The Reason Why

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 9, 1916

WHY is it that some parents succeed in saving their children from the love of the world, while many fail to keep theirs in the message?

Doubtless there is more than one reason; but there is one vital principle involved, one that has a greater influence than many recognize. That principle is found in a constant, vitalized, demonstrated interest in the message on the part of the parents. In the absence of an abiding, burning interest, revealed in the apparently small things lacking in the example of parents, the keen conceptions of the children lead them to the conclusion that, after all, it does not matter so much whether they are in or out of the church; that they can be more consistent by separating themselves from a cause that seems to be against worldly prosperity and yet lacks the power to work a greater change in the lives of older members than that which they observe. With these impressions warring against a mere theory of belief, without constant, increasing evidences of the presence and power of God in this special work, they drift into the world and away from the truth; while the older members, who do not have youthful ambitions and temptations, exist, though they impose upon their spiritual health by depriving themselves of necessary spiritual food, and fail of living the truth and enjoying its blessings and privileges.

This course is followed until the parents awake to the fact that their child is outwardly demonstrating his dislike for anything pertaining to our special work. Then they send for a minister to come and labor for that loved one, but in the majority of cases the die has been too deeply cast, the days of opportunity are past, and the young man or woman is lost to the cause of present truth.

In many cases where the whole family are firm believers, the reason has been sought, and oftentimes the testimonies of these are remarkably similar. Some time ago the writer asked a minister who is known to have been in youth disinclined to be religious, and especially antagonistic to the faith of our people, what he could now cite as the strong influence that drew him to the truth. He answered without hesitation that it was the unswerving faith of his parents in the third angel's message, and the best of all ministers, the REVIEW, which never failed to come every Friday, and which was always read to all, from beginning to end, on the Sabbath. He said he did not particularly enjoy the reading, but somehow he could never forget its messages. As far back as he could remember, the REVIEW was always on the center table in his home. Whenever he came in with his inflated worldly conceptions, the REVIEW on the table seemed to speak to him, though he did not read it. Its very presence there seemed to say to him, “There is but one all-prevailing source of happiness and success,—the love of God, manifested through the keeping of his commandments.” When he would go to the post office for his generous supply of mail on Friday, the day he usually received special mail of a worldly nature, the presence of the REVIEW spoke to him of the fickleness of this life, the folly of the glittering tinsel of gain, and the surety of happiness and lasting gain in the service of God. Thus for years he silently battled with the REVIEW, but it won.

The REVIEW is indeed a faithful minister of the message,—a God-given, inspiring, educational, and unifying medium through which his followers can be strengthened, encouraged, and knit together through the Holy Spirit's witnessing to human efforts in the salvation of men; a voice penetrating the earth with notes of progress, success, and overcoming victory; a voice, though human, guided by the overshadowing spirit of the message, and heaven-blessed. This voice came with the advent message, and has continued and grown strong with it, and will remain until the work is finished, ministering to the spiritual needs of the believers in bringing good cheer, building up faith, keeping alive the spiritual fire of the soul, imparting an impelling spiritual force and vitality, and creating a working devotion in the promotion and support of the message. The REVIEW is, therefore, more than a mere newspaper which may be read with small gain or neglected without great loss.