Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jun 23, 1904

Editorial

By Editor

The Chronic Compromiser

THE history of the children of Israel reveals the fact that it was their continual compromise with evil which brought upon them repeated experiences of chastening at the hands of the Lord. They desired to serve the Lord, but when they were brought face to face with some crisis, they often swerved from the straightforward course, attempting to take a middle ground which would not bring them into direct conflict with the opinions and practises of their heathen neighbors. Their “spirit was not steadfast with God.” It was to such a people that Elijah addressed his earnest appeal: “How long go ye limping between the two sides? If Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The vivid expression—“limping between the two sides”—presents an accurate picture of the chronic compromiser. He does not walk with a firm step on either side, but sways in a hesitating manner from one position to the other. Being governed by fear or policy rather than by principle, he has nothing to hold him in the straight path of truth. Such a man is almost sure to be on the wrong side in a real crisis. His perceptions of truth become blunted by his continual parleying with error, and his experience ends in a positive alliance with wrong. The true Christian is positive, but not stubborn; uncompromising, but gentle, “steadfast, unmoveable,” “faithful unto death.” “He who is a true Christian combines great tenderness of feeling with great firmness of purpose, with unswerving fidelity to God; he will in no case become the betrayer of sacred trusts. He who is endowed with the Holy Spirit has great capacities of heart and intellect, with strength of will and purpose that is unconquerable.” The name of the chronic compromiser will be blotted out of the book of life, unless the Lord by his grace shall “stablish, strengthen, settle” him on the rock of eternal truth. “Beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own steadfastness.”

Not in Vain

AFTER every prayer, faith says, “It is not in vain,” and the Holy Spirit, the Remembrancer, reminds the humble suppliant of the gracious assurance: “Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” After every effort to reveal the spirit of the Master in some kindly deed, faith says, “It is not in vain,” and the Remembrancer brings to the mind the words of Jesus, “Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward.” After every decision to give up the things of this life for the kingdom of heaven’s sake, faith says, “It is not in vain,” and again the Remembrancer repeats the words of the Nazarene, “Every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.” After every decision to walk in the light of the truth which is revealed as the path of duty, faith says, “It is not in vain,” and again the Remembrancer revives in the memory the promise of Jesus, “If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God.” “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” and it is the privilege of every humble believer to say with the apostle Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.” How encouraging to the follower of Jesus is the repeated assurance of faith, “It is not in vain.”

Our Advocate

IN this hour of God’s judgment how thankful we ought to be that we are not left to plead our own cases, or to face the law of God depending upon any “works of righteousness which we have done.” “We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.” “We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.” “For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us.” “Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” It is now almost exactly three-score years since “the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” We each have a case pending in the heavenly court. Soon the verdict will be rendered, and the decree will go forth, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” There need be no uncertainty concerning the nature of the verdict, and we may even have boldness in this time of judgment, if we only commit our cases fully into the hands of our Advocate, accepting without reserve the conditions upon which he is able to appear as our representative, and to plead his own perfect righteousness in our behalf. “The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in his blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with himself to the ‘first dominion.’ . . . He asks for his people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in his glory and a seat upon his throne.” This is what our Advocate undertakes to accomplish for us. And every angel would be sent from heaven to minister help, if the situation demanded it. O then, let no one delay to place his case in the hands of such an Advocate! He has never lost a case. It is safe to trust him.