p. 93 | TO WHOM SHALL WE GO ? by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 16, 1869

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO ?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

At one period in Christ’s ministry, many of his disciples were turning away and leaving him. John vi, 66–68. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” This was a very forcible answer. Their eyes were so far open that they could see the corruption of the old Jewish sects. They were fully satisfied that none of them had either the light or the power of God. They knew full well the Gentiles were without God, and without hope in the world. Eph. ii, 12. But now also arose difficulties, and discouragements, and even dangers, in following Jesus of Nazareth. Some of his teachings they thought were hard sayings, and who could hear them? Many also of his disciples were leaving him, and his cause looked gloomy indeed. Under these circumstances, Christ asked the twelve if they also would leave him. This was a trying time. But Peter looked not only at the difficulties, and perhaps doubts which they might have in following Jesus, but he also made a very necessary inquiry, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Who will give us more light? Who will show us a clearer way? Who will give us more evidence of being of God than you have? Where shall we go that we may find no difficulties, no doubts, no trials, no discouragements? He was satisfied that he could find no such a people or way. So he concluded to stay with Jesus, and risk all in following him. Happy choice for him. Great will be his reward for his faith in Jesus at that dark hour. That was the time that Jesus needed friends, if he may be said ever to have needed them. There was some virtue in confessing Christ at such a time.

Do doubts, or fearfulness, or uncertainty, or discouragement with respect to our peculiar faith and work, sometimes come over us? Are we tempted to give it all up? If so, we would do well to stop and ask as Peter did, “To whom shall we go?” Who has got more truth, more devotion, more life, more spirit of sacrifice, more of the fear of God, more unity? Who has got less grounds for doubts and fears? If we should look at all these points fairly, I think we should soon decide as did Peter, to stick by the work. We are often so foolish as to allow one doubt, one slight objection, to outweigh all the mass of evidence on the other side.

I have to confess with sorrow that sometimes I have become discouraged when I have realized so small fruits from so much labor, and toil, and effort. I have felt that there must be something wrong, there must be an easier way, a way to accomplish more. When I have seen my brethren have so little zeal, so little spirit of sacrifice, get into trial so easy, and fall so far short of what I thought they ought to do, these things have discouraged me, and I have been tempted to think that they could not be the people of God, or things would not be so. My brother or sister, have you felt so too? Well, let me tell you how I found relief. I first ran over in my mind the mass of evidence we have in the Bible in favor of the leading points of our faith, such as the fulfillment of prophecy, the signs of the times, the saints’ inheritance, the law of God, the Sabbath, &c. I compare this with the objections brought against them. This often relieves me of all my fears. Then I go and look at other people who profess to be the people of God. I look at the fruits of other men’s labors with different weapons. I see that though they may make a greater show for a moment, yet in the end the truth accomplishes the most permanent results. I find that those who profess the third angel’s message have more unity, more real humility, more of a spirit of sacrifice, and more of the fear of God, than any people I have found yet. This is my experience, and I have had a very good chance to know.

When we get into trial Satan would have us believe that no one has so hard a time as we do. When our brethren do wrong, he tempts us to think that no one else would do so. When a trial of our faith comes, Satan would like to have us believe that we could readily solve every doubt, and remove every objection, if we were on the right track. But where shall we go to better the case? If we give up this truth for a slight objection that we cannot answer, what shall we do with all the evidence in favor of it? Doubts and unbelief are Satan’s mighty weapons. Heaps on heaps have been slain by them. God help us to be armed against them.

Satan would have us think that it is a virtue, or at least that we have a perfect right, to doubt as long as we can find a single objection to hang our doubts upon. True, we should not believe without good evidence; nor should we throw away a great mass of the best of evidence for a small objection which we may not be able readily to solve. Where is there ground for faith if we must positively know every thing? Whoever serves God has got to move out by faith, and risk something. Noah risked all he had, and God was pleased with his faith. So did Lot in fleeing from Sodom when there was no sign of danger. The apostles had to risk something in following Jesus. They believed he was the Son of God, but they did not know positively beyond a doubt. Their faith relied upon the evidence, and they moved out and risked all upon him. Others have had to risk something in obeying God, and so must we if we have a part in his work and in his kingdom. Not only the wicked and abominable but the fearful and unbelieving shall go into hell. Rev. xxi, 8. The servant who hid his lord’s money in the earth was afraid. Matt. xxv, 25. He could not risk much upon his faith in his lord. He also was cast out.

Brethren and sisters, God wants men and women who will risk something upon their faith in him, who will venture all upon their confidence in his work, who are willing to work hard and suffer much now upon simple faith in his word. This message calls for such persons. Are we there? Have we got any faith in God, any confidence in his work? Then let us show it. I have fully decided from the evidence that the third angel’s message is of God, and I shall risk all my hopes upon its success. If it fails, I shall be a great loser both in this world and the one to come. All my energies of soul and body shall be given to it. I have an intense interest in this work, and in its success. Its prosperity is my prosperity and my only hope, and its failure would be my deepest grief and total ruin. But I believe that it is of God, and hence shall risk all I have to risk in anything, upon this message. May God accept the humble offering, and grant me a humble part in its joys when it shall triumph.

D. M. CANRIGHT.