Making Life a Success by Maria L. Huntley

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 7, 1871

Making Life a Success.

By Maria L. Huntley

“He made life a success!” How often is this or some similar remark made when one dies who has become wealthy and influential! But few take into the account anything but his worldly position and possessions. He may have spent his time and energies, and cut short his life in his eagerness to obtain these; but with many it matters not. He has gained money and the approbation of men, and that is what they consider success.

But are they correct? Ought we to consider these the principal objects of our lives? I think not. That which will be of the most benefit to us should claim our greatest exertions and our most earnest thought. The rich man dies. His probation has closed, and next in order to him is the Judgment—the most awful, the most trying, event connected with his existence. Every act of his life, every word he has uttered, and even the motives which have actuated him, are examined and tested by the word of God. The wrong which appeared so small to him, and not worthy of notice, when viewed in the light of the Judgment, appear in all their enormity; and nothing remains for him but to suffer the penalty of God’s broken law, which is death. Those whose favor he courted are powerless to help him, and his riches only make his condemnation more sure. He may have heaped together treasures, but what advantage are they, or have they been, to him? He has mistaken their real value, and lost the reward he might have gained had he used them in doing good and advancing the cause of God; for by so doing he would

have laid them up in Heaven, where they would be sure and abiding.

But let us look at the result of his life. He sought pleasure, but lost an eternal life of happiness. He sought riches, but was satisfied with those that perish, and neglected obtaining the true riches which were within his reach. He sought to save his life, but lost it; to gain the world, but finally failed of everything but a reward for his sins and punishment for his transgressions. Instead of his life being a success, has it not proved a sad failure? and will he not thus view it when it is too late for remedy?

Contrast his reward with that of one whose life has been marked with devotion to God, and whose death has been that of the righteous, and consider the difference. His life may have been one of toil, suffering, and even privation. Over his coffin, sympathizing friends may have shed tears for his misfortunes, or he may have died friendless and alone; but in the sight of the Lord, his death was precious. Angels guard the spot where he rests, and soon when the voice of the Son of God is heard, he will awake in immortal vigor, and beauty, to sorrow, suffer, and die no more. His trials, temptations, and privations, were but for a moment in comparison with the endless life of joy and happiness which he has gained, in a world where all is lovely and good. Is not this true success, and ought we not to act with reference to securing it in whatever we do? Especially to the young I would say, Let us begin early to make life a success, the result of which will be as lasting as eternity. We can do this if we will. It is those who strive, who agonize that will be able to enter in at the straight gate.

MARIA L. HUNTLEY.

South Boston, Mass.