FAITHFULNESS by F. Peabody

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 20, 1879

FAITHFULNESS

By F. Peabody

It becomes us to be faithful, firm in adherence to the truth, not vacillating, but true and loyal. These traits have always characterized God's true Israel. No one has ever overcome but by being faithful in the hour of the trial of his faith. No doubt Noah had his faith tried many times while building the ark, yet he stood firm amid the scoffs of that wicked generation. He was faithful, and was saved when others were lost. Abraham was tried, but he proved true, and became the father of the faithful. Daniel proved faithful when one of earth's mightiest nations legislated against him. John, the harbinger of Christ, lost his life because of his faithfulness. The Papal power found millions of victims among God's faithful ones. It was to the faithful that Paul instructed Timothy to commit the truths he had learned from him. It was not to the rich, to the high, or to the great men of earth, but to faithful men, who should be able to teach others also.

Those who have been faithful to God are the ones whom he has honored in all ages. Noah could have escaped the derision of that wicked generation; Abraham could have saved himself the keen anguish he must have felt when called to offer his son; Daniel might have made a compromise with Satan, and refrained from praying to God for thirty days; John might have omitted part of his message, and lived a little longer; Paul could have eased his burdensome life by neglecting to declare the whole counsel of God; but they were faithful, and, for their faithfulness, Abraham became the father of the faithful, Daniel was greatly beloved, John was to be great in the kingdom, and Paul could anticipate a crown of life in “that day.”

God counseled his people in the Smyrna period of the church to be faithful, even at the expense of life. He now calls upon his people “to buy gold tried in the fire.” Those who are now saying, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” will not believe that those who have led out in this last, straight message have come up through such trials and tribulations, being pruned and trimmed until their faithfulness was proved. They think no such training is necessary. We look for faithfulness in them, because God has accepted them after thorough trial. God's hand is in this work. All must be tried and found faithful in a few things, before they will be called to rule over many. If we wish to be great in the world's estimation, we would do better to go and labor in its interest. This message has no place wherein such desires can be satisfied. This is a last message-bearing people, engaged in a high calling, with the interests of God's cause for almost six thousand years centering here and resting its heavy burdens upon them. We are sometimes told that we are too positive,—that we think we have the truth. Certainly, we ought to think we have the truth, and be very positive we have it. Our faithfulness will be in proportion to the confidence we have in the truth we profess. This is the last message. It embraces all Scriptural truth. It promises a consummation of redemption's plan. Oh, what a solemn work! What inducements to faithfulness! The eye of Heaven's King is upon us. All his faithful ones will win a kingdom.

F. PEABODY.