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First Things First!

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 5, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 46.

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“First Things First!”

By Meade MacGuire

MEADE MACGUIRE
It often happens that persons fail to obey after having been instructed by a minister or a Bible worker in the different Bible doctrines and acknowledged that each point has been clearly proved from the Scriptures. Probably there are few questions which cause the worker more serious concern and anxiety than the one so often asked, “Why does he not take hold of the truth? He understands it and believes it, but I cannot get him to step over the line.”
Perhaps a suggestion on this point may be helpful to some one. In the first place, it seems that this situation may be largely due to a fundamental error in practice on the part of the worker. I say “in practice,” for in theory we all agree on this great fundamental fact that conversion is a miracle. But with some, belief apparently ends with theory.
Conversion is not education, nor is it teaching, civilization, culture, or science. It is a miracle, wrought only by the Almighty. All the men in the world, and all the education and science, with the Bible itself, cannot convert a man independently of God. Yet God can and has converted men independently of all other men, education, science, civilization, and all.
When Peter and John said to the cripple, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk,” it was not medicine, surgery, education, preaching, doctrine, or science which wrought the miracle, but the power of God working inside the man. And the miracle of conversion is like unto it. “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine.” Here is the natural order laid down by the Saviour: First, conviction; second, repentance and a changed will; then a man is ready to hear and eager to obey the doctrines of God’s Word. We are speaking of doctrines in a technical sense, since in order to be convicted and converted one must have at least a limited idea of the doctrine of the atonement.
From a study of the work of the great soul winners since the days of Christ one must be profoundly impressed with the fact that in all their ministry two great fundamental truths tower like mountain peaks above all the rest. They are the law and the atonement.
It is true that we are living in the last days, and have a distinctive present truth, which is to prepare the world for its end. Noah passed through a similar experience, yet surely the law and the atonement were the very essence of his message, as they also are of ours.
Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” It is the exaltation of Jesus Christ as a personal, living, loving reality which wins men. Then they will gladly listen to the doctrines and obey them.
True, it is possible to carry this thought to an unreasonable and quite illogical extreme. I have heard of ministers who, in seeking to bring men to Christ, said as little as possible about the third angel’s message. This attitude might be even more disastrous than the other. I am not suggesting less doctrine, but more of Jesus Christ and him crucified, more wrestling for the divine conviction and miracle of conversion first, and the doctrines following.