Improving the Record by M. G. HUFFMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1909

Improving the Record

By M. G. HUFFMAN

M. G. HUFFMAN

The corrupting influences of Satan are flooding the world as never before. The enemy of all good knows that his time is short. Each one of us might ask himself the question, Is my record before God all that it should have been or could have been for the year 1908? The records of the past year have shown that it was the banner year for disaster by land and sea. Thousands upon thousands of human beings were hurled to death without a moment’s warning, and many of them with no hope in Christ. How diligent ought we all to be in giving the last message of mercy for this time to those who are sitting in darkness, that they may have opportunity to make their calling and election sure. We all have had sorrows as well as joys. Sunshine has played with the shadows. Our songs of joy have been mingled with tears and pain, caused by neglects, mistakes, and shortcomings. But with the knowledge of the fact that the Father is still at the helm, we can, and will by God’s help, take courage to lay aside the old year with calmness, while we take up our duties anew, having faith to press forward in the Master’s vineyard to accomplish the work he has for us to do in the year 1909.

We all believe in being better than we are. We may fail as individuals in reaching the standard, or many of us, despairing, may even cease to press toward it; but our efforts, put forth in the name of Christ, are not in vain. They help us to rise toward a higher plane of character. When we look back upon the year just past, we can, notwithstanding all our mistakes and failures, see some permanent results of our efforts; that is, if we have put forth our efforts in the name of him who said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” The evil in our natures will be less dominant in 1909 if we continue to strive against it in the name of Christ.

But we should ever remember that the conviction of sin is the first step toward righteousness; but it must be one’s conviction of his own sin, and not of his brother’s. The trouble with many of us is that we have been content with trying to convict some one else, feeling that, while we are not without fault, our brethren and sisters and neighbors are extremely sinful, and must be changed at once. But, my brother, my sister, such efforts inspire resentment. A man under conviction of sin may be willing to accuse himself of every depravity; but when others accuse him, he immediately feels that he is not the only sinner in the world, and he begins, in turn, to accuse others. The accused then becomes the accuser, and the result is merely crimination and recrimination, accomplishing nothing except to inspire distrust.

Great strides have been made in all parts of the world in spreading far and wide the glorious proclamation of the third angel’s message to a dying race of sinners for whom Christ gave his life. The evidences that the work for the last days will be finished in this generation are multiplying on every hand. And, in view of this fact, let us strive in 1909 to go forward and do what we can for the Master. But we can go forward only when we strive hopefully, and not despairingly. Our success in the war in which we are engaged depends much upon the mood in which we rise to better things. Let us ask God to help us to do better day by day. He has washed away that spot; let us ask him to wash away this one also. We have stopped doing that wrong thing; let us stop this also.

We have now entered upon another year. The doors of 1908 are closed forever; we can never open them again. Good or bad, the work we have wrought must stand. There is doubtless much we would wish were blotted off the page,—many a careless deed, many an idle word, many a thoughtless act that brought pain not only to our own hearts, but to the hearts of those whom we would gladly have pleased.

Let us all strive in the name of Christ to make 1909 so beautiful with good deeds that we shall feel that it is good to live, and the world will be better because of our having lived in it.

Battle Creek, Mich.