p. 5 | We Must Come Down by L. A. HANSEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 4, 1912

We Must Come Down

By L. A. HANSEN

L. A. HANSEN

THE three disciples who accompanied the Lord up into the high mountain, apart from the rest of the world, were given a view of the kingdom of heaven that was unusual. They said, “It is good for us to be here,” and they wanted to build tabernacles. Doubtless they would have been more than glad to remain there forever. But they had to come down.

When they reached the foot of the mountain and came to the multitude, they found sick and demon-possessed souls, as always. Suffering and sorrow were still everywhere, and these called for relief. The transfiguration view of God’s triumphant kingdom had not put an end to earth’s needs. There was still work to be done, and Christ and his disciples had to come down from the mount to where it was to do it.

Sometimes we have occasions of special spiritual blessings, an unusual uplift,—a camp-meeting season perhaps, or a week of prayer experience. We find ourselves on a higher plane than the ordinary one, in a realm above our common existence. Our vision is broadened, and we have views of greater spiritual scope. We feel it is good to be there. We are loath to think of coming down. The thought of what awaits us at the foot of the mount,—the daily grind of things; the ordinary, routine, material duties; the association of unpleasant and disagreeable folk; the conflict with demon powers,—all these and more occur to us with unwelcome contemplation.

But there is work to be done. There are souls to save. We have a message to give. We are still in the world, though not of it; and until the Lord calls us home, we must relate ourselves to it as his disciples. The high mount experience is not to unfit us for earthly service, but is to give us a better preparation for doing our part in the work. We do not need to lose the blessing we have gained, and we will not if we use it to bless others. None can rob us of the assurance we have had of the things of God, of what we have seen and heard; but we must share them with others. Thus will they be constantly fresh to us, and be continually and forever ours.

The good week of prayer we have recently enjoyed should make us better prepared than ever for the duties awaiting us. As we have seen the progress of God’s truth and had a view of its ultimate triumph, we should be encouraged to greater activity in aiding it forward. The higher plane of living brought to our attention should now be ever before us. The consecration called for should be constant. In practise we shall find application of all this as we relate ourselves willingly to the various calls for service that come to us through the year. We may be asked to bear duties in home and church work that seem heavy. Calls to engage in missionary effort will come, and pressing and urgent demands for missionary means. Our blessing of spiritual uplift has been a preparation for these very things. Use of it accordingly will bring us to another good season to receive still more blessing, and fitness for yet more service.

Takoma Park, D. C.