Your ShelfYour Projects

The Hope of the Resurrection

6%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 5, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 45.

Read the full edition

The Hope of the Resurrection

By Albert Carey

ALBERT CAREY
“Yes, I know in ’Melica, by and by, Jesus come and raise dear ones, and make happy again; but in China, have no Jesus.”
These were the words of a dear Chinese youth who had only recently come from China. He had learned to say but a few broken words in English, and was sitting in his room one night, reading over and over again a letter just received from the home land, telling of the death of a dear brother.
Ah Chang was tall, fair for a Chinese, and a fine specimen of the student class. His features were delicate, his eye kind and affectionate, just like your brother’s or mine; but the pathos of that bitter mourning could only be explained by his words, “In China, have no Jesus.”
Often have these stirring words rung in my ears, but never more than the night we laid our sweet four-year-old baby to rest. How near the Saviour came to us then, as the “blessed hope” seemed to bring us face to face with our darling! But as we thought of the millions in China, and in other heathen lands, who have no hope at all to brighten death’s dark hour, our hearts were drawn anew toward them.
The following lines present the truth as it appeared to us that night. Trusting they may stir some other hearts in behalf of the great dark lands, we pass them on:—
Rest thou, our darling, so tender and fair; Rest from earth’s turmoil, its burden and care. Our memories of thee, how surpassingly sweet; But sweeter to know that again we shall meet.
Precious the smile that thou gavest us here; Light amid sorrow; for sadness, sweet cheer; But when Jesus comes to unlock the dark tomb, That smile will brighten with immortal bloom.
O, what consolation the Christian hope bears! Each burden he lightens, each sorrow he shares; For heaven is nearer when sorrow presides, And death-pangs bring peace and comfort besides.
But O, in dark China, no Jesus they know; No Saviour to comfort, no balm for their woe. There Death has a gloom all too sad to repeat; Beyond its dark portals no loved ones can meet.
They cling to their loved ones as we to our own, But the hope of the gospel to them is unknown.
“No Jesus in China!” O, Christian, can you Rejoice in your comfort and let that be true?
Speed on the glad tidings, till never one soul Need comfortless come to life’s bittersome goal; Thy skirts clear of blood, His message made plain, He will bring thy beloved to thy bosom again.
How gladly we’ll greet our departed ones then! But gladder, if true to our trust we have been, Will be the blest meeting with those who are there Because of our sacrifice, labor, and prayer.
Baker’s Mountain, N. C.