Reflections by C. Lawton

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1872

Reflections.

By C. Lawton

ANOTHER year has taken its leave, and with it, all the good and evil. Broken vows, neglected duties, ill and vain conversation, harsh, unkind words and feelings, have all been faithfully recorded in the books above. Could I look back upon the past year without feelings of regret, it would be a satisfaction which I never yet have realized. But while I feel dissatisfied with the advancement I have made, and that I have accomplished so little good, yet my faith never was stronger in the great work in which we are engaged, and hope never was more buoyant. I commence the year by consecrating myself more fully to God and his cause. The past year has been one of great events, a precursor of what is yet to come, before our divine Lord and King will be ushered in with great power and glory to take his ransomed and redeemed people home. The glorious day is hastening on. A little space intervenes from the present to their deliverance, and during this time Satan will work with great power. The power of Satan is to increase greatly,

near the close of time. He sees the church rallying around the standard of truth, that mighty efforts are being made to get the light before the people, that the interest is rising and honest souls are embracing the truth, and he is aroused, and his ire will be stirred against the people of God. I think I never realized more than in the past year that he is at war with the remnant.

At times I have felt so oppressed with discouragement that it seemed almost impossible to rise above it; and again, thick darkness would settle upon me. Then I would thank God for the Testimonies, which are a great help and comfort to the church. Had it not been shown that Satan would throw darkness to perplex and discourage the saints of God, I should not have understood my experience. But through faith in Christ, the darkness was made to recede, and I could discern that the cloud of his presence still went before me.

But how vain to think of contending with the power of the enemy without having on the whole armor. We may not be called to lay down our lives for Christ, but if we go through the closing scenes of time, we shall find, I think, that

“There is suffering ere the glory, There’s a cross before the crown.”

But what is suffering here, even should we have to suffer unto death, when compared with the glory that shall be revealed at the revelation of Christ? It would, in comparison, be nothing to the consecrated child of God. Oh! that the commencement of this year might be the beginning of a new era with every unconsecrated heart among Seventh-day Adventists, that submission and obedience might be the motto of all. Let us make thorough work, that we may not finally be weighed in the balance and found wanting. C. LAWTON.