I-Have” and “O-Had-I by A. E. Place

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

“I-Have” and “O-Had-I”

By A. E. Place

WE read of the meekness of Moses, the faith of Abraham, the patience of Job, the glory which crowns the martyrs of Jesus, and the grandeur of the seat at the right hand of Christ in his perfected kingdom, and we desire to be like those worthy men. With the poet we exclaim, “I long, O, I long to be there!” but how few come forward with the price! The Lord presents the very ladder which may take us to the seat we claim so much to desire, but how often our foot slips on the first round, and many become discouraged and sit down to the mockings of “O-Had-I.” Some even think they made a mistake to try at all. O, how frail and short-sighted is humanity!

A young man, who had often expressed a great desire to learn the carpenter’s trade, finally obtained an opportunity. After working about three weeks, he, by a careless motion, let a chisel slip, and instantly its sharp edge buried itself in his knee. He dropped the chisel, grasped his knee with both hands, and hopping around on one foot, cried, “O, I wish I had never learned the trade! I wish I had never learned the trade!” Some seem to look upon and deal with Christianity after this order; but to the careful, thinking mind it is plain that three weeks does not master the carpenter’s trade, neither does it make a Christian, and it is foolish to condemn either business, and drop our tools, because we strike a bone or a disappointment.

It means more than “O-Had-I” to say farewell to riches, and a glittering throne like Egypt’s was in the days of Moses, and wander with a poor, despised race till we die in the wilderness. It took Moses forty years tending sheep, and another like period dealing with rebellious Israel, to fit him to stand on Pisgah’s peak and feast his eyes on God’s view of beautiful paradise restored. More than six hundred thousand persons started with him from Egypt. All might have stood with him on the mountain of success and glorious victory if they had stood with him all the way.

No one can rightly appreciate the glory of our ascending Lord, or a seat with him on his throne, who fails to see as a part of the picture the wilderness of temptation, the days of patient toil and nights of prayer, yea, and the awful experiences of Gethsemane and Calvary. The loved Commander of all heaven reached the throne for a redeemed world with hands and feet pierced, and his noble brow scarred with a crown of thorns; and his counsel is, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The man who sees the throne, and no crucified Lord between him and the throne, can never expect to have the throne above.

The mother of Zebedee’s children asked of Christ a seat at his right hand in the kingdom for her sons, James and John. The reply was, “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that

I am baptized with?” They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.”

Men may by wealth, by deception, and because they have a certain name, gain a position and a throne in this world, but the only way to the throne of God is by the way of Calvary.

Many mourn to-day because they think they do not have the position which belongs to them. This opens the way for envy and jealousy to come into the heart, and Satan whispers, “Your brethren do not appreciate you, they do not recognize you as they should,” etc., etc. But all this is surely a denial of the divine providences of God. Let all such study carefully the testimony of John the Baptist as recorded in John 3:25-31, especially verses 27, 30. Probably with few if any exceptions we occupy as exalted positions as we are really fitted for. At least, no one is fitted for a more responsible position than that which he occupies till he is willingly and faithfully performing to the best of his ability his present duties.

We deny God if we fail to recognize that his eye is over all his creatures, and it is useless and foolish to say or admit that he makes mistakes in his dealings with his children. Now let us read the word, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” “Due time” means at the right time. But suppose I come to the time when I think and feel quite sure that I ought to be exalted, and the exaltation does not come? If I believe the word, I know it is now “due time.” If I get stirred up over the fact that it does not come, or that some one else instead of myself was exalted, it is time for me to humble myself “under the mighty hand of God.” We oftentimes find that the seat called “lower” by the world or the selfish heart is really a higher round in God’s ladder heavenward.

The highest aim and most noble desire of man in this life is to recognize the divine providence of God; to fit himself to discharge present responsibilities so faithfully that each day’s experience shall be a stepping-stone to the next; and while others are sitting in their “hard lot,” listening to the mocking song of “O-Had-I,” he may be seen daily on the road to success, with “I-Have” perched tamely on his hand.” Let us all listen to his song: “I have forgiveness from all my sins; I have been saved from doubt and despair; I have daily confidence in the providence of a mighty Friend; I have help up every ‘hill difficult;’ I have strength to deal justly, and walk humbly before God; I have peace that floweth like a river; I have bright hopes of filling the place in the future kingdom that my heavenly King shall select for me.” A. E. PLACE.