Untitled article by H. A. St. John

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, December 31, 1867

The Sermon.

By H. A. St. John

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom

PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim. iv, 2.

A SHORT SERMON ON DUTY.

BY H. A. ST. JOHN.

TEXT. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Josh. xxiv, 15.

The language of our text is that used by the venerable Joshua on a very important occasion. By an examination of the context, you will discover that this man of God had caused to be assembled at Shechem, all the tribes of Israel. To this vast concourse of God’s then peculiar people, Joshua, their prime minister, delivered his final and farewell address. And it was not because he meant to retire as a superannuated servant of the church, for the evidence is lacking, that God had any such place of retreat for his people, aside from the grave. Joshua, as he informs us himself, was old, “and stricken in years;” and was about to go “the way of all the earth.” And we would certainly suppose that the words of such a man, upon such an occasion, and at such a time, would be listened to with the greatest deference, and sink deep into the heart. He recounted in their hearing very many of the interesting events in their past history, that would serve to remind them of the unbounded goodness of God, as manifested in his dealings with them, and of their eternal obligation to serve and obey him. By facts and illustrations, he vividly portrayed before them, the direful consequences of serving other gods. This brings us to notice the words to which we have before referred. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” In the examination of this important injunction of the prophet of God, we wish to notice particularly, three points. 1st. The matter of choice. 2d. The time to choose, and, 3d. The action consequent upon the choice. First, then, the matter of choice. We would remark, the very first word of this inspired declaration, is, in our mind, a complete upsetter of that pernicious, soul-destroying, doctrine of the Devil, known as election, or predestination; which doctrine denies the accountability of man, and teaches that man is but a mere machine, acting only as he is acted upon, and doing only those things that the Almighty had predestined before his existence that he should do, leaving the creature no option at all in the matter. “Choose you,” says the prophet, plainly giving us to understand, without any necessity of inferring, that the vast multitude whom he addressed, were free moral agents, possessing the requisite ability to exercise choice. In short, it is a positive proof of human accountability, for who would think of addressing a machine with such language. This however, is but one of many testimonies that might be adduced to prove the same point. In truth, the Bible itself is but one continued elucidation of the same great fundamental fact. We call it fundamental, because it evidently lies at the very bottom of a sound religious faith. How much would a man fear God, and tremble at his word, if he believed himself to be morally unaccountable for his actions? We have heard ministers of the gospel, thank God, that this doctrine of unconditional election was “dying out.” We should be most happy to unite with them in this kind of thanksgiving; but must confess that we cannot see it. On the contrary, stubborn facts prove that it is startlingly on the increase, though it may be in a new phase, and bearing a new name. Modern Spiritualism, that last and most gigantic deception of the Devil, in various ways inculcates the same idea. May God help us to ever realize that we are accountable beings, amenable to him for all our actions here. We are placed on trial, on probation. Eternal life, or eternal death shall be our portion, according to our own option. They are within our grasp, and which will we choose? Oh! may we make the wise choice, and make that choice now. This brings us to the second point, viz:

Second, The time to choose. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Not to-morrow, or next day, or at some future time, but now, “this day.” Very frequently in the Scriptures of truth we are exhorted to seek without delay the favor of God. Says Paul, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. vi, 2. Says Jesus, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” Matt. vi, 33. Says David, “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” Psa. cxix, 60. Procrastination is still the worst thief of time. Eternity alone can reveal the dreadful consequences of delay. How many unfortunate ones have been struck from existence in a single moment, with no time allowed them to carry out their good resolves. They intended to be Christians, but alas! their probation is ended, and their good intentions can never avail them anything. In the great day of accounts, what can they answer? Oh! that every one might realize the importance of improving the present time. “Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Prov. xxvii, 1. Read the Saviour’s parable of a certain rich man. Luke xii, 16–21, and note particularly the 21st verse. Also read James iv, 13–17. And when we take into consideration the solemn fact that we are living in the closing hours of probation, it becomes, if possible, of vastly more importance, that we dally not with the precious moments, so graciously given us to prepare to meet God. Jesus pleads for us now. His blood avails to cleanse from sin now. The fountain for sin and uncleanness is open to-day. The good Shepherd, with outstretched arms, is now calling for the wandering sheep. He can now be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. But in a little from this, the momentous work of man’s redemption will be finished. Now our calling and election may be made sure; then it will be found too late.

Third, The action consequent upon the choice. The first thing that engages the attention, with regard to the action expressed, is its decisiveness. It is “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Not whom you desire to serve, or want to serve, or will try to serve; but whom you will serve, regardless of the consequences that may follow. Says Paul, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether

of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Rom. vi, 16. We are servants of God or of Satan, accordingly as we yield ourselves to either. How many times our hearts have been filled with sadness on beholding the seemingly undecided course of professed followers of Jesus. At times they appear to be serving God, and at other times, serving themselves. There appears to be with them no settled decision, no fixed principle as to whom they shall do service. And when we have discovered in our own hearts and lives, the same indecision, the same lack of energy and continuity, how deep has been our grief! How sad to think of spending the hours of this short life of probation to no purpose! To be continually vacillating in all our actions! Like the waves of the sea, driven of the wind and tossed, we continue our fluctuations till all is lost. May the Lord help us, dear friends, to confess our sins before God with deep humility of soul, and take a firm, decided stand upon the platform of eternal truth; and “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Let us make the noble and wise decision that Joshua did, as found in the same verse of our text: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Praise God for the light of present truth! Praise him for the testimonies from Heaven, with which we are so highly favored in these last days! May the Lord aid us to get into that humble place, where they may have their designed effect upon our hearts and lives. We are able to go up and possess the goodly land. Shall we do it? is the important question. “Behold I come quickly,” says the Saviour, “and my reward is with me.” Reader, may it be our great joy to share the reward of the righteous. Amen.