Untitled article by John Q. Fox

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 15, 1867

FromThe Advent Review & Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 18

APPEAL TO YOUNG SABBATH-KEEPERS.

By John Q. Fox

DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: God has spoken and shall we not take heed? In Testimony No. 12, the youth among Seventh-day Adventists are represented as occupying an awful and dangerous position—awful at any period, but doubly so in consideration of the fact that we are living very near the close of time; in a time when the last solemn message of mercy is being given to a perishing world, when, therefore, every one professing godliness should let their light shine, and have a saving influence on those around, that they may be led to seek a shelter from the coming storm; in a time when probation is soon to close, and the destiny of all to be eternally fixed. Solemn thought! awful, not so much from the nature of the danger, as that we are seemingly insensible of it. Oh, that we might be aroused to a sense of our true condition, while yet there is hope, while yet Jesus pleads in our behalf.

I cannot expect, neither is it necessary to add any thing to the testimony given, for it is plain and unvarnished. Our salvation or destruction will in a great measure depend upon whether we disregard, or heed and profit by it. We have had many warnings and solemn admonitions, several, like this, directly from Heaven. In almost every “Testimony for the Church” is a message for the young, warning, instructing, and encouraging us to greater diligence in the cause of God. Had they had their designed effect upon us, this last would not have been necessary. It may be our last. “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” We have a holy, a just God to deal with. He has borne long with and has dealt kindly toward us. Shall we presume upon his mercy, and lightly regard his warnings, until he, in his strict justice, visits us with judgment, or cuts us off as cumberers of the ground, as stumbling-blocks to others? What ingratitude! What an insult to that Saviour who has suffered so much for us, to manifest so little concern for ourselves, to live at this poor dying rate, and thus bring reproach and dishonor upon the cause we profess to love.

Were we warned to escape from the magazine about to explode, or to ply the car against the current rapidly sweeping us on to the foaming cataract, a second warning would be unnecessary; but infinitely more awful is the fate of which we have repeatedly been admonished, yet we make little or no effort to avoid it. On the very brink of destruction, yet apparently indifferent with regard to it! True, we have fallen upon an evil time, a time when the tide of iniquity is fearfully against us, when every influence outside the people of God, tends to divert our minds from heavenly things, to drown our interest in and love for the truth, to draw our affections away from God and his people, and blind our minds to our eternal interests; but God, aware of this, kindly condescends to instruct us as to our duty. He has pointed out the way in which he would have us walk, and has held out every inducement for us to walk in it. Now if we pass by lightly, or take no notice of this, will not God hold us responsible, and will not our condemnation be thereby greatly increased? But we by such a course, shall not only endanger our own safety, but there are those all around us, whose hearts are tender, and who if rightly influenced might be brought to a saving knowledge of the truth, whose everlasting ruin may be the result of our wrong course, and their blood be found on our garments. We must soon appear before the Judge of all the earth, and Oh, if we have been unfaithful, what will be our excuse. We shall have none, and our position will be with hypocrites and unbelievers.

This is no fancy sketch. Alas! it is too true; and we if not soon aroused, may awake when it is too late for repentance, to find it a terrible reality.

“That awful day will surely come, Th’ appointed hour makes haste, When I must stand before the Judge, And pass the final test.”

But turning from this we may hopefully contemplate the other side of the picture. The people of God are rising and, by laying aside their idols, are coming into a position where God can bless them with a great measure of his Holy Spirit, and thereby prepare them for translation into his everlasting kingdom. Would we rise with them? Would we share in their joys and trials here and in their final triumph, and with them receive the rich reward of eternal life? Then must we be willing with them to make a sacrifice. We must deny ourselves the pleasures and vanities of earth, be willing to suffer persecution, to bear the scorn and contempt of the world, and to strive to glorify God in our bodies and spirits which are his.

Is not the Christian’s hope—the hope of Heaven, the hope of reigning with Christ, and enjoying the society of the redeemed throughout the never-ending ages of eternity, of ranging the plains of the earth when restored to its primeval glory, when there will be no tempting Devil,

“No rude alarm of raging foes, No cares to break our long repose,”

no sorrow, sickness, pain or death—is not this enough to induce us to be overcomers? Oh, the unbounded goodness and tender mercy of God! How unwilling that we should perish! How ready to forgive! If we lose Heaven it will be our own fault. Oh, let us be in earnest now to get an experience for ourselves, to build a good foundation against the time to come, to lay up treasure in Heaven, and learn to exercise that faith and confidence in God which will enable us to stand in the time of trouble, when there will be no Saviour to plead our cause. We may, with great profit and encouragement to ourselves, meditate upon the goodness of God, contemplate the glories of his kingdom, and try to realize the great sacrifice that has been made for us. Oh, may God help us that we may outwit the enemy of our souls, and finally share the rest that remains for his faithful people.

JOHN Q. FOX. Madison Co., N. Y.