Untitled article by William Carthy

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 17, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 14

ARE THERE FEW THAT BE SAVED?

By William Carthy

This question was once asked our Lord while he went through cities and villages, teaching, and sojourning toward Jerusalem. Undoubtedly he was able to answer it correctly; and we learn from his reply that but few will be saved, or at most, but a small portion of the inhabitants of this world; not many, even of those who are seeking to be saved. Jesus said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. It is evident that a desire to obtain an object will never secure it to us unless we exert ourselves to obtain it. Neither can we reasonably expect eternal life by merely desiring it. We must strive for it, and that lawfully. To strive lawfully would be to act agreeably to that law which will bring eternal life within our reach.

We read in Rev. xxii, 14, Blessed are they that do his [God’s] commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. We learn from this language that we must keep the commandments of God in order to have eternal life granted us; and to do this will cause a constant striving on the part of the one that is so doing: for it is not agreeable to the natural man or carnal heart to be subject to the law of God.

When we see the beautiful and sublime truths of the third angel’s message presented to the people, we think that most every one can but see and embrace them; but it is not the case, and we should not be fearful of the success of this message, though the majority will turn away from it. We may expect this according to the language of our Saviour. Especially may we look for a hardening of the heart, and a turning away of the ear, in these last days, when those who profess to be seeking for the strait gate, have only a form of godliness, denying the power thereof. And as I have heard some of this class laugh and chuckle over miserable slang, thrown out against the perfect law of God, I have thought, Truly Babylon is fallen; her cup of iniquity is nearly full; yet many of these poor deluded souls expect to enter in at the strait gate into the city.

Jesus says in connection with the injunction to strive to enter in at the strait gait, in the thirteenth chapter of Luke, that after the door is shut many will stand without, knocking and desiring to come, thinking that they ought to be admitted because they had some acquaintance with the Lord, and had eaten and drank in his presence as they supposed. But alas! they were deceived. Jesus could not be the guest here of those that would scoff at his coming, and make derision of his Father’s just and good law; and they cannot be with him in his glory.

WILLIAM CARTHY.

Little Prairie, Wis.