Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 24, 1904

Editorial

By Editor

A Present Danger

WHEN the truth has been perverted, and error has been taught under the semblance of the truth, there is danger that some reformers will fail to distinguish between the truth itself and the perversion of the truth, and that in their zeal to avoid any possible appearance of error they may discard even the truth itself. The enemy of the truth will be ready to lead such a kind of reform as this. It will serve his purpose just as well as the perversion of the truth. Now that it has appeared that faith in the righteousness of Christ can be perverted into faith in the supposed divinity in one's self, and now that it is being emphasized that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,” there may be some who have never been in genuine sympathy with the great principles of righteousness by faith and of true health reform who will now depreciate both. Beware of any such teachers. It is not necessary to give up the truth in order to be rid of error. Preach righteousness by faith. Teach the principles of health and temperance. Give the message. Discard error, but hold fast to the truth.

Perishing and Continuing

“THOU, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands: they shall perish; but thou continuest.” Observe these simple statements. The Son, addressed now as Lord, is the one through whom all creative work was wrought, “through whom also he made the worlds.” Now mark the difference between the things and the one who made the things. It is a very simple statement, but it draws a marked contrast between the things and the one who made the things. What is included in the things that perish?—Man. Do not forget that. A simple statement here with reference to things created, that they perish, but the Creator continues, settles forever, for any one who will receive it, the idea that any created thing apart from the Creator continues; that there is in anything created, including man, any principle that will preserve from perishing; and makes it clear that the power which preserves from perishing must come from without the created thing, and never from within the created thing. That simple statement of contrast between the things that perish and him who continues, settles a great many things. Call to mind another statement of the Scripture. “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were,”—things continue. Things continue. There is, it is asserted, a power in things to make them continue. There is a force, there is something inherent in things, that causes them to continue, and that forbids such a catastrophe as the coming of the Lord. But against the idea that there is anything inherent in things, including man, any principle, or power, or law, or force, whatever it may be called, that is inherent in these things by which these things continue, is the declaration of this scripture which says that they perish, and the only one who has in himself, as coming from the final source, the continuing principle, is the Son of God. It is important that we should read this scripture and understand it clearly; for it is a defense against error, and there is a power in it that will bring help to us at once. The eternal Son, who is God, continues. While the things created through him have not that power, but pass away, perish, he, because of his relationship to the Father, continues. He is eternal. “They shall perish; but thou continuest: and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a mantle shalt thou roll them up, as a garment, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” The only way for man to be saved from ceasing to continue is by receiving power through faith in the Son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”