An Actual Conversation by J. H. W.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1872

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 39, No. 13.

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An Actual Conversation.

By J. H. W.

Bro. A. Bro. B., do you think you are obeying the precept of the apostle in wearing a gold watch chain?

Bro. B. My chain is not gold.

Bro. A. Why, it looks like gold.

Bro. B. Yes, but it is only washed.

Bro. A. Well, it is a good imitation. Now do you not think it was made thus for the purpose of making people believe it was gold? And did you not suppose, when you bought it, that those who saw it would think it was gold?

Bro. B. Why, yes, it does look like gold, and I suppose it would be taken for gold by most people, at first sight.

Bro. A. Then I understand that you are not breaking the commandment laid down by the apostle; you are only pretending to break it. Now, Bro. B., pretending to serve God while you do not mean to serve him in fact is considered a bad thing, but pretending to serve Satan, while in heart you do not mean to serve him, is worse, if possible. To be a hypocrite toward God is bad enough, but to be a hypocrite toward the devil is getting pretty low.

I do not mean that these are the exact words of a conversation which I heard, but the ideas are all the same that were expressed. And is it not a fact that there is a great deal of making believe to serve the devil among those who have purposed in their hearts to serve God alone. Whenever, and in whatever, we hide our faith, or conform to the world to please the world, while yet we profess the faith of the gospel, we are really pretending to serve the devil, for the gratification of his people. It is a humiliating position to occupy, and yet it is one that is easily taken, and probably is often taken unwittingly by those who mean to be consistent and honest in their profession of religion.

The time is coming, and is very near, when every one will have to show his true colors. Persecution is a wonderful sifter, and it will doubtless open the eyes of many to their true condition who were not before aware that they had so greatly compromised their faith to gratify the enemy of their souls. Moses had once to divide the camp of Israel to know who was on the Lord's side. And again the time is near when there will be a discerning between him that serveth the Lord and him that serveth him not.

It is a good plan to “examine yourselves, prove your own selves, whether ye be in the faith.” If this self-examination be done now, if now we put ourselves to the proof, we may correct our errors and get ready for the Judgment. But if it be put off to the examination of that day, no errors can then be corrected, the unrighteous will be unrighteous still. Better be close and severe with ourselves now, than to suffer the severity of that day of wrath.

J. H. W.