Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1904

Editorial

By Editor

Unmasking Satan THERE is more satisfaction in talking about Christ and his gospel than in speaking of Satan and his work, but it is nevertheless necessary to expose the snares of Satan, and save the unwary from being caught in them. The Lord would not have us ignorant of the devices of the great deceiver, and he has therefore clearly revealed to us in his Word the plan of the campaign which will be followed by the prince of this world. In tearing off the covering of religious phrases and forms under which he is now attempting to hide his false teaching, and in revealing the true character of his hellish philosophy by showing what a perversion of the genuine gospel it really is, we hope to save some unsuspecting souls from eternal ruin.

Hasten the Work THERE is every inducement to lead us to hasten the work of giving this message to the world. Men are being deceived and led astray for lack of the light of this truth. Satan is holding many in bondage who would be made free by the knowledge of this gospel message. Hope would take the place of despair, joy would take the place of sorrow, and confidence would take the place of dread in the experience of troubled souls who would welcome this message, if they only knew what it holds for them. The whole long reign of sin will come to an end when this message has finished its work, and the way will be prepared for the return of our blessed Lord to take his people to himself. Then those who have been separated by death will be restored to each other's companionship, and all will behold the loving Saviour face to face. There is nothing enduring but the things of the eternal kingdom. The things of this world will pass away. “Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.” “Amen: come, Lord Jesus.”

Accepting Forgiveness THE disposition to forgive inheres in the very nature and being of God. He himself thus defines his own character: “And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth; keeping loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” The psalmist speaks of the same thing in these words: “Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive.” This disposition to forgive was rendered effective for us in the gift of Jesus, “in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins,” whom God did exalt to be “a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.” In the cross of Calvary we find the solution of the problem of freely offering forgiveness to all who will accept it, while preserving justice as the foundation of the throne. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.” God has thus provided forgiveness for sin, but in order to be benefited by this provision we must accept the forgiveness offered. The first step in this experience is repentance. “Repent ye,” is the oft-repeated call. Repentance is coupled with the remission of sins. The risen Saviour declared to his disciples that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations.” True repentance includes confession of sin, and this brings the application of the forgiving mercy of God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Having sincerely repented of sin and confessed our sins unto God, we accept forgiveness by taking God at his word and believing his assurance of full pardon. In doing this we honor God, who has pledged himself that the repentant sinner shall have forgiveness. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Do not fail to accept the forgiveness freely offered to us.

The Life of Faith HE who lives the life of faith is by no means a mere visionary and impracticable dreamer. He who deals with the things which are unseen is not thereby unfitted to deal in the most sensible way with the things which are seen. He who believes God and accepts his estimate of the comparative value of things present and things to come will be the best prepared to deal prudently in the whole conduct of life. It is those who devote all their time and strength to the acquisition of that which they may lose in a moment of time who are justly open to the charge of acting foolishly. So it was with the rich man in the parable. After a time of great prosperity, according to the usual way of thinking, he said, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” “A prudent man, who had made wise provision for the future,” says the world. “Thou fool,” said God. Which is right? Is it evidence of an unbalanced mind to follow the counsel of the Nazarene, who had not where to lay his head? His advice is, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Are the one hundred thousand millionaires of this country more sound in their views of finance than the Great Teacher? And the would-be millionaire is building upon no better foundation than he who is able to reach the goal. There are really but few who exercise an unwavering faith in God, and who order their lives in harmony with the plain statements of the Scripture concerning this world and the world to come. The life of faith is the unusual life. The cases are becoming rare where the unseen, the things of the heavenly kingdom, truth and righteousness, are viewed from God’s standpoint with the eye of faith, and estimated in the light of eternity. Nevertheless it is true that the life of faith is the soundly practical life, the Word of God being true. Happy is the man of faith.