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BE OF GOOD CHEER

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 21.

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BE OF GOOD CHEER.

By A. S. Hutchins

THESE are words of encouragement spoken by our compassionate Redeemer; and to every soldier in the Christian warfare, they must be peculiarly comforting and precious, especially, when surrounded with trials and temptations. We may thus regard them,
1. Because they were uttered just prior to his betrayal and apprehension. They are a part of his farewell address to his dear disciples, or were spoken in his last interview of this kind with them, previous to his ignominious death upon the cross.
In the book of John, chapters xiv–xvi, are recorded many words of comfort and consolation spoken to them on this occasion. In the most tender and affectionate manner he commences his address to them. He had eaten the last supper with them, taught them who would betray him, and told Peter that he would thrice deny him, when he says: “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also.”
How well adapted are the closing words of this interview, to inspire love to him, and zeal and fortitude in his service. Let us read them and reflect upon them. And may they beget within us that tranquillity of mind, that holy boldness, firm trust, and Christian perseverance to do his will, that they should. “These things,” says he, “I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
2. The exhortation, “Be of good cheer,” is the more precious from the consideration, that One thus exhorts, who well knew the manifold temptations, trials, and dark discouragements, that every child of God would have to encounter on his journey to Mount Zion. Well-meaning and good people often fail to render that comfort and consolation to the afflicted and bereft, that they fain would, because they know not how to sympathize with them. They are strangers to their grief and sorrow. But here, we recognize the voice of the good Shepherd. He speaks, who had overcome the world, and who knows well what temptations mean, “for we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. iv, 15. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.”
People sometimes have not the sympathy for others that they should have. We naturally love sympathizing spirits, but we do not always find them. Again, we may find those who sympathize with us and feel our woes, but they have not the power to relieve our wants. But here is a friend, the blessed Saviour, in whom are blended both sympathy for all his followers and power to redress their wants. In laying down his life for us, he has manifested the strongest possible love toward us. And the apostle says of him, “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. vii, 25.
“In the world ye shall have tribulation.” Observe, that he has not told us that our pathway would be decked with flowers of pleasure, or that we should be borne away to the mansions of rest on the tide of public opinion, as the bubble floats on the surface of the water. No; far from this. We must suffer with him, if we would reign with him.
“I have overcome the world.” Dear reader, it is for you and me now to overcome as he has; and to such he holds out the cheering and soul-inspiring promise “I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev. iii, 21. Are you poor? Are you tempted? Are you sad and sorrowing, and scoffed at? Remember that all this, yea, and much more grief, mental anguish, and bodily suffering, than we can conceive of, was the Master’s lot; and he well knows how to pity and sustain us; and he will soon appoint each faithful, humble, follower of his, a place in the everlasting kingdom. There we shall meet all the loved and dear saints. The grave will give up its dead, and we shall embrace our friends again, to part no more. Then “be of good cheer.” Yes, Christian,
“Cheer up, cheer up, the day breaks o’er thee, Bright as the summer’s noon-tide ray, The star-gammed crowns and realms of glory Invite thy happy soul away. Away, away, leave all for glory, Thy name is graven on the throne, Thy home is in that world of glory Where thy Redeemer reigns alone.”
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Wolcott, Vt., April 9, 1867.