p. 37 | Practical Thoughts by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 18, 1871

Practical Thoughts.

By John Nevins Andrews

THE CREATION OF OUR EARTH.

The infinite power of God is manifested in the creation of the earth and of its inhabitants, as in no event that has since been witnessed in all his providential dealings with our race. This great work gave existence to everything that we behold. When we contemplate this wonderful work of God, our minds are called to the origin of all things, and to the commencement of the existence of our race. The work of the Almighty is worthy of our most profound reverence and of our lasting remembrance. Here our God in his infinite greatness is seen.

And what has he given to mankind to enable them to keep all this in grateful remembrance? He made his works to be remembered. Ps. 3: 2. And that they might be thus had in remembrance, he hallowed his rest day that all mankind might acknowledge God as their Creator. The weekly recurrence of the Sabbath is a constant testimony to mankind, bidding them stop and consider and raise their minds to God. It is a memorial to keep God in everlasting remembrance. So long as the world endures must this memorial of the Creator continue to exist. All men in all ages are under sacred obligation to observe it as a sign of his infinite power. The Sabbath commemorates the creation of our earth, and the creation of mankind upon it. We shall never be done with this divine institution so long as it remains our duty to remember our Creator.

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

We read with deepest interest the record of wonderful providences which is given us in the Scriptures. Perhaps no one of these seems more worthy of our admiration than the story of Mordecai and Haman, contained in the book of Esther. The hand of God was directly concerned in the advancement of Esther to the throne of Persia. And by this remarkable event he saved the Jews from general massacre. No one can doubt that the providence of God made Esther queen for this very purpose. But there is one fact, that shows how high above human agency God is exalted. The question ever arises, Suppose the agent to whom Providence commits a certain work should be unfaithful to that trust? Even suppose Esther had proved untrue to her high responsibilities?

The words of Mordecai meet this very point. Esther 4: 14: “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed; and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Here we have a most impressive truth revealed. The providence of God is prepared for any emergency. It can never be taken by surprise. If Esther were to forget God and to fail in her duty, deliverance would arise from another place. If she in her exaltation left her work undone, God would employ perhaps one of the most lowly. His work would not fail. Let us remember this. We may ruin ourselves by our failure, but we shall find that God is never dependent on us.

“IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.”

To this blessed precept the apostle appends this reason: “For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thess. 5: 18. This one rule of life would, if obeyed, put an end to murmuring against God, or repining and fault-finding toward our fellow-men. How much better to have the high praises of God in our mouths than to have them filled with complaints and murmurings. Before we begin to repine at our lot, if we would first thank God that it is no worse, we should have no occasion to utter afterward one word of fault-finding or complaint at any of God’s dealings toward us. Sinful men that still have time and opportunity for repentance should feel such gratitude to God for this infinite mercy that nothing but praise and thanksgiving should ever escape their lips.

And how can Christians ever find occasion for murmuring words? They would not if they did not forget the infinite debt of gratitude they owe to God, and if they did not forget how deserving of God’s just displeasure they are.

One text, if remembered and believed, would cause constant thanksgiving to God. Here it is: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom. 8: 28. That is enough. If God sends affliction, it is because we need it. He will bring good out of it to us. He never afflicts willingly, nor does he ever afflict us as much as we deserve. He chastens us for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. Let us gratefully accept of whatever our God shall send us. J. N. A.