The Good Cause by G. V. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1875

The Good Cause.

By G. V. Kilgore

Much has been said and written by competent persons concerning the importance of being zealous in the cause, and therefore I do not expect to advance new ideas. But it seems that something ought to be said or done to awaken us all to greater earnestness in the work which God has given us to do. We have been stirred at times by thrilling testimonies from those who are alive in the cause, and have vowed that we would be more active. But how often the words are repeated, “I have not done as much as I might and should have done.”

When the work is all accomplished, when the time for gathering souls is passed, there is to be a company to whom it can and will be said, “Well done, good and faithful servants.” But this never will be said to those whose desires to do well have not been strong enough to prompt them to action.

Well, why not all be alive and active in the service of our Master? Why are we not so much interested in our eternal welfare as to make it the principal theme of conversation? Why do we not think more upon our Redeemer’s love for us? All say, It is because our affections cling to earth. Now, when we know the state we are in and the reason that we are in this condition, it seems we ought to be able, not of ourselves, but through the Lord who is so willing to help us, to arouse from the stupor into which a great many of us have fallen.

The day of the Lord is not far in the future! Many of us have professed the truth for years. Are we ready? Will the next equal number of years find us as much better than we are now as our present condition is better than our condition when we first believed? If so, will that preparation secure to us eternal life? Oh! it will not do to let this world blind our eyes and cheat us out of a place in that glorious eternal world to come.

We have come to a time when there is a good chance for all to take part in spreading the light of truth. Since we rejoice that we have found such a harmonious line of Bible knowledge, and since we should love our neighbors as we do ourselves, how can we refrain from putting forth helping hands to forward the good cause, and bless others as we have been blessed?

Let us cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, that we may be fit bearers of God’s precious truth. Every one of us can do something. Though we may not be gifted with the power of speech sufficient to labor in word, there are other ways in which we can do good. Tracts placed in the hands of individuals do a great deal of good sometimes. Many have been brought to acknowledge and obey the truth by reading. Of course, the majority reject the teachings of these little pages, and some refuse even to read them, but this is no reason why we should neglect the work of distributing them. It is our duty to place the light within reach of the people, that they may receive it or become responsible for their own ignorance or unbelief.

Do we think our time so precious, and our home cares so great, that we cannot afford to carry tracts around and visit neighbors? Are we afraid somebody will think we are in small business? Oh! think what Jesus did to save us. He left

the glory he had with the Father before the world was and came down to earth. What did men think of him? The first place allotted to him was not even a common inn, but a manger. The last place that nobles of this earth deemed him worthy of was on a rough cross with cruel nails driven through his flesh.

Are we ashamed to own our Lord or to defend his cause? The story of the cross is become, with many of us, as a tale that was told and is forgotten. Nevertheless, “this same Jesus” is coming again, not to be driven out of the inn, not to be nailed to the cross; but he is coming as “King of kings and Lord of lords,” to dash the kingdoms of earth with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. “Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?”

Let us be diligent in his service, and honor him now, that he may spare us in the day of his wrath.

G. V. KILGORE.

State Center, Iowa.