And We Know by A. E. Place

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 1, 1904

“And We Know”

By A. E. Place

A. E. PLACE

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8: 28. There is, perhaps, no portion of Scripture more difficult to believe than this one, and no one scripture more important to believe.

It is a very familiar scripture, often repeated; and we often declare that we believe it, and as often show that we do not.—It is one thing to say that we believe, and another thing to believe. It is quite easy to profess to be a Christian, but quite another thing to be a Christian. This is an age of profession of Christianity, but God’s sad commentary upon it is, “Denying the power thereof.”

Many think they are Christians, or “hope” they are Christians, but do not know. But a Christian knows. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Christ is the truth. “If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” When this scripture is fulfilled, then the other one which says, “And we know,” etc., is also fulfilled every day.

As a people we emphasize the fact that we are living near the close of probation, and in the closing moments of the solemn investigative judgment; that Christ our high priest is liable soon to come to the cases of those living, and probation be cut short. Every Seventh-day Adventist who professes this most solemn truth ought to know that Christ is his personal high priest; but I have again and again been sadly pained to find how many there are professing these very truths who do not know. We “desire” to be Christians. We “want to be saved.” We “hope” that in some way circumstances will work for our good. But we do not “know.” “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

Paul was inspired of God, and hence when he says, “And we know,” etc., we know it is the word of the Lord, and that it can be depended upon by every Christian. It takes a Christian to believe just what the Lord says in Rom. 8: 28, and only a Christian can really believe it, but every true Christian has had experience enough to assure him that what we say in this is fact.

The Value

If our text were really believed by us as a people, it would cut short every church trial. It would terminate many sad troubles in homes and hearts which to-day are rapidly gnawing the very vitals of all spiritual life. It would effectually tie every murmuring and fault-finding tongue. It would kill the desire, and even the thought, of retaliation, and dry up the fountain of harsh, hasty, and unkind words; for we would “know” that all that comes to us is “for” us, and not against us. What a revolution of “feelings” and actions this would bring. What an increased amount of time would thus be gained for real missionary operations; and how our possibilities for success would be enhanced.

But while it is a fact that the judgment work above is near its close, and “the Judge standeth before the door,” we are too much like ancient Israel who murmured in the wilderness. They murmured because of the manna; because they could not have flesh to eat. They murmured at the organization; they even thought that Moses and Aaron took too much glory and honor to themselves. The Lord says, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” This is not confined alone to the churches or the laity, but it creeps into the sacred precincts of conference laborers, even into the ministry itself, and saps vitality

there which is greatly needed for pushing the work of God.

Some things we seem to know positively, and we are apt to give utterance to our positiveness when occasion permits. Shall I mention a few? Here now they are, and each can select his own portion: We know that we have been abused and terribly misrepresented. We know that Brother A. or Sister B. is seeking to get the position and the glory that rightfully belong to us. We know that we are not half appreciated. We know that we do not have the position we ought to have in view of our ability and attainments, etc. We know that people are jealous of us, et al. And we know that “all these things are against us.” But how is it with the Christian, who really believes the Bible? He knows nothing of the kind. He knows that God is true when he says, “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me.” “Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.”

The Christian knows that none of these things are against him, but for him; for, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

No sensible man or woman should find fault or murmur about anything which he knows is for him, and for his good. The Christian knows that all things work together for his good, because he loves God, and hence he has absolutely no murmuring to do at all. He lets the murmuring be done by those who are not Christians, and who do not believe the Word of God. They will do enough of it without being assisted by Christians.

This may seem hard on professed Christians. It has again and again seemed hard to the writer. Some of the hardness still manifests itself at times. Truth is always hard to us until we believe it by real acceptance, then its hardness or severity passes away. I have again and again studied and preached these principles for my own personal good, and I am reviewing and writing them to-day as a means of grace to my own soul. My plea to God daily is, not simply that I may get out of the list of murmurers, but everlastingly stay out, and get into full membership with the noble people who, in the dark as well as in the light, “know all things work together for good to them, because they love God, and because God has said so, feeling or no feeling.” My salvation, and I believe that of others, depends upon the proper application of this most important principle.

Good Things

We will at once agree that we believe the following scripture: “No good thing will he [God] withhold from them that walk uprightly.” But the moment we accept this, we must conscientiously study to know what is for our good; and whatever is for our good, is to us and for us a good thing, and all these things God will surely send to us; for “no good thing will be withhold.”

David, the king of Israel, said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” He further states, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, testified, “Tribulation worketh patience.” God must have a patient people. He will have them. “Here is the patience of the saints.” “These are they which came out of great tribulation.” We often sing with the lip, “Blest be the sorrow, kind the storm, that drives me nearer home;” and almost the instant the sorrow or storm comes, our faces lengthen, our voices become sad and doleful, and we lose sight of everything except the sorrow or the storm, and how we are suffering; and we toss about, “driven up and down in Adria,” but as soon as we can get our eyes away from ourselves and our hard time, we see Christ walking on the wave, and cry, “Lord, save,” and suddenly there is a calm. “What fools we mortals be,” that we do not discern in the first mutterings of the storm the voice of the almighty God saying, “My child, I am coming with one of the good things to you and for you.”

David reached this pinnacle of experience at Bahurim, when in the face of the cursing, and stone and dust throwing of Shimei, he cried, “Let him alone, and let him curse. . . . It may be that the Lord will . . . requite me good for his cursing this day.”

(To be concluded).