p. 9 | The One Only Remedy by J. M. HOPKINS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1909

The One Only Remedy

By J. M. HOPKINS

J. M. HOPKINS

It is not a pessimistic view of the world to say that it is largely filled with ills and trouble. Wrongs abound everywhere, and in almost every department or condition of life where wrong exists, there we see some device, or plan, or combination, or organization for the regulation and betterment of the people and their circumstances.

But fondly cherished hopes and undertakings frequently fail entirely, or are only partially successful in remedying the evil. And this is not to be wondered at, for the source of the difficulty is not reached. The cause of any evil must be removed in order to remove the result. Unless the cause is removed, the effect produced by the cause must of necessity remain.

Whence arise the numerous wrong conditions of life? I answer, From the wrong condition of the human heart. Here is the chief difficulty. No remedy can ever effect a cure, a radical and complete change in life and earthly conditions, until the heart of man is changed, and earth itself is cleansed and purified.

It is true that in many instances legislation has bettered conditions. War has sometimes overthrown cruel and oppressive power. But all over the world evils have again arisen, so that perfect peace and satisfaction, and happiness, and justice nowhere fully obtain.

These thoughts are suggested by the effort which Socialists are making to remedy existing evils brought about by the overreaching of money power; the greed and grasping of the rich, resulting in many cases in the oppression and suffering of the poor. But will Socialism effect a thorough and permanent cure? What is the cause?—Selfishness and covetousness, and power on the part of the wealthy to gratify these unholy ambitions. Is it possible for the ballot-box, or human legislation, or the sword to eradicate these evils from the human heart?—It is impossible; and just as long as the evil exists in the heart, just so long will the evil practise follow. Just as long as the cause remains, just so long will the effect remain.

Meet the issue fairly and honestly. In all the ages past, has not the same cause produced the same effect? History affirms that it has. And this particular feature of human difficulties is illustrative of the whole. It all proceeds from the wickedness of the human heart. To remedy some of these evils, men are organizing themselves into various societies—secret, oath-bound, political, social, etc. Some good in some degree may be secured from these organizations, but the question is, Do they fully and satisfactorily meet the people's needs for this hour? Is a permanent good established?—No! it never has been, and never will be. No human power or wisdom ever will or ever can do this.

There is nothing but the salvation of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cleansing and regeneration of the human heart, that can ever effect a perfect and lasting remedy for the ills of humanity. That is the one only remedy. In thousands and tens of thousands of individual cases this blessed work has been accomplished, which has resulted in perfect peace and happiness in the individual heart and life.

But those who have been thus benefited have always been, and will always be, in the very small minority, as compared with the world's population. Society as a whole has never been, and will never be, thoroughly cleansed, because the gospel does not apply to society collectively, but singly and individually, as one by one men and women accept it. And the hope that Socialism, or republicanism, or any other man-made plan or organization will ever usher in the reign of peace, equity, and justice, is a vain and delusive hope. That happy day will never dawn upon this world while the curse and blight of sin remain. Never, until the everlasting gospel shall have accomplished its work, never until the Lord Jesus comes to claim his own, never until this old earth shall have been purified by the cleansing fire of God's wrath, and Satan and all his followers shall have been destroyed, and the great universe of God be fully and forever rid of all evil causes,—never until all this is done will there be a perfect reign of peace on earth. For this let us toil, and for this let us pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

Hewitt, Minn.