JUMPING THE CLAIM by R. M. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 21, 1872

JUMPING THE CLAIM

By R. M. Kilgore

Homesteads.

Since the enactment of a law providing for settlers to take homesteads, many have come to this State to secure for themselves homes. By paying a small sum and living on their claim five years, they are then entitled to a deed from the government.

But any failure on their part to comply with the law before their time expires, they forfeit the whole and lose all they have done on it and what was paid to obtain it. Another party may be watching, and seeing a failure can embrace the opportunity, and that legally, too, of

“JUMPING THE CLAIM.”

He now comes in possession of all that the former had, but such as he can move away, without any remuneration whatever, simply by proving that the conditions of the law had not been fulfilled. These he must now do before he can get a clear title.

In some cases, both of these parties are building, ploughing and planting at the same time, side by side, striving to obtain evidence of their right and title to the land, and generally the latter obtains the victory.

As an example, I relate the following which was told me by a brother who lately embraced the Sabbath, giving me his experience in homesteading. After paying for his “filing papers” he built and moved on his claim. He then improved it and lived on it as his home, the full time required by law. But during this time he was one year drowned out by high water, and another, his house, stable, and hay were burned to the ground by the prairie fires. This of course prevented him from actually living on it for a short time while he could build another house. Another man taking advantage of his misfortune “jumped” his claim, wrested it from him and compelled him to leave all that he had done without compensation.

From this I have thought that a good lesson might be drawn for all those who are seeking for a “home in Heaven.”

It is often the case with those who have “put on Christ” and “have been baptized into his death” that they act as though they had already read their “title clear to mansions in the skies;” that it was no longer a matter of uncertainty, that their claim could not now be contested or their right disputed.

But this cannot be true. Although the first steps in the Christian journey have been taken, unless the last ones have been measured off, no reward will be given. There are conditions here, also to be complied with in order to make sure the inheritance. The terms of the gospel are easy, but they must be fulfilled. Our duty is to accept of the plan and not make one for ourselves. “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.” Matt. 7 : 21.

This teaches us that there is something for the Christian to do as well as to profess. Though it is a matter of vast importance to know that we have been “born again,” for without this no man can see the kingdom of God, John 3 : 3, yet we are informed by the divine Teacher who says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me;” Luke 9 : 23. The crown will be placed upon the brow of him who has sought for it by “patient continuance in well doing.”

One condition upon which the exalted privilege of seeing the Lord is based, is “holiness” which the apostle exhorts us to “follow after.” Christ promises the same blessing to the “pure in heart.” If we would reign with him, the condition is “suffer.” In order to sit with Christ upon his throne and “inherit all things,” it is “overcome.” To fulfill these, our trust must be in Him who says, “My grace is sufficient.”

The apostle Peter, in speaking of those to whom are given “exceeding great and precious promises” that by these they “might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” commands them to do something more. “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be idle (margin) nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 1:4–11.

Many read this last verse, and many more, from the manner in which they act, I am inclined to think, believe it, as if it read: “For so an abundant entrance shall be administered into the kingdom.” This conveys a very different idea from what the apostle intended, making the way easy and the entrance wide, while Christ has said: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (i. e., one difficult of entrance), “for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13 : 24. But Peter’s language is that the entrance shall be abundantly ministered into the everlasting kingdom only upon the conditions, “If ye do these things.”

The Christian’s term of service is as long as life shall last. Though he may have passed through perils of fire and water, or persecution, unless he shall continue to wrestle against flesh and blood and the powers of darkness, he will fall short of the inheritance of the faithful. The crown of righteousness will be worn by those who have fought the good fight and obtained the victory over every fault. It is not enough for him to know the truth, but he must be sanctified through it. “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

R. M. Kilgore.

Nebraska.