Submission to God

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 5, 1869

Submission to God.

THIS is best learned in the school of affliction. When everything goes to our minds we may suppose that we are very submissive to God, when this is far from being the case. We are well pleased with the providence of God because it grants us just such things as we prefer. It is not best that we should be self-deceived. It is best that we should understand just what manner of spirit we possess. So God sends afflictions. The effect of these is to lay open our real disposition of heart. What we could never have known was hidden in our hearts now comes to the surface, and makes itself plain to our view. If there is an unsubmissive spirit, that spirit now discovers itself. The moment this appears, there is a plain duty for us to perform. We must repent. We must humble ourselves before God. We must ask for grace that shall help us to make perfect submission of our whole being to God. How rapidly should we advance in the Christian graces were this the use we make of trials. Submission to God always brings relief; sometime it brings the sweetest joy. Those that labor and are heavy laden may find rest in simply submitting their necks to the yoke of Christ. We were made for the service of God. There is no peace to the unsubmissive man. He is out of his place, and out of his element. When he finds pardon for his rebellion it is always upon condition that he submits to God. He cannot submit without giving up everything to God. Satan tells him that the Lord will take everything from him that is desirable in life. The truth is, he will take from us only that which we are better off without. Perfect submission to God is that state which we must possess in order to enter Heaven. Afflictions and trials show us whether we are thus submissive or not. The grace of God can help us to thus bow to his will. Let us seek this transforming power, and let us not receive it in vain.