p. 338 | Untitled article by Elvira B. Stevenson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 12, 1867

THOUGHTS ON READING ISA. LI, 7, 8.

By Elvira B. Stevenson

“HEARKEN unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment; and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.” Here the Lord, by his prophet, addresses a people who know righteousness, in whose heart is his law; and exhorts them not to fear the reproach of man, nor be afraid of his revilings. Why? Because the moth shall eat him up as a garment, and the worm like wool. Says the Psalmist, “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green hay tree, yet [notwithstanding his power] he passed away, and lo! he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.”

Yes, the triumph is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment. Then why should we fear his revilings, or tremble at the reproach of mortal man? why have we feared it? why do we still! Is it not because the eye of faith has become dim, and we have forgotten that man, whose reproach we feared, is as grass, and as the flower of grass shall perish? Do we, have we, not lost sight of the great present truth that the end of all things is at hand? and that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Do we not, in seeking to please the unsanctified mind of man, by lowering the standard of true holiness, and fearing his revilings, lose sight of the exceeding great and precious promises God has given in his word? Do we not show by our works that we are not sanctified by the truths we profess, and forget that we are strangers and pilgrims in the earth, looking forward to a land, and for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God? And do we not show by our works that our affections are still here? not sanctified, but carnal?

Are we keeping or breaking the first great commandment: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, thy mind, might and strength? yes and the second also: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself? What do our works teach? If we look to them we must acknowledge that we have had a name to live while we are or have been dead; we have sought the friendship of the world and feared their revilings, till we are in a place where we do not know the righteousness of God, and his law is not in our hearts.

Oh, is it not high time to awake out of sleep; to humble ourselves in the sight of God, and seek him with all our heart, till he pardons all our sins, and heals all our backslidings; that we may know for ourselves that we are in favor with God; that our unworthy names are written in the Lamb's book of life?

I believe it is the privilege and duty of every saint of God to seek and obtain a deep and living experience in the things of God now, not next week, next month, but now. We may know by experience that Jesus lives, and intercedes for us, that we are the children of God.

Oh, what a privilege, to be in favor with God. To be in a place where we may have the promise verified: “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven.”

Oh, let us arise and get out of the dangerous place we are in, seek the Lord with all the heart, and get so much of his Spirit and love in our hearts that the fear of man will vanish from our minds, the fear of God take its place, and by faith, and by seeking the glory of God, be able to rejoice and be glad, knowing that we have a reward in Heaven, and if we should be called to pass through severe and trying conflicts by the way, may we be so filled with the Spirit of God that we may, with the apostles of old, rejoice at the privilege of suffering with Christ.

Yes, we must cease to fear man's revilings, but sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, and keep his fear before our eyes; perfecting holiness in the fear of God, without which none shall see him; and get in our hearts his righteousness and salvation, which endureth forever. ELVIRA B. STEVENSON. Battle Creek.