Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1905

Editorial

By Editor

Nearer and Nearer

Every passing day brings the coming of the Lord so much the nearer: “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly.” Men of the world are planning for centuries to come, and fortunes are being piled up for the purpose of providing for children’s children, but a fearful surprise is in store for those who refuse to heed the message which the Lord is sending to this generation. But even while the word is going forth that “there shall be delay no longer,” and while the advent of the Saviour is thus drawing nearer and nearer, there are some of those who have professed to believe this last message who are saying in their hearts, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” and they are joining hands with the world in business and in pleasure. But all this will make no difference in the fulfilment of God’s purpose. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.” Why will any one refuse to give heed to the warning which is sent to him concerning this crowning event in the history of the world? Why will any adopt the mocking question of the scoffers, “Where is the promise of his coming?” and base his confidence for the future upon the false claim that “since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation”? The lesson of the flood is designed to be a warning to this generation, and so an infidel science either ridicules the whole record or else explains it away so that the warning may have no effect. Nevertheless the day of the Lord draws nearer and nearer, and it will surely come whether men hear or whether they will forbear. Happy are those who now prepare to meet the Lord in peace.

Meeting Temptation

It is no sin to be tempted. Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Satan, however, is so determined to bring us into condemnation that if he can not seduce us into wilful sin, then he will try to confuse temptation with sin, and thus discourage our souls. There is one thing which we do well to remember; Satan never taunts us with the sins which we have really committed. It is true that he sometimes represents to us that our sins have been too great and too many to expect forgiveness, but this he does by misrepresenting the Lord’s mercy, rather than by reproving the sin as sin. His one purpose is to involve us deeper and deeper in sin, and to keep us from turning to the Lord for forgiveness. In order to accomplish this he will adopt any and every means which his long experience has suggested, but the Lord has exposed his deceptive workings, and taught us how to escape his snares. “We are not ignorant of his devices.” The Lord has not promised to save us from being tempted, but knowing that we should be tempted, he has given us both warning and encouragement. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.” “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.” “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation.” Provision has been made in the gift of Jesus to supply just the help we need in meeting temptation, “for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”