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Two Object Lessons

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 22, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 16.

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Two Object Lessons

By Joel C. Rogers

IN the earlier days of the message in Ontario, determined opposition met the believers in several localities. In some places this took the form of bitter persecution. Under this opposition, companies grew up, became strong in the Lord, and were organized into churches. Every effort was made by their opposers to discourage and intimidate, but this seemed only to strengthen the bands of love, binding the believers together, and adding to their number.
Visiting one of these places a few days ago, two lessons impressed themselves upon me. First, when times of peace come, the believers cease their activity for soul saving, and set to making discord among themselves. (Spiritual idleness led to busy-ness in carnal matters.) Now, instead of a beautiful, working harmony, a nest of difficulties is found. Second, calamity and death mark the estate of every one of the earth opposers. Farms, buildings, fences, and everything else are in a dilapidated condition. Families have been broken by sickness, death, and immorality. Homes have been seized by the merciless hand of mortgage, and other money troubles have befallen some of them.
The remedy. Let the remaining believers return to their first zeal, and the Lord will help them to rise above their troubles, in busy work for him. Ephesus and Sardis experiences have come far this side of John's day. “I know thy works,” says the angel, “be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.” “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Souls are all around us to be rescued. Soon there will be a famine in the land for hearing the Word of God. We do not want our neighbors, in that time when it is too late, to accuse us of withholding the word from them. Let us take it to them, speak it to them, now. Busy work for God will stir up the dragon's wrath, but better suffer that than the wrath of God.
Let us take heed that we be not found opposing the progress of the message of God. It is a dangerous thing to do, even because of the results in this world. My only safety, and yours, is to receive the love of the truth, to be kept in that love so that we shall obtain “salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” This is our hope; this is our safety. JOEL C. ROGERS.