Our Influence by D. H. Kress

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1903

Our Influence

By D. H. Kress

D. H. KRESS, M. D.

“As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” Prov. 27:19. As we look into the water or mirror, we see reflected our countenances. If it is a pleasant face, the water reflects a pleasing face. If a mournful look or sad countenance, the water reflects the same. So the heart of man reveals itself to man. Wherever he looks, he sees reflected what he is. If the heart is mournful, the whole world appears in mourning. If the heart is selfish, everything and everybody appear selfish. Wherever I look, I see myself. The tobacco user pollutes and poisons the pure air that he is compelled to breathe. After a time he becomes ill, and then finds fault with the climate, and says, “This climate does not agree with me. I must seek a more healthful one;” not knowing that he is creating his own climate, and that the curse goes with him wherever he goes.

We are surrounded with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air we breathe. But a mournful spirit, a depressed or selfish soul, pollutes or poisons its own atmosphere. Then when spiritually sick, man complains of his unfavorable or disagreeable and unhealthful surroundings. He longs to escape, but if he does, he finds, after a time, that there is no difference. He makes his own surroundings wherever he is. Heaven itself would be an undesirable place for a selfish soul. He feels and considers himself an abused man, a persecuted saint, not knowing that his injuries are self-inflicted. Instead of saying, Who shall deliver me from my unfortunate surroundings, my disagreeable wife, children, or neighbors? he should say, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?” Who shall deliver me from myself?

There can be no peace on the outside anywhere, until there is peace on the inside. “Cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” There is beauty all around when peace and love are in the soul. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.” With a cheerful countenance cheerfulness is expanded and reflected everywhere. All nature smiles, and wears a cheerful aspect. We see a reflection of what we are wherever we look. “He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast,” no matter where he is. He sees the roses where others see only thorns. “Blessed [happy] are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” “Unto the pure all things are pure.” They will say, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” “But unto them that are defiled” is nothing pure; even their mind and conscience are defiled. Heaven itself would not be pure for them; for they would pollute their soul’s atmosphere. Even there the selfish soul would ascribe selfishness to the angels in their unselfish service of love. Selfishness would be seen everywhere. Soon the cry would be heard, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this place?

The object of the gospel, or good tidings of great joy, is to “appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.” The man that mourns, complains, and is bowed down with a spirit of heaviness, will never be called by his children or neighbors a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. Such a life can never glorify God. He is a body of death instead of life. He, like the tobacco user, has an atmosphere surrounding him that is just as dangerous for others to inhale as it is for himself. The wife and children become sick spiritually, because they are compelled to live in the depressing atmosphere of selfishness.