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Shall I Be Saved?

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 30, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 64.

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“Shall I Be Saved?”

By M. E. Kern

THIS is a question that often comes to us. Perhaps no one can say, “I know that I shall be saved,” because salvation depends not only on the atonement which has been made but on our continual acceptance of God’s grace. Really, the only assurance we have that we shall be saved is the fact that we have confessed our sins and are living in daily fellowship with God.
What is it to live in fellowship with God? Much might be said in answer to this, but surely it includes three things: (1) That God talks to us in his Word; (2) that we talk to him in prayer; and (3) that we work for him.
The three essentials to physical life are food, breath, and exercise. So with the spiritual life. Here are surely—

THREE DAILY ESSENTIALS

“Search the Scriptures”—Food. “Pray without ceasing”—Breath. “Go work today in my vineyard”—Exercise.
Samuel Johnson said: “Young man, attend to the voice of one who has possessed a certain degree of fame, and who will shortly appear before his Maker. Read the Bible every day of your life.”
In “Steps to Christ” we read: “If you would become acquainted with the Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures. Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven.” “Keep your Bible with you. As you have opportunity, read it; fix the texts in your memory.”—Pages 93, 95.
Prayer must accompany Bible study: “Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given.”—Id., page 96.
“The darkness of the evil one incloses those who neglect to pray” (id., page 98), but prayer brings Jesus to our side; unites us with one another, turns aside the attacks of Satan; moves the arm of Omnipotence. See “Christ’s Object Lessons,” pages 172, 250.
“O Thou by whom we come to God— The Life, the Truth, the Way! The path of prayer thyself hast trod; Lord, teach us how to pray.”
As true Bible study is accompanied by prayer, so prayer is connected with Christian service. “Those who keep in a prayerful frame of mind will be able to speak a word in season to those who are brought within the sphere of their influence.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 60.
In the light of these truths, is there anything that transcends in importance the formation of the habit of Bible study and prayer? If all our people, young and old, would make a New Year’s resolution to do this, and would keep it, there would doubtless come such power into their lives and into the work of the advent message as has never been witnessed before. It will take such firm determination and will power as some have never exercised. But the results are worth the price.
Some have been greatly stirred during the week of prayer, and have come back to God. Every such one has confessed a failure to pray. Shall we prevent another fall by a conscientious observance of the morning watch during 1916?
The only purpose in the publication of the Morning Watch Calendar is to help our people to form this all-important habit. It contains a helpful text of Scripture for each day of the year on Christian living; it makes practical suggestions on prayer; has gems of devotional thought from the spirit of prophecy and other sources; gives a daily outline for reading the Bible through during 1916; has blanks for daily record of missionary work done; and gives a sunset table from which the time of the beginning of each Sabbath during the year may be ascertained. On its front cover is a picture which will be a constant reminder of Jesus’ habit of prayer.
Such a dainty booklet would usually cost from fifteen to twenty-five cents, but this is sold for five cents. Every Seventh-day Adventist should have one. And we should send copies to our friends. Every minister should see to it that new converts are provided with the Morning Watch Calendar; every teacher should make sure that his pupils have it, and should encourage them to follow it; every church elder should see that his church is supplied. This is one of the little things that mean much. Order from your conference tract society.
M. E. KERN.