p. 9 | Short-Lived Christians by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 21, 1911

Short-Lived Christians

By F. M. W.

CHRISTIAN living to be effective must be continuous and enduring. The reward at last will be given to those who endure unto the end. Too many are satisfied with a fitful, spasmodic experience. They become revived for a season. Some special occasion, like the week of prayer, serves to renew their faith for a little time, but they soon fall back into the old ruts of their experience. To this class the question propounded by the apostle Paul is applicable: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” or as the marginal reading expresses it: “Who did drive you back that ye should not obey the truth?”

The Lord illustrates this class of Christians in the parable of the sower as recorded in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. Some of the gospel seed “fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.”

The secret of this early backsliding is indicated in the fact that such Christians have no root. Their emotions have been stirred, their feelings aroused, but a deep conviction has not taken hold of their souls, earnest settled purposes have not possessed the life. They have begun to build without counting the cost; and when sacrifice is demanded, they are unwilling to make the surrender.

Will this be the experience of any who have started anew during the week of prayer? Will they be found short-lived Christians? Will their Christian experience prove to be wavering and uncertain, fitful and transitory, and that which brought a joy to their hearts in a new-found Saviour prove but an illusive hope because they have not taken hold of the power and strength of the gospel?

No one can hinder the child of God from continuing with unabated zeal and with all the ardor of his first love in the blessed service of his Master. The relationship between Christ and every one of his children is so direct and personal that no human factor can be interposed without the consent of the believer. Our faith is not built upon men. Its growth is not dependent upon the smiles and good will and recognition of our associates. Men may fail, but the foundation of Christ abideth ever. It is when we forget this truth that our minds become clouded. It is when we look to men instead of to God that we begin to absorb the coldness of indifference and the doubt of unbelief. It is only when we begin to gage our lives by the lives of those around us that we lose the freshness and sweetness of simple faith. Then we begin to feed upon criticism, become sensitive, and allow malice, envy, and variance to come into our hearts. To the account of others we charge our failures. We excuse ourselves from doing good because others have done evil. We adopt the standard of the world as the gage of Christian living instead of the high and holy standard of God.

Let us guard against this weakening process, this sort of half-hearted Christian living, in the coming year. In our Christian life we have only to live one day at a time. If we can live to-day for God, we can live to-morrow for him. If we can make one week a week of prayer, we can carry the same spirit into a whole month and into the whole year. If by God’s grace we can run well for a little season, we can run well clear through to the end of the journey. His grace is all-sufficient to those who will seek to mold their lives after this order. Let us make the year to come the best year of our lives. Let us make it one of prayer, one of earnest labor for others, one of song and praise, one of trust and confidence in God, and he will make it for us one of blessed victory.

F. M. W.