His Presence by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 11, 1904

His Presence

By Editor

Editorial

His Presence

THE presence of God gives rest. “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” The presence of God gives joy. “In thy presence is fulness of joy.” “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Here we may enjoy his presence and that continual fellowship with him which transforms all life into a heavenly service, but soon we shall see him face to face. This is the Christian’s hope. Moses “endured, as seeing him who is invisible;” and he accounted “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.” His presence here and his presence eternally, constitute the inheritance of the Christian. O wondrous privilege! O glorious inheritance!

Our Banner

THE church militant is now entering upon her final conflict. In the long-continued controversy between good and evil the opposing forces are now being marshaled for the last and decisive struggle. We should now hold aloft our banner with this inscription upon it: “The Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus.” To lower this banner or to attempt to hide the inscription is to compromise the very issue over which the whole warfare is waged. This third angel’s message is to call the attention of the world to the true God, the Creator, to his unchanged and unchangeable law, to his new covenant promise to write that law in the hearts of those who have faith in Jesus, and to the perfect law as the standard in the judgment work which is now in progress. This is the only basis of a genuine righteousness by faith, and is the true gospel message for this time. Let no one be deceived by a pretended goodness so good that it can claim to ignore the only standard of goodness,—the law of God,—or by that equally false teaching of harmony with God and his law apart from personal faith in the atoning work of Jesus. These are the leading errors of the day. In the truths of this message will be found the effective antidote for these errors. Let the banner be displayed that all may read: “The Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus.” Let the call go forth to rally under this banner, that we may be led to victory by the Captain of the Lord’s host.

“Ichabod”

THIS name was given to the child born to the wife of Phinehas at the time when the news was received that the Philistines had defeated Israel, and had captured the ark of God. “And she said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.” “The glory had indeed departed from Israel when the symbol of the abiding presence and power of Jehovah was removed from the midst of them. With this chest were associated the most wonderful revelations of God’s truth and power.” At the time of the destruction of the temple by the Romans, this same fateful word was again uttered, and “above the sound of battle, voices were heard shouting, ‘Ichabod!’—the glory is departed.” In rejecting Jesus and his work for them the Jews rejected the real glory of the temple and its services, and the building itself was soon utterly destroyed, according to the prophecy which Jesus himself had spoken, “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” We have again come to the time when the sanctuary and its services are the center of interest to God’s people. “The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making his final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers, and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God.” The great truths of this last message cluster about the sanctuary, and they derive their special glory from the right interpretation of the scriptures which treat upon this subject. Any effort to turn attention away from the heavenly sanctuary and the closing work of our great High Priest in this generation is preparing the way for the departure of the glory from this advent movement. If such efforts are successful, they will spell “I-c-h-a-b-o-d” for this message. Why should we destroy the very foundation upon which we have built? We can not guard too jealously the true teaching concerning the heavenly sanctuary and its services.

A Fierce Conflict

THOSE who give serious attention to the condition of things either in the church or in the world must see that a marked intensity is being shown in the working of all the powers of evil. The conflict is now fierce, and it will grow fiercer. No human wisdom is sufficient for the sophistries which are being taught as truth, and no human power is sufficient to withstand the determined effort of Satan and his allies to force every human being into sin. Our only safety is found in “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” We ought to give special heed to the counsel of inspiration: “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.” Victory is assured in this fierce conflict to those who fully accept Jesus as their leader.

“While Jesus is our friend, And his rich grace supplies, We’ll march like valiant soldiers on; We’re sure to win the prize. The battle’s almost o’er; The race is nearly run; Then with our glorious, conquering King We’ll sit down on his throne.”