Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 12, 1904

Editorial

By Editor

Wonderful Possibilities

THERE are wonderful possibilities for every faithful believer in the genuine gospel of Christ. The grace of Christ transforms the character and reveals the image of the divine, so that even in this present life the Christian is introduced into a new order of existence. “If any man be in Christ, there is a new creation.” By contemplating the things of God the mind is enlarged and is brought into fellowship with the divine mind. “An ambition, such as meets the approval of heaven, is aroused, and every power of the being is put to the stretch in the effort to attain to the loftiest ideal of character. With such human effort there is divine co-operation, and there is a realization of such results as would be utterly impossible apart from the gospel. But this is a mere beginning, merely the preparatory work. When the limitations of this present order of things have been removed, when the redeemed are made immortal and dwell in the glory of the visible presence of ‘the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God,’ with an eternity for the development of every faculty of the mind, there is no language with which to express the possibilities presented to man restored to the image of God. Truly ‘eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’ ‘There immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There is no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind nor exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.’ ‘O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!’”

The Yellow Peril

THE present war between Russia and Japan has revived the discussion of what is called “the yellow peril.” This is the brief and rather striking expression which is used to indicate the possible danger that the yellow races of the East, under the leadership of Japan, may inaugurate a crusade against the white races, which shall overthrow the civilization of the West, and greatly retard the progress of religion, science, and the arts. To the minds of some of the statesmen of the world the problem of “the yellow peril” is a very grave one, threatening a great evil to all the more enlightened nations. It will doubtless have a considerable influence in shaping the policy of some of the great nations of to-day. But there is another yellow peril which is more widespread, and which threatens more serious results than the one just mentioned. This is the love of yellow gold. Every person in the world is exposed to this peril, and there are few who are not affected more or less seriously by it. The disastrous results of this yellow peril are thus set forth in the Scripture: “Godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” This is always true. When the love of money rules the life, there is little opportunity for the cultivation of the Christian graces, and little hope that the divine nature will be revealed. But in the last days this yellow peril involves serious results even in this present world. In the time of trouble just before us those who are known to possess money and the good things of this life will suffer from the violence of the lawless, who will disregard property rights and attempt to seize by force whatever they desire. To the rich in the last days these words are spoken: “Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.” Now is certainly the time to heed the instruction of the Master: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.” Beware of the yellow peril. It means ruin to those who do not conquer it.