A. L. HOLLENBECK by A. L. Hollenbeck

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 11, 1906

A. L. HOLLENBECK

By A. L. Hollenbeck

Worldliness

A. L. HOLLENBECK

SATAN, in his efforts to gain control of the whole mind, works through faults of character, well knowing that if these faults are cherished, he will be successful. Satan exults whenever he can lead us to cherish these faults, and feel that they are not really faults.

It is not safe for us to depend upon our own judgment. Our judgment may be at fault. Let the Word of God and his Spirit decide in every matter whether a word or an act is right or wrong, and let us be ready and willing always to speak and act in accordance with his Word. We can not be too careful in regard to how we read God’s Word, how we hear it, and the kind of spirit that is working upon our minds.

Our only hope of escaping the many snares and pitfalls which Satan has so deftly prepared for us is in being acquainted with Jesus. All who form his acquaintance can safely trust themselves to be led by him. His promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” is not for the true Christian alone; it is also for every one of those professed Christians who have backslidden, and who have been so led astray by the enemy of souls that they have become poor representatives of their divine Master. To all such, the word “repent” has a blessing in its meaning. And as the Spirit calls to the weary wanderer, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you,” it also adds, “This do, and thou shalt live.” Jesus will surely remember every one of his erring ones, and although they may wander away into the depths of worldliness and error, his infinite love will not leave them to perish, neither will he forsake them as long as there is one ray of hope for them. Instead of singing, over and over again,—

The spirit of intense worldliness which is manifested everywhere, and which is fast taking hold of every earthly element, is a source of great danger to the professed followers of Christ. We can not serve God and mammon. In other words, we can not be Godlike and worldlike at the same time. We may touch the world if we will, but if we deliberately place one hand upon worldliness, we need not expect that we can stretch forth the other at the same time and ever reach heaven. It will take but a very small amount of worldliness to shut us out of the city of God, but it will take all there is of us to gain that blessed abode. Many may be able, in a general way, to pass as good Christians, and apparently enter into the spirit of the songs of Zion, but they are well aware that the glitter and tinsel of the world has developed a beam in their eyes, which, if not soon removed, will cast

“None of self, and all of thee,” which they know is nearly, if not quite, the reverse in their case, they would better sing with all the spirit and meaning there is in it, and mean it, too,—

All of self to thee I bring, Cleanse it, Lord, unworthy thing; Full of foes without, within, Fit it, Lord, some souls to win.

The huge tide of worldliness is rushing onward. Its momentum is increased with every effort of the wily foe to hurl it upon the honest in heart. It seeks its own. And unless there is now a speedy cutting loose from everything of a worldly nature, the flood of worldliness, as it rushes to its own, will sweep over many poor souls, and carry them along to darkness and despair. Set the face like a flint against all falsehood, all pretense, and every species of worldliness, and grow in grace from day to day, by representing Christ to the world. Give none of your time or your confidence to any of the artful agents of Satan, no matter how well they may be disguised; for if entertained, they will weaken your purpose to do right, and rob you of your spiritual strength. Instead of cherishing a spirit of independence, indifference, pride, love of the world, and cold formality, in which many so far as the want of piety is concerned, are fast coming to resemble ancient Israel, we should seek to control self in its wanderings toward the world, and see that it is brought down from its prominent position, and given a place where it belongs, at the foot of the cross, with Christ, not it, in front. When this is done, everything arbitrary, dictatorial, overbearing, boastful, proud, and unconsecrated will go with it, and we shall be better fitted to handle sacred truths, point sinners to Christ, and perform the every-day duties of Christians.

Seattle, Wash.