Your ShelfYour Projects

Editorial

13%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 24, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 12.

Read the full edition

Editorial

By Editor

By Life or By Death

THE most signal victories of faith have often been at the times of apparently overwhelming defeat. Judging the outcome from the ordinary standpoint, it would certainly seem as though the life of John the Baptist was a failure. For a time his mission seemed successful, but soon his popularity began to wane, and he met an ignominious death within prison walls. But heaven’s estimate of this prophet of the wilderness is thus expressed by Jesus: “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist.” The death of John the Baptist was the crowning victory of a victorious life. In the eternal years he will wear a victor’s crown. Unbelief might ask, “Why did not Jesus save his forerunner?” Ah, that was just what he did. The grace which enabled John the Baptist to die for his Master was saving grace. He was among those who “were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God,” and he will live and reign with Christ. The lips of the dead martyr spoke more eloquently than those of the living preacher. The career of John the Baptist ended in victory. We must recognize the same principles to-day. It is not always the long years of effort which will accomplish the most for the kingdom of Christ. There are many who are ready to live for Christ, but perhaps the number is smaller who are ready to die for Christ. The service of faith reaches its perfection when we can say with the apostle Paul, “In nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.” In the shadow of the cross Jesus said, “Father, glorify thy name.” Let this be our prayer, whether it means by life or by death.

The Ever-Open Door

ONE of the largest charities in the world is Dr. Barnardo’s Home for Destitute Children in London. The institution is never closed night or day. Every day in the year and every hour in the day the door is open, and there is some one ready to receive those waifs whose only recommendation is that they are destitute and needy of help. The sign at the headquarters and at every branch of this home for the friendless is “The Ever-Open Door.” What an object lesson of the gospel is this! The door of mercy is ever open. Our need is our all-sufficient plea. We are sure of a welcome from the sinner’s Friend; for he has said, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” And “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.” O that every sin-burdened and weary soul would enter the ever-open door!
“There is a gate that stands ajar,     And through its portals gleaming, A radiance from the cross afar,     The Saviour’s love revealing. “That gate ajar stands free for all     Who seek through it salvation; The rich and poor, the great and small,     Of every tribe and nation. “O depth of mercy! can it be     That gate was left ajar for me? For me, for me?     Was left ajar for me?”

The Old Paths

THE old paths are “the paths of righteousness.” They are “the right ways of the Lord.” They are paths of pleasantness and peace. The Lord invites us to these paths, and tells us what the result will be: “Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jesus extended the same invitation when he said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” The old paths and the rest of soul are found in coming unto him who is the way. In this time of “new light,” and “new thought,” and “new experience” there has been a great departure from “the old paths.” There is now a “new theology” which calls for a new definition of God, a new view of inspiration, and a new adjustment of ideas all around. The old experiences of the men of faith are discredited. The old-time manifestations of God’s power in conversion are not believed for, and are not wanted. The old-time testimony of men walking with God is consequently lacking. Is it not time for a call to return to the old paths? Is there not a demand for such a revelation of the way of the Lord as shall offer hope and comfort to weary, storm-tossed souls? What is the meaning of this advent movement if it is not to be “a restorer of paths to dwell in”? The message, “Fear God, and give him glory,” when presented in fulness and power, will prepare the way and bring back the old experiences to those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord. These old paths are ever new, and these old experiences are ever new, and they are both eternally new as we serve in the newness of the Spirit, and in the freshness of the endless life, but we never substitute human inventions for the eternal truth. We have new views of the old truth, and new experiences in the old paths, but we do not find it necessary to discard the old truth and to depart from the old paths of righteousness. Let us stand in the old paths.