Meeting Difficulties

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jun 22, 1905

Meeting Difficulties

GREAT difficulties do not necessarily mean disaster. It is not the number or the character of the difficulties to be encountered which determines the outcome of a movement, but the power available for overcoming difficulties either great or small. The difficulties in the way of rebuilding Jerusalem seemed to be insuperable, but through the prophet Zechariah the Lord said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain.” Through the prophet Daniel it was declared that the city should be “built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times;” and so it was, but the work was accomplished. We have been harassed by many difficulties in recent years, and from a human standpoint it seemed suicidal to attempt to remove the headquarters of the denomination to a new place under such circumstances, but time has demonstrated that this very thing has brought in a feeling of unity and confidence among this people, and that it has been a strong factor in settling the difficulties that have existed. We are still facing difficulties, and there will doubtless be more and greater ones in the future, but the same hand that has been over this work from the beginning, and the same power that has delivered it thus far, will be sufficient for every emergency that may arise. The way of the Lord may lead through the Red Sea and through the wilderness, but it leads to the promised land, and those who believe in the Lord will enter in.

“Blest be the sorrow, kind the storm, Which drives us nearer home.”

A Great Reformation

THOSE who note how far evangelical Christianity has departed from the original standards must be impressed with the fact that there is the same need of a great reformation now as there was in the days of Luther. The substitution of human for divine authority then resulted in producing a gospel according to man, instead of the gospel according to God, and cut men off from the saving grace of God. We are facing practically the same conditions to-day. Speculation takes the place of revelation. The supernatural element is being eliminated from religion. The form of godliness remains while the power is lacking. Startling sins and outbreaking crimes committed by professedly religious men are an almost daily shock to the community. The simplicity of true godliness has almost been lost. Surely there is need of a great reformation, and it ought to be the natural fruit of this advent movement. An essential factor in this experience will be the restoration of the divine element in all that pertains to the religious life. The true gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”—the experience of righteousness by faith. Let us pray and labor for a great reformation.