunity to see what it is that shuts out Jesus. The pride of life, the vain things of this world cannot go hand in hand with those that are coming up at every step. God is testing his people. Here is the place for us to show what controls our actions. If it is the truth, it will lead us to good works, and make us noble-hearted and generous, like our divine Lord. When the sins which God hates are subdued, then he will come in and sup with us, and we with him. We can then draw divine strength from Jesus, and grow up in him, and be able, with holy triumph, to say, “Blessed be God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God is good. Although we have wandered far from him, yet in tender mercy, he calls us to repent. But we have a wily foe which is continually on the alert to lead souls astray and overcome them. Believers in present truth must be as watchful as their enemy. Will we do this? Will we persevere in this warfare? Will we be careful to depart from all iniquity? And may the Lord help his people to make straight paths for their feet. What we do, must be done quickly. May God help us to heed the warnings and admonitions that are given to us week after week, and let what will come, stand for the truth, live up to all the light we have, and let it shine out upon those with whom we deal. He that now tarries will not tarry long, but will come; and shall we have on the wedding garment? or shall it be said of us, “Depart from me, for I never knew you?”
Dear readers, we are near the close of time. Satan has come down with great power, knowing his time is short. Especially upon the remnant will his power be directed. His object is to scatter and divide, that they may grow weak; but God will bring his work closer and closer, to test his people; and will we stand the test? This is an individual work. The work is between God and our own souls. Then let us labor in the vineyard of our Lord and Master. With this blessed hope we can cheer the lonely hearts in the narrow way to Heaven. As it is through much tribulation that we are to enter the kingdom, we must in our weakness look to Him who says, “Ask and ye shall receive,” and who giveth liberally and upbraideth not. Then we can walk with God from day to day. He will be a comfort to the sick, a stay and a staff to the weak, and a guide to the youth. May the Lord help us all to set our houses in order, and let this truth, which we profess to love, have its sanctifying influence over us, that all we do or say may tell to the glory of God. Now is the hour of probation. Now is the day of salvation. Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. “But when the Son of Man cometh shall he find faith on the earth? He will find but little. May you and I, dear reader, be of that few that will believe, and stand complete amid all the perils of the last days. So then, “Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” D. A. EDDY.