Untitled article by Sarah J. Thayer

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 5, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 21

NEARER HOME.

By Sarah J. Thayer

“One sweetly solemn thought Comes to me o’er and o’er, I’m nearer my home to day, Than I ever have been before. Nearer my Father’s house Where the many mansions be, Nearer the great white throne— Nearer the jasper sea.”

Oh! how sublimely beautiful the thought! How full of consolation to the poor, tired, and often soul-oppressed pilgrim here! Nearer home! Each day brings its cares, its annoyances, its trials, and its sorrows; but as hour after hour rolls on, I am drawing nearer to rest. Sweet, peaceful rest! No more disturbed by the manifold temptations which beset me here on every side. Freedom from the powers of the enemy; rest from weary toil that many times scarcely yields subsistence; freedom from the taunts and jeers of the wicked world; rest from watching the flickering lamp of life go out; for in our home above, death with its dark pall will never approach our dwelling to take one of our loved ones from us; the sod will never hide them from our sight, while we turn away in an agony of grief to tread our desolate path. There will be no more death. And God himself will wipe all tears from our eyes. Oh! I long to dwell in a land where the inhabitants shall all be righteous. Where the dark effects of sin will never be seen or felt. And I am journeying thither. I am but a sojourner here, each day I am traveling on, each night brings me nearer to my blissful home. And as I pass on, let me learn every lesson my heavenly Father would have me learn by the way, that I may be fitted for my heavenly mansion. Let me, like my Saviour, do good to all as I have opportunity. Let me inspire the fainting ones with new life by pointing them to the prize at the end of the race, soon, oh! soon to be awarded to the faithful overcomer. Let me entreat thee, sinner, to “Behold the Lamb of God.”

Let me lead the little ones to that Saviour who said, “Suffer little children to come unto me.” Let me point the aged to the “Rock that is higher than they;” Let me speak words of comfort to the sorrowing mourner. True I cannot, like Jesus, restore the widow’s son; but I can implore the blessing of that same compassionate Jesus upon her; I can point her to the Christian’s happy land on high; I can refer her to many precious promises from which we may draw consolation in our distress.

Oh! let me ever remember that each day brings me nearer home. And while I rejoice let me also improve the time to the glory of God. Soon I shall see the “city of my God.” Oh! will its pearly gates open at my approach? Shall I hear a voice inexpressibly sweet saying to me, “Come?” Shall I behold my Saviour with arms outstretched to me? Shall my feet tread the gold-paved streets of the New Jerusalem? Shall I have a harp, and be permitted to join my voice with that white-robed company around the throne? Yes, all this, and vastly more awaits me, if I am faithful to the end. Yes, me; but not because I am great or good. Oh! no, I am nothing; Jesus is all. Through him alone I can attain to an inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away. In his blood I can be washed from every stain of sin. Through obedience I can develop a character without fault. In Jesus’ strength I can walk the straight and narrow way, and it will grow brighter and brighter as I proceed until it ends in never-ending day.

Nearer home! Fellow Christians, let this be your watchword. Let me entreat you, faint not by the way. Be not weary in well doing. You have the promise, “As thy day, so shall thy strength be.” Go to Jesus. Tell him all your woes. “Earth hath no sorrows that Heaven can not heal.” He is the same compassionate Saviour to-day, as when he walked upon the earth. “A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He is touched with our infirmities. He knows our weakness. He desires our good. He says, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Then go to him. There is rest for the weary. There is peace for the troubled heart; a peace the world cannot give nor take away. Would you enjoy that perfect peace? Cast all your care on Him who careth for you. Look above the world. And while you faithfully discharge each duty, rejoice that each day brings you nearer home.

Dear reader, do not murmur at the trials by the way. If the Captain of our salvation had to be made perfect through suffering, how much more we. The servant is not above his Master. Oh! is it not enough to be as our Master? But who is called to pass through what he endured? Think of his sufferings and complain not at your light afflictions. Do friends turn from you? Bind Jesus closer to your heart. He will never forsake. His love will never grow cold. Though all the world combine against you, he is above all. And he has prepared a mansion for you. Your dwelling here may be poor and uncomfortable, but there it will be a mansion. You may suffer want and privation. There you will never hunger, neither thirst any more. Are you afflicted? There will be no more pain. Are you wasting away by disease? There the inhabitants shall never say, “I am sick.” Be encouraged! If you are his child, nothing shall separate you from his love. And your earthly pilgrimage is drawing to a close. Fill up the few remaining moments with usefulness. Prepare to enter into rest. For the night is far spent, and the day dawns. The longer and darker the night, the sweeter will be the light of the coming morning. Oh! glorious day! Oh! blessed home!

“My Father’s house on high, Home of my soul, how near; At times to faith’s aspiring eye, Thy golden gates appear.”

SARAH J. THAYER.

Buckland, Mass., Oct. 18