An Illustration, Weak, Yet Suggestive
By John N. Quinn
Not long ago there called at my home an agent engaged in selling a story of the Bible. Immediately he was recognized as one formerly occupying a prominent place in the work of promulgating the blessed gospel of salvation as revealed in the third angel’s message, and who had been the instrument of leading one member of the family to the Lord Jesus Christ. During an interesting conversation, lasting over an hour, the matter of his departure from the truth was touched upon, and he was asked if he really attached any sacredness to the first day of the week. His answer was that he did not, and that when the pastor of his church referred to Sunday as the Lord’s day, as a holy day, he became very uncomfortable. “Then why keep the day?” he was asked. “For this reason,” he replied. “A child is playing in the field, when his eyes rest upon a ragweed. Immediately he plucks it, and with delight hurries into the house and gives it to his papa. It is immediately accepted with pleasure, not because of its beauty or value, but because of the love which prompted the gift. So with Sunday. It is accepted of God, not because of any sacredness attached to the day, but because of the love in the heart of the one who offers it.” But does this illustrate the point? The child is old enough to reason, to decide a question. In the same garden, close beside the ragweed, is a magnificent Jacqueminot rose. The question of a gift to papa is to be decided. Shall it be the ragweed or the rose? The decision is made for the ragweed, which is offered to the father, who, being familiar with the decision made, refuses to accept it. Love longs for the best, which in this case would be revealed by the offering of the rose. And yet, after all, the illustration is a good one. Sunday is of the earth, earthy, and is part and parcel of the rags of self-righteousness, and can be no more accepted by God than was the sacrifice of Cain. The seventh-day Sabbath is part of the righteousness of him in whom Abel believed, and who is called the Rose of Sharon. And when one, familiar with the fact that no sacredness whatever attaches to Sunday, offers the day to the Heavenly Father, he decides for the ragweed as against the rose, and grieves the heart of Infinite Love. Reader, what are you doing? Is it the ragweed or the rose? Is it Sunday, mark of the rags of our own righteousness, or the seventh day, seal of the righteousness which is of faith? “As a man thinketh [decideth] so is he.”