p. 175 | Clinging to Christ by Angelia J. Edmunds

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1875

Clinging to Christ.

By Angelia J. Edmunds

I lately saw a beautiful, thrifty English ivy, which had been placed by a loving hand beneath a life-like picture of a dearly cherished friend, that it might, with its clinging tendrils, twine round and round that form. This, I thought, is emblematic of the pure affections of a human heart, which is ever reaching out and in tender ties twining itself around the loved ones in our household.

The sight suggested that soon that picture may be removed, and that lovely vine with its shining leaves lie withered and broken.

Our dear friends, who have been the objects of our affection year after year, upon whom we have leaned for support, forming from time to time new ties that, like the loving tendrils of the vine, more closely unite our hearts to theirs, may be, by the ruthless hand of death, torn from us, and laid in the silent tomb, leaving us alone. May we ever remember not to place our affections and lean too much upon our earthly friends for support.

There is a ladder to sustain us—true holiness, reaching from earth to Heaven. Each member of the home circle united to Christ may reach out the tendrils of a pure affection and twine them around this ladder to all eternity. How beautiful to commence this work in early youth, that innocence and purity may not be marred by wrong habits.

If the Father permits one of these living branches to be covered by the earth for a little while, it will spring forth, like the lovely ivy, with fresh beauty and vigor in the resurrection morn. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”

Afflicted ones, united to the Living Vine, clinging to the ladder of holiness. In this Vine you need not lie withered and broken, but you may lift up your heads and rejoice; for Jesus will soon descend with the trump of God, and the sleeping saints shall awake, and we shall be changed, and caught up with them in the air, and ever be with the Lord.

Jesus will soon be seen upon the white cloud, with a crown upon his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. If in that day it shall be found that we have been pruned off from the Living Vine because we do not bear good fruit, but belong to the “vine of the earth,” having our affections twined around earthly objects forgetful of Heaven, we shall be cast “into the great wine-press of the wrath of God.” “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” Unconverted friend, come to the living waters. Unite yourself to the Living Vine, that when Christ who is our life shall appear, ye also may appear with him in glory.

“Behold a lovely vine, Here in this desert ground ; The blossoms shoot, and promise fruit, And tender grapes are found, “ Its circling branches rise, And shade the neighboring lands, With lovely charms she spreads her arms, With clusters in her hands. “The Saviour is the vine, The branches are his church— Let each abide in Christ the Lord, And bear the precious fruit. “The city of our God, Is built on Zion’s hill— The dazzling light it shines so bright, It doth the valleys fill. “Ye trees, in order stand— And stars with sparkling light, Ye Christians, hear, both far and near, ’Tis joy to see the sight.”

ANGELIA J. EDMUNDS. Bedford, Mich.