FALSE HOPES by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 19, 1869

FALSE HOPES.

By Joseph Clarke

If there is anything to be dreaded above all other misfortunes, it is to rest upon a false hope, and to be left in a deceived condition until it is too late to obtain a well-grounded assurance of eternal life.

At the present time, false and delusive hopes buoy up the great majority of the people of this professionally Christian land. People are led to suppose that almost any form of Christianity will suffice, if (as the common expression is), “the heart is right.”

But how can the heart be right, where the form and the doctrines fall short of the standard the Bible has set up?

The Free Mason considers his creed sufficient, “if lived up to,” to guide him to future bliss. So of many other organizations; those initiated are inclined to rest upon their peculiar work and forms of worship, as accepted means of grace.

The members of such organizations, witnessing as they do, many benefits arising from their efforts, and often that partial reformations are effected, and flattering themselves that their forms of worship are pleasing to God, settle down upon a delusive hope, often so strongly as never to awaken from it. The institution of Sunday is supposed by many to be accepted of God as the true Sabbath, and most of the religious world rest upon it as such.

Among us S. D. Adventists there are some who are looking forward to future happiness here, in the pursuits of life, or in the acquirement of wealth, or of homes, or in the hope of domestic bliss, and many other objects, which chain the mind to earth, and cramp the spiritual energies.

The power of self-deception is wonderful. There is a youth who is as destitute of vital piety as a Hindoo, is almost wholly unacquainted with the Bible, yet he considers himself capable of judging of spiritual things with certainty. He is in a state of self-complacent, self-confident security. Why is he thus? Is it not that he is a member of society having reform as its motto? He associates in this capacity with those who profess to love God. He is thus satisfied. Are not those who uphold, by their influence, societies having partial reform as a motto, in a measure responsible for the delusions so caused?

In view of this subject, we may educe a principle, thus: All reforms which stop short of the standard of God’s word, are delusive, because they tend to cause the subjects of such reforms to rest in the reform as a means of grace. The true church is the only society which legitimately operates in the cause of reform. All other reform societies are partial, and in this perilous time, are not safe as guides to the people. Hence the danger of connecting ourselves with the Knight Templars, &c., organizations of the day.

We are told in the word of God that we must strive lawfully. Is it striving lawfully for God’s people to join secret societies in order that they may benefit others? Is it not thus that they strengthen the chains of the self-deceived? We are told that he that entereth not into the fold by the door, but climbeth up by some other way, is a thief and a robber. Is it entering by the door, to encourage the organizations of the day, and spend our time and money with them? Is it not thus we may help to snare the souls of men? Says Isaiah, “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy.” See Isa. viii, 12. Is it not fearing the fear of the world, and saying, “A confederacy,” to join with them in their false reformations?

But after all, the only true way of avoiding the deceptions of the day, is to live near to God, in all his commands and testimonies. The light of present truth lights up our pathway. Let us avoid the wandering rushlights of false and partial reform, and let us press on in the path of true reform; a reform that is thorough, and reaching the depths of the heart. The ax is laid at the root of the trees. We are in the last of the morning watch. Now is no time for dallying with the world, and its hopes and pleasures.

Young man, young woman, beware! Satan has his hook baited for you. Are you looking forward to a settlement in life? Beware! lest Satan have a hand in this. The terrible realities of the Judgment are upon us. I do not say that domestic unions are wrong; but in view of the exigencies of the present time, is it not folly for the youth of the S. D. Adventists to be looking forward to matters of this nature? Perhaps it may be out of place for me to express my own feelings on this subject, but I will venture to say, that such symptoms as I discover among our young people, such a craving desire for the world, for company—for company of the opposite sex, I say these symptoms create in my heart a feeling of sickening disgust. Look at Noah with his three sons. None of them, it seems, took with them into the ark families of children. Do not misinterpret my words. Unions predicated upon the word of God, and approved of good men, are right; but I say unhesitatingly. Do not dwell too much upon such things; leave these matters to God; seek now to prepare to escape the seven last plagues; seek to make God your refuge.

But this subject leads me to speak of those worldly-wise parents, who, by their propensity to lay up property for their children and grandchildren, yet in prospect, are, in fact, stimulating precocity and worldliness in their children. Deluded men and women, I ask you, I beseech you, to awake to your situation. Begin by selling that extra farm and investing it in the work of God. Call in that thousand dollar note you had intended to go on an adjoining forty acre lot, to the Lord. Say to your children whose hearts are palpitating with unholy love, that the Lord is coming, that your farms and lands are not to be invested in kindling wood for a doomed and guilty world in the day of its burning, but to be sent on ahead of you to a better clime, and that they, to have a part in it, to be your heirs, must invest too in this heavenly capital.

I never have felt so deeply as at this moment on this subject; but by degrees I have arrived at this conclusion from certain and known data. May God help us all to be consistent S. D. Adventists.

JOSEPH CLARKE.