Convinced, but Not Persuaded.
By P. STRONG
WHILE laboring this winter in Oceana Co., Mich., one that attended my meetings used the above expression. He had attended nearly all the meetings, and raised many objections against the Sabbath; but as the meetings progressed, his objections were all taken away. Will he break away from former associates, and obey the unpopular truths of the word of God? Let his testimony answer; and undoubtedly it is the answer of many in our land that have heard, and do not obey. He gave his testimony in covenant meeting to this effect: I have tried to live a consistent life before God, and he has blessed me; the objections in my mind against the Sabbath are all taken away. I am convinced that God's law is binding. I am convinced that the seventh-part-of-time theory is not correct. I am convinced that time has not been lost. I am convinced that those texts which are brought forward to prove the Sunday Sabbath, do not prove it. I am convinced that the seventh day was blessed in the beginning, and is for all to obey. I still intend to investigate, and if I am persuaded to keep the Sabbath, I then shall change. Paul says, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” I am convinced, but not fully persuaded. It is a saying that all things being equal, the smallest atom will change the scales. If this is true in worldly things, it is also in spiritual. If we allow our prejudices and the profession of the mass to govern us, we never shall be persuaded to obey any truth that causes a sacrifice. Paul speaks of a class that will be convinced, but not persuaded, because they do not receive the “love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:10. Such evidently see a harmony in the truth, but the applause of the world would have to be forfeited to obey it. It is a fearful thing to be persuaded into a wrong cause. Jehoshaphat was persuaded to join affinity with Ahab, which came near costing him his life. 2 Chron. 18:1. The true prophet of God warned them not to go to battle. Verse 16. But the four hundred false prophets prophesied success, and they were persuaded, but Ahab lost his life. Again, when Jesus was resurrected, the soldiers were persuaded by the priests to tell a falsehood, and say he was stolen. Their judgment was convinced by unanswerable evidence that he was raised; but the love of a good name and money persuaded them. Paul almost persuaded king Agrippa to be a Christian. He was convinced; but in lifting the cross to win an eternal crown, his earthly crown was in danger. The atom in the scales was on the side of the world, and we have no evidence that Agrippa was ever fully persuaded to be a Christian. It is a good thing to be fully convinced and persuaded to obey God. Why? “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38, 39. Oh! that all men would be persuaded to practically apply David's prayer, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Ps. 119:18. All then would be united on the day to worship. P. STRONG.