AN EXHORTATION by M. D. McKee

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1900

AN EXHORTATION.

By M. D. McKee

MRS. M. D. MCKEE.

“The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” “The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.” “They that go down into the pit can not hope for thy truth.” “The father to the children shall make known thy truth.” Ps. 115:17; Isa. 38:18, 19. These solemn scriptures express the duty of every Seventh-day Adventist in particular, and of every Christian in general. If these statements of God’s word were believed, remembered, and acted upon, how soon would the earth be lightened with the glory of the last message, sinners saved, and our Saviour appear!

There are four propositions in the scripture quoted, which appeal to me in a special sense. I wish to analyze them, as I see them, and hope some souls may be helped, as I have been.

First, “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” In life and buoyant health, how seldom we think of these words. Our routine of daily duties, the commonplace things that occupy our time, too often unfit us for praising the Lord. Why do we not, while “living,” before the “silence” comes upon us, allow our daily lives to praise him?

When we look upon the still forms of loved ones, friends or neighbors, we realize that they have gone down “into silence.” While it is true that “their works do follow them,” their voices are hushed, their feet no more go on errands of mercy or love, they stand no more to witness for God in testimony, their tongues speak no more helpful words of comfort or of praise to God; the still hands rest upon the lifeless breast, and the warm clasp of sympathy is felt no more. But “the living, the LIVING, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.”

Dear brethren and sisters, are you, as among the living, praising God? While the breath of life is yours, how are you living? In view of the recent losses we have sustained, as one by one our dear laborers have fallen asleep, does it not become us to see to it that our lips speak forth his praises, our eyes smile loving helpfulness on those about us, our ears refuse to listen to reproaches or gossip of our neighbors or friends, liable as we to “go down into silence”? Should not our feet go willingly and more frequently on errands of love and mercy, or bear us to the weekly prayer-meeting, to which many are constant strangers? And should we not there unite with others of like precious faith in testimonies of praise? Should not our hands minister to the poor and needy, pen letters to dear wandering souls who are hurrying on “into silence,” or send tracts and papers that lie unused at home? Oh, the many things we might do while life is ours!—things that, if left undone, will burden our last hours with remorse.

“As I do this day.” The personal pronoun “I” means every one of us. Are you, “this” day, to-day, using your life to praise God, or will you wait until, conscious of but a few days or hours of life, you sigh and mourn “over years of wasted life”? Can we not learn the lesson now? Surely God is teaching us in the experiences we are passing through, and every person should earnestly inquire, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

The third proposition brings an answer to the question. “They that go down into the pit can not hope for thy truth.” Are any friends or neighbors of yours ignorant of “the truth”? If so, they can only know of it while living. When they die, and go into the pit (grave), they can not learn of God’s saving truth.

Then what is our duty to the living who know not our precious message for these days? Who will be held responsible for those who go down without hope? The living, the living,—father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, child, relative, neighbor, friend, or stranger,—“shall make known thy truth.” Perhaps some one near by is “hoping” for the “truth.” What is of more importance than to “make it known” to him? The dying testimony of our beloved Sister Henry sounds out upon the air with a power that should lead every one who knows the truth we profess, to such a humbling of soul and searching of heart as we never knew.

When, when, shall our houses be set in order, our business shaped, our hearts fully surrendered to God and his truth, and we ourselves ready for service? Truly, “the living, the living, he shall praise thee”! Now, while you have your faculties of mind and body, “while it is called To-day,” “harden not your hearts.” Our duty to God, to ourselves, to one another, and to the world never was so great. Can you believe this? Do you realize it? Will you live as if you realized it?

Let us each ask God to teach us how to pray, and how to live out, the following beautiful prayer:—

“Let me not die before I’ve done for thee My earthly work, whatever it may be; Call me not hence with mission unfulfilled, Let me not leave my space of ground untilled. Impress this truth upon me—that not one Can do my portion that I leave undone; For each one in thy vineyard hath a spot To labor in for life, and weary not.”

The message to the Laodicean church, in volume one of the Testimonies, will help us to awake from our lethargy, and equip ourselves for service under the direction of the Holy Spirit.