Faithfulness by A. M. L.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 4, 1873

Faithfulness.

By A. M. L.

Should those professing present truth be individually faithful in all their callings, what a mighty phalanx of power it would be to bring against the works of the enemy! How mightily would the Lord work with them to bring the truth before the honest ones, who have not as yet heard the warning! The truth is a powerful lever in our hands for good, if by a holy example and apostolic faith we can recommend it to others. What incentive to faithfulness can be instituted that has not already been brought to bear upon us? God has done all on his part that can be done, until we act more fully on our part. There is opportunity for us, from day to day, of proving our calling, and how will it foot up at the last? Will it be time wasted? opportunities for doing good thrown away? Will our conversation be on subjects that will have a scattering influence, dividing our affections, leaving but half, if even that, for God? No language can express the importance of this time, the importance of a thorough work on our part. The young can shed a good influence for the truth, if they have been rightly trained. Young men and young women who have their hearts in the work can accomplish much; and how sweet the savor that will arise from such labor; while those with a larger experience and capacity, on whom the harness rests not too lightly, may each be a father and mother in Israel, and help to push forward the cause in all its departments. Perhaps even the aged are not aware how much they can severally do. They have long trodden the pathway of life, and their testimony has a peculiar weight, as it shows the value of their experience in addition to the preciousness of the truth.

An aged friend, now nearly eighty years of age, comes to mind as I write, who, some twenty years ago, embraced present truth. Her attention was called to it by her daughter, a Sabbath-keeper, who often talked with her on the subject. She said to herself, “Either I am right, and A. is wrong, or, A. is right, and I am wrong.” She at once commenced an investigation of the Sabbath question, reading the New Testament through in search of that one text for Sunday-keeping, which, as she reached the closing chapter of the Revelation, she found had never been there, or had mysteriously disappeared. No foothold now for Sunday observance; but on the contrary, the clear truth shone out that there was no proof that God had repealed any part of the ten commandments; consequently, they were yet binding. She at once obeyed; and when visited by the minister and deacons of the church of which she was a member, stated to them her convictions and begged for a release from the Presbyterian church. They were unwilling to give her up, and held her name a number of years. Copies of the REVIEW were scattered by her at every opportunity. Meetings were held at the school house in her neighborhood, and the ministers of other denominations visited her. Her views were always set before them. On one occasion, she read to them some articles in the REVIEW, and said, “I wish the people could hear that.” Said they, “Come down this evening and read it to us,” thinking perhaps that she would not have confidence. But faithful to the invitation given, evening found her at the school-house with her paper. After the sermon, an opportunity was given her, and moving forward to the desk, she read the articles, and followed with an exhortation. And many will long remember her earnest words during those meetings.

She stood alone, but let her light shine. Addicted from an early age to the use of snuff, the filthy habit, was no sooner seen and realized, than it was laid aside forever. Efforts to break from the use of tea, though at a later date, were alike successful. Those who were at the N. Y. camp-meeting, the past summer, will remember her childlike, yet earnest, heartfelt testimony on the point. Said a sister, in a letter, a few days since, “I can think just how her sweet testimony sounded.” A church of Sabbath-keepers now meets weekly in the house where she has lived for over fifty years. I have related this simply to show the bearing which the example of the aged may have, and the influence they can exert. Let us all be encouraged to act well our part. A. M. L.