“One Is Your Master, Even Christ”
By A. C. Anderson
THE Master is soon coming; and as ministers of his, we should ever keep the nearness of his coming before his people, and show them the great need of transferring their affections from earth to heaven. We are told that “no man can serve two masters.” Christ does not say, “Ye ought not;” he says, “Ye cannot.” It is an absolute impossibility to serve God and Mammon. There can be but one true service rendered by each one of us. Yet many are foolishly attempting to achieve the impossible, even many who profess belief in his soon coming. The result will prove a miserable failure. The man who would serve two masters has no success or joy in either service;9his life is like the barren fig tree that was cursed by the Master and withered away. He cannot serve God, for he is invaded and vexed by a host of foolish fancies and worldly cares and anxieties. This great sin is everywhere leavening the churches. It is seen in the race for wealth, in the increase of covetousness, in the slavery to appetite and sensuous pleasure, and will end in bitter disappointment to all who pursue it. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Therefore if the treasure is on earth, the heart will dwell here; but if the treasure is in heaven, the heart’s affections will be transferred there. Our thoughts, our very selves, dwell with what we prize most highly. Thus only shall we be freed from contaminating affections. The secret of true happiness is whole-heartedness. The only true joy and peace on earth is found in complete surrender to God as our one Lord and Master. He asks no impossibility, but he does require absolute submission of will, and he will give strength equal to the task. May the Lord help us to renew our vows and be more faithful in his service. We see from the fulfillment of prophecy that the end is near “and hasteth greatly,” and we need to get ready for the coming conflict. We have been contending with “footmen,” but henceforth we must “contend with horses.” Well does the prophet inquire, “If in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” Jer. 12: 5. The times in which we live have no parallel in human history, and we must prepare for what is before us. The enemy will soon “come in like a flood;” but if we walk in all the light given, “the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isa. 59: 19. We are also told by the servant of the Lord that we are not ready for the crisis. Unbelief in the Testimonies increases as the people backslide from God. See “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. V, pages 76, 673. We are told in Vol. IV, page 390, that these writings should be in every Seventh-day Adventist home, and should be read and reread. But very few are found even in the libraries of our churches. We are told in “Early Writings,” page 270, that when we are led “to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth,” it will cause a “shaking among God’s people,” because “some will not bear this straight testimony.” “By aggressive warfare, in the midst of opposition, peril, loss, and human suffering, the work of soul saving is to be carried forward. At a certain battle, when one of the regiments of the attacking force was being beaten back by the hordes of the enemy, the ensign in front stood his ground as the troops retreated. The captain shouted to him to bring back the colors, but the reply of the ensign was, ‘Bring the men up to the colors.’ This is the work that devolves upon every faithful standard bearer,—to bring the men up to the colors. The Lord calls for whole-heartedness. We all know that the sin of many professing Christians is that they lack the courage and energy to bring themselves and those connected with them up to the standard.”—Vol. IX, pages 45, 46. As ministers we should be examples to the flock, but we cannot be conscience for any. We have but one standard,—the law of God and the Testimonies,—and when we strictly adhere to that, we “shall prosper,” and we shall also hear the voice of “the dragon.” 2 Chron. 20: 20; Isa. 8: 20; Rev. 12: 17. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev. 19: 10. Jesus is our pilot, the law and the testimony are our chart and compass. One writer has said that the scribes and the Pharisees “darkened the consciences of the people with casuistry.” That is, they so analyzed, explained, or determined what a thing meant that they made the commands of God of none effect. The same writer further says: “Better face a dark coast than the false lights of wreckers; better have no compass than one that will not point to the north; better be without a pilot than be steered by a pirate.” We are nearing the dark, rock-bound coast of the last days, and the false lights of the wreckers are seen on every hand. But our Pilot speaks to his people through his appointed channel, and his sheep hear his voice and follow him. “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness.” If we do not have too much of the fear of man in our hearts, the Lord can work good out of the most wretched woe that is in the world; and if we only let him, he will cause the wrath of man to praise him, and “the remainder of wrath” he will restrain. God has given “to every man his work.” May God help us to prove true to our calling. “We have found the chart and compass,
And are sure the land is near;
Onward, onward, we are hasting,
Soon the haven will appear;
Let your voices
Sound aloud your holy cheer.”