Holding What We Have Gained by T. E. BOWEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 31, 1906

Holding What We Have Gained

By T. E. BOWEN

T. E. BOWEN

I do not refer to money, but to something more valuable. Victories that are real cost something. Sometimes it requires much courage and perseverance to hold the vantage-ground already gained.

This was true in the time of the apostles. The living Messiah—the Desire of all the ages—had come and fulfilled the work prophesied of him in all the then known scriptures. The disciples had been witnesses of all these things. They had seen the life manifested, had handled the Word, and were sent forth into the world by Christ after his resurrection, to witness to these things.

But long afterward, near the close of the life of that disciple whom Jesus loved, that one who was the longest to be honored with manifesting his glorious name to the world in persecution and labor, left on record these words: “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment. That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have gained [margin], but that we receive a full reward.” 2 John 6-8.

There was danger that the believers should fail to maintain the advance position to which they had attained by believing on the crucified One. It had become at this time an old story. Nearly a century had passed since the crucified Son of God had wrought out alone in the flesh the redemption of man. Many deceivers had entered in, denying the truth that the Messiah had “come in the flesh” at all. This leaven was in danger of permeating the whole church of believers. God through John exhorted. “Look to yourselves,” that you “lose not those things which we have gained.”

These words are full of meaning to the people of God to-day. Deceivers have entered in among us who fail to see any special danger ahead, any great need of being particularly solicitous as to how things are coming out. They admit that the word of truth contained in the prophecies will come to pass “sometime,” but see no need of changing from the slow pace of the past decade or so. Let no one be deceived. The end hasteth greatly. With muffled tread it is approaching rapidly.

Where is the earnestness of the early believers? Where is the first love we ourselves once had? Should not these things cause us alarm? Haven’t we lost something? God says we have. He tells us plainly what it is—“our first love.”

“But,” says one, “what about it?” Well, in losing that, we have lost some of the reward; for our reward is to be according to our works. God wants us to lose none of that which we have gained, so that we may receive the full reward that he has for us. Verse 8.

We are on the very borders of that time when rewards shall be given by Christ. Shall they be full, or incomplete? or the reward of that wicked servant that said in his heart,—and life,—“My Lord delayeth his coming”? There is nothing else so valuable in this world as the truth contained in the third angel’s message—that message that alone contains the commandments of God.

We may lose our reputation among men; we may lose our worldly goods; we may suffer the loss of friends, but none of these things are to be compared to the loss sustained if we lose our love and interest in this precious truth of God. Dear pilgrim, are you holding that which in the past you have gained? God grant that we all shall.

Rome, N. Y.