A Poor Exchange

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1904

ONE stanza of a hymn which gives expression to a genuine Christian experience, runs as follows:—

“Not for worlds would I exchange it.— This sweet faith in thee! Earthly treasures can not equal All thou art to me.”

That faith which rests without wavering in the word of the living God, and which believes in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as revealed in the Scriptures, is worth more than the combined riches of all worlds. He who barters this faith for a mere belief such as the devils have—a belief resting upon demonstration; and accepting only that which can be comprehended and satisfactorily explained by human reason—is indeed making a poor exchange. As the consequence of this first step he soon exchanges the truth of God for a lie, and worships and serves the creature rather than the Creator. Every suggestion which satanic cunning can invent is now being urged to weaken faith in God, and in the final message which is to prepare a people for the coming of Jesus. It is no wonder that our Lord inquired, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Nevertheless at that very time there will be a people of whom it will be said, “Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Do not permit either devil or man to rob you of your faith in God and his message of truth.