The Fashion of the World by G. B. T.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 24, 1916

The Fashion of the World

By G. B. T.

“For the fashion of this world passeth away.” 1 Cor. 7:31. In these words the inspired apostle expresses the transitory, fleeting character of earthly things. One writer tells us that “the literal translation of the word rendered ‘fashion’ is the shifting of the scenes in the playhouse, as one scenic representation succeeds another in rapid succession.”

“All the world’s a stage, The men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances.”

The scenes of life shift in quick and rapid succession. All that we see around us is but a spectacle which will soon give place to scenes of a far different character.

About us everywhere are faces that have been swept with the lights and shadows of fifty years or more. Ask him on whose head the whitening snows of threescore years and ten have fallen, if he can recall any changes in life’s drama. Ask him if his experience bears testimony to the truthfulness of the words “for the fashion of this world passeth away.” Bring from the tomb him who went down beneath the icy hand of death a century ago, and ask him if he sees any changes since he fell asleep. He would perhaps fail to recognize the place of his birth.

Everything earthly shows the mold of decay. Nations pass away. Sand engulfs the monuments of the proud and mighty Pharaohs. There are deserts now where gardens of flowers once bloomed. Babylon has passed away, though once the proud mistress of the ancient world. Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome have also gone down under the triturations of time. Nineveh, that great city that Jonah warned, is dug from her grave by the spade of the explorer. Another has truly said, “A mysterious curse, created by sin, not part and parcel of the original creation, wastes down and wears out all the workmanship of man’s hands; and time rushes along a resistless stream; and floating down its bosom, like driftwood, are palaces and hovels, are scepters and scythes and crowns; and every voice we hear, and every scene we witness, only authenticates and impresses the solemn aphorism, ‘The fashion of this world passeth away.’”

Wealth, which the avaricious heart of man covets, takes wings and vanishes away. Costly palaces crumble into ruins. Rulers and statesmen, on whose word the destiny of a nation may have hung, die and are soon forgotten. Nothing endures. Soon everything will be wrapped in the consuming fire of that day when the earth will melt with fervent heat, and everything in it be burned up.

But there is a brighter day beyond, when sin will be no more, when the very springs of sorrow will be dried up, when the curse and all that goes with it will cease to be.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21: 1-4.

The beauties of that land which sin has not marred, and which will endure through all time, were so eloquently described by Elder Uriah Smith in a sermon some time before his death, that I cannot forbear quoting a portion here:—

“The goodly land! I can hardly forbear, before I close, casting a glance forward to that heavenly inheritance which is the objective point of all our struggles, our toils, and our desires. I see there a land which stands in a wonderful contrast to this. As the hymn says,—

“Oh, how unlike the present world, Will be the one to come!”

“I see fields smiling in living green, trees majestic in their wealth of verdure, flowers dazzling with their rainbow hues, and on neither field nor tree nor flower do I see the touch of frost, or the pale hand of decay. I see no footprints of the curse, nor scars of sin. I see no pestilence walking in darkness, nor destruction wasting at noonday. I see no forms distorted with pain, nor brows furrowed with anxiety and care. I see no mournful shafts telling where weary forms and sad and broken hearts have gone down into dust and darkness. I see no painful messages passing over that land, as two days ago we received one here, telling that a friend, a brother, a fellow laborer, had fallen beneath the cruel stroke of a relentless foe. I see no darkened room where the tide of a precious life is ebbing slowly away. I see no bosoms heaving with anguish, no badges of mourning, no funeral trains, no yawning, insatiate grave. But on the other hand, I see a glorious company

who bear bright palms of victory over death and the grave. I see, as one of our hymns says, that—

“‘The glory of God, like a molten sea, Bathes the immortal company.’”

“I see every eye sparkling with the fulness of the joy that reigns within. I see on every cheek the bloom of eternal youth and everlasting health. I see every limb lithe and strong. I see the lame man leaping as a hart. I see the blind gazing with rapture on the celestial glory. I see the deaf listening enchanted to the heavenly melody. I see the dumb joining with loud voice in the anthems of praise. I see the mother clasping to her bosom the children she had lost awhile in the land of the enemy, but now recovered forever. I see long-parted friends meet in eternal reunion. I see a river so pure and clear, so charged with every element of refreshment and life, that it is called ‘the river of life.’ I see a tree overarching all, so healing in its leaves, so vivifying in its fruits, that it is called ‘the tree of life.’ I see a great white throne in whose effulgence there is no need of moon or sun to give us light. I hear a voice saying to that victorious company, ‘This is your rest forever, and you shall no more be acquainted with grief; for there shall be no more pain or death, and sorrow and mourning have forever fled away.’ And in all the universe I then see no trace of sin or suffering, but I hear from every world and from every creature, a joyous anthem, like the sound of many waters, going up to God; and they say, ‘Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.’”

“Such is the goodly land we may go up and possess. Such is the land that awaits every laborer who is faithful to the end. The Spirit and the bride say Come; and whosoever will, may come. If any here have not yet turned their feet Zionward, let me say, ‘Come thou with us, and we will do thee good.’”

G. B. T.