Gathering with Christ by Ester Olsen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1873

Gathering with Christ.

By Ester Olsen

When Christ was on earth, he wrought many miracles, so many that the scribes and Pharisees feared his influence on the people. They were greatly troubled when they found that he was mightier than they, and that so many people believed on him and turned from their doctrines and practices; and they accused him of many things and sought to slay him. Thus they did because they could not bear the plain teachings of Christ and the word of truth.

Jesus could read their hearts. He knew how they loved Satan’s delusions and hated the light that he had brought into the world, and he often reproved them for their unbelief and hardness of heart.

On one occasion, when replying to them, he said: “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad.”

And now the question comes home with force to each of us, In which class am I? Am I gathering with Christ? or am I scattering abroad? Does my influence tell on the side of truth? or on the side of error? We cannot stand on neutral ground. We are either for Christ or against him. We are either seeking our own benefit, or, like our perfect Pattern, seeking to do good to others. Jesus came to save the lost. He toiled, and suffered, and denied self. Let us examine our own hearts and see if we are willing to work. James says that “faith without works is dead,” and I really think that is one reason why so many are troubled with unbelief. They are not willing to work or suffer, but think that the Lord can do it all. We cannot stand still in our spiritual experience. We are either moving forward or backward. The enemy is always at work, and when we are off our watch he takes the advantage of us and leads us into error.

How necessary, then, that we are always watchful, that we work for Jesus, and that we strive to gather with him. However high or low our station in life may be, we all can do something. We are responsible for the light that is given us; for Christ says to us, as well as to his first disciples, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” He has not placed us here to live for self, and benefit only self; but, as he sends light to shine upon our pathway, he wants us to give it to those around us in our daily life and by our example. This we shall do, if our life is hid with Christ in God.

When we closely examine ourselves, are our walk and conversation such as becometh Christians? Christ says that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” The psalmist says, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.”

Again, Christ says, “The tree is known by its fruit.” And so are we known, not by what we say in meeting, not by our long and well-repeated prayers, but by our daily walk and conversation. How earnestly we should strive to keep our hearts right, to be cleansed from all sin, to possess that lowly spirit which the Saviour had, and to have the love of God abiding in us, so that we can bear fruit to the honor and glory of God, and by our example can save some poor, wandering soul.

Jesus came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and on our account he has been tempted and tried, and has suffered the most shameful death. He has said that through him we can have eternal life, but it is on condition. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Let us crucify self, pride, and vanity, and live humble, so that we can have a gathering influence on those around us, and bring perishing souls to Christ. Let us honor him with our lives, so that it may be said of us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

ESTER OLSEN.

Battle Creek.