TRUE RELIGION by E. B. Saunders

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 26, 1869

TRUE RELIGION.

By E. B. Saunders

I BELIEVE that the Seventh-day Adventists are the people of God, and enjoy his blessing above others; but have we heeded the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, who says, “I know thy works;” Have we not depended too much on a form of religion, and acted as though we were rich and increased with goods, when we were poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked. Some of us act as though we thought that if we only made a profession, attended Sabbath meetings, prayed and spoke, had family worship and secret prayer now and then, paid s. B., and argued the truth with our neighbors, that this was the sum total of religious duty. Thus we have settled down like still water, till stagnancy and foul weeds threaten to destroy all vitality, and leave us miserably selfish in our feelings, importuning the Lord to have mercy on us, to pardon us, to lead us, to save us, till we have nearly forgotten poor sinful souls all around us, who can be helped—perhaps saved to shine like stars in our crowns if we make an effort for them. A few tracts or the REVIEW judiciously distributed with fervent, unselfish prayer for the blessing of God upon the effort, might turn many a sinner from the error of his way, and save a soul from death.

This selfish kind of religion that thinks only of being saved ourselves, and morbidly dwelling upon our feelings and frames of mind, will never help us to walk in the narrow way, nor add one star to our crown. Mourning and moping over our faults and shortcomings for days together will not bring God's blessing; we must stir around to see what good we can do, what desponding soul we can cheer up, and cause joy and sunshine to chase away the furrows of sorrow and care. If we do this, sunshine will come into our hearts also.

All around us are poor, forsaken objects of charity, who seldom have one ray of sunshine in their hearts, who are heart-broken, or nearly so, tottering feebly toward the grave. They should be visited, their most pressing wants be supplied, while Jesus and his pardoning love should with tears be recommended to them. Let us thus live to do others good, and selfishness will soon be rooted from our hearts.

Says Jesus, “I know thy works;” he knows our profession also, and our narrow-minded, selfish religion. While we act as though we were to be judged by our feelings and frames of mind; yet in this time of the judging of the people, Jesus says, “I know thy works.” Jesus is soon coming to separate the sheep from the goats, to reward the just with everlasting life, and to punish the wicked with everlasting death. The reward of the righteous is to be, not according to the feelings they had while on earth, but according to their works. “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. xxii, 12. That day will be a “day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds.” “For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Rom. ii, 5, 6; Matt. xvi, 27.

The works and deeds spoken of in the above texts do not consist in a little cheap talk every Sabbath in meeting. Pure and undefiled religion does not consist in talk, but to visit the widow and the fatherless in their afflictions; not the stiff, formal visits of the world, to chat about fashion and dress, and eat up their little stock of good things, but to gladden their hearts by little acts of kindness, to comfort the mourner with the consolations of the Bible, and bind up the broken-hearted with the religion of Jesus Christ, opening your purse, as well as heart, to relieve distress. To do this is to be a good Samaritan indeed, and to walk even as Christ walked. Oh! how much better that our visits be of this character, than to visit the proud and rich, to display fine apparel, and talk to no profit. How much better to be like ministering angels to the poor and afflicted, than to be equals with the rich and proud.

But what kind of works will the Judge approve in the great day? Hear and ponder his answer: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Such are the deeds our Lord will accept. Nor is the great amount done taken into the account, but the feelings or spirit in which we do it. Such a welcome the righteous did not expect, and they feel that they do not deserve it; for they look back on their past lives, and see but little, if any, good. They remember no acts but such as the common dictates of humanity required; and in surprise ask, “When saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee?” And the King shall answer and say unto them, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

The genuine Christian will imitate the example of his Lord. Jesus went about doing good. He visited the poor and needy. His tears flowed when he saw human woe. The afflicted never sought unto him in vain. Let us imitate him. If God has given us the blessing of health and the comforts of life, let us with cheerful hearts and willing hands dispense them upon the afflicted, and thus lay up a treasure in Heaven, and have our Lord's approval in the great day.

E. B. SAUNDERS.