p. 224 | DANGERS | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 19, 1881

DANGERS.

The sailor finds his special dangers near the end of his voyage, at the coast landing. That is the place for shipwrecks. According to the prophetic scriptures, the last part of the Christian voyage on the old ship Zion, will be particularly perilous. Says the apostle: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." That we are now living in perilous times, no one can doubt, who is a careful observer of the signs of the times. Satan is making special efforts, in various ways, to destroy the church of Christ. Pride, covetousness, envy, jealousy, ambition, love of the world, pleasure parties, fun, frolic, fashion, vanity, hatred, variance, and other evils are brought to bear upon Christian pilgrims with great force in these last days. Every artifice that demons can use to conquer the soldier of the cross, is being employed by the powers of darkness. He who steps aside from the narrow path will find himself at once beset by strong foes, bent on his ruin; but he who keeps continually in Christ, has nothing to fear. He who attempts to meet the enemies of the cross in his own strength is sure to be defeated.

The perils of these last days seem peculiar. One of them, as foretold by Paul, is this: "Despisers of those that are good." He speaks of them as "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." "Godliness" is God-likeness, or being like God. "The power of godliness" is vested in the Holy Spirit. Hence, those who have "the form of godliness," without the power, must be those who are opposed to holiness, and hold the truth in unrighteousness. Such will be "despisers of those that are good." Being "despisers" of course they will manifest that spite by unchristian treatment of those whom they despise. Their spite arises from natural enmity of the human heart against holiness. So long as the heart is impure, so long it is hostile to what is good. When a root of bitterness takes possession, a grudge, hatred, or variance, towards one that is good, it often becomes very bitter, and will spare no pains to ruin the innocent.

In these last days, Satan is exceedingly busy in this direction, consequently, there is special "danger" of being caught in this snare. His chief object seems to be to pull down the "good." To accomplish this result, every possible means will be employed. One of his most successful modes of attack is by misrepresentation, slander, lying, and making false charges against the "good." This he did towards Jesus and the martyrs. But so long as this cruel treatment is borne patiently, Satan is defeated in his efforts. When Jesus was reviled, he "reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously." We are taught to arm ourselves with the mind that was in Christ. Again, the Scriptures say: "What glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." The great danger to the good consists in his liability to get out of patience with the one who misrepresents and abuses him. There is also special danger that his friends get out of patience, on account of their sympathy for the abused person. They often say, we would not mind it, if it had been spoken against us; but we will not see our innocent brother or sister in Christ abused. No doubt Peter had some of that feeling when he cut off the man's ear, who was arresting Jesus. He who would be a true Christian must decide to bear patiently all kinds of abuse that can be heaped upon him by those who despise the good, otherwise, Satan will get the advantage. No matter what is said or done to injure him, the good man must bear it all in a kind spirit, praying for his enemies.—Sel.