p. 206 | DOING FOR CHRIST by H. G. Buxton

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 13, 1868

DOING FOR CHRIST.

By H. G. Buxton

Where are we living? In an age of awful soul-deception, even to some of God's elect, I fear; in the deeply solemn, closing moments of time, when each hour and moment of our lives is making a decision of vast, solemn, and eternal consequences; when occurs the “coming suddenly,” Mark xiii, 36, or bringing up of our individual cases before the judgment of final accounts. By the power of the Spirit of God, and the proclamation of his holy word, the heavenly “crier” announced that on the tenth day of the seventh month, A. D. 1844, the court of final accounts in Heaven had opened for the investigation of all the cases of God's children.

Among the first comes the case of righteous Abel. No shaking of the heavens, or convulsions of the earth, or sounding of a message, announces to him that his case is on the stand. But he sleeps, and his case is tried.

Not long does it take the heavenly court to decide the cases of all the righteous dead, then comes the righteous living. Pause, O my soul! let this thought rest with full weight upon thee; for in a few days hence thy case and the cases of thy brethren may come upon the stand unannounced. In every other instance when God moves to bring his children into the immortal kingdom, he announces the fact to them; but not in this, else there would be utter and endless confusion. But this thou knowest: thy case is immediately impending, and Christ has bought thee with his blood, and all thy thoughts, words, and actions, are so many witnesses, either for or against thee, that thou art doing or not doing for him.

My dear brethren, are we doing for Christ? Perhaps you answer me by asking, What are you doing for Christ? Answer, I am resolved to seek a daily conversion to the truth, and a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit by wrestling with him, and continuing in secret prayer.

I can help to keep up family worship. I can speak and act kindly and sympathizingly to my companion, and so receive the same in return. I can be particular to speak kindly to, and set a good example before, all the youth and children, interesting myself in all their little minds by helping them in all that is innocent, by giving them the Instructor, or some instruction that will lead them to Jesus. I can work or study industriously through the day, and have my “conversation in Heaven”—a sure and profitable way of becoming perfect. James iii, 2. I can seek a meek and teachable spirit, and an addition of all the heavenly graces. I can regularly help in the Sabbath school and Sabbath meetings. I can give some of the means the Lord has given me, however little or much, to help spread the publications, and support the preached word.

I can live out the health reform to the best of my ability, and help spread the light on the same by getting subscribers for the Reformer, by referring them to the Bible, How to Live, Tract on Dress Reform; and in the Spirit of Christ help remove their prejudices. I can do good to all, but especially to my brethren and sisters. I can help the lost, discouraged ones of the flock; and I can win souls to Christ.

All of the above I desire to do better than I have done; but cannot only through Christ strengthening me. Then can I come out like the beaten and torn and bruised grain, the “finest of the wheat,” or “stand in my lot” in this great day of final and irrevocable accounts.

My brethren, do we want “the spirit and power of Elias” to help “make ready a people prepared for the Lord?” Then let us raise our cry to the God of Heaven, and be mightily stirred and strengthened to do for Christ. H. G. BUXTON.

Mansfield Center, Conn.