p. 51 | Untitled article by H. F. PHELPS

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · January 7, 1868

LOST.

By H. F. PHELPS

This is a little word, composed of four letters, and when applied to material things is of little account; but when applied to the sinner, who can comprehend the meaning? Eternity alone can measure the full depths of its meaning. Lost! Sinner, would you be lost? Brother, sister, would you be lost? lost eternally? lost to the world? lost to yourself? Oh! then, flee to Jesus. Accept God’s plan. You are lost, utterly undone. Death and destruction are upon your track. The seeds of sin are sown in your heart. They are continually springing up, bearing fruit that will lead you to death. Yes, in your present condition you are lost, unless you have accepted, or unless you do accept, God’s own plan. You cannot make a plan of your own that will save you. The plan was laid long years ago. It was laid deep. Jesus was the sacrifice. His blood was spilt for you. It was freely spilled. In that blood is mercy, mercy for you. The way is easy. Jesus invites you. Mercy pleads. Sweet mercy still flows. Soon she will take her flight from this earth. How she lingers. Oh! sinner, backslider, lukewarm professor, will you not accept the offers of mercy? This precious blood may now avail for you. Good men wish your salvation. Angels are interested in your behalf. Angels weep for you. Jesus pities you. God, the Father, loves you—you, a rebel sinner. He loves you, and would fain save you. All Heaven is awake in your behalf.

But the Devil and evil angels desire your destruction. They whisper to you. They point to the pleasures of earth. They set snares for you. It is a siren song. Oh! listen not. Which will you heed? Jesus invites; you fain would heed. The baubles of earth look tempting; you must taste of their pleasures. You wait for a more convenient season. That season never comes. You pass on, waiting for the convenient season till the Judgment day. Jesus comes. You are found unprepared. You try to hide from his presence. Your face gathers blackness, from fear. You are unable to abide the day. If you had no time to pray before, now you can find time; now is your convenient season. Ah! says God, “I will mock when your fear cometh.” Jesus comes nearer to earth, with all his holy angels. The brightness of that dazzling throng you cannot endure. No wonder you flee to the mountains! Jesus utters his voice. The righteous dead arise. The living saints are changed. You see their glory. Then, if not before, you will know the meaning of that word, “Lost.”

Oh! then, I beseech you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. Oh! turn from your evil ways, that you may be saved; saved from sin and its consequences; saved from the evils of this earth; saved from a tempting Devil; saved from the stings of a guilty conscience; saved from death and the grave, no more to die; saved from that lake of fire; saved from the second death; saved to all eternity.

Oh! the joys of the saved; the bliss of that state; the beauties of that place; the glories of the immortal world! who can compute, who can fathom them? Truly not the mind of mortal man. Our trials here will sink into insignificance there. We may try to compare our trials with our joys, but we cannot recall them.

Oh! who does not want an inheritance there? Who would not exchange worlds like this for a tithe of the enjoyment that world will afford. Bid farewell to the pleasures of earth. Forsake all. Find a refuge in Jesus. The storm is coming, is very near. Now is the time; then it will be too late. Heed the warning given, and all will be well.

H. F. PHELPS. Pine Island, Minn.