Things Written by A. H. Vankirk

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 29, 1875

“Things Written.”

By A. H. Vankirk

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15: 4.

In this passage of Scripture, thoughts of the greatest importance are suggested, and of a nature that ought to awaken in the breasts of all feelings of earnest inquiry. Here we are directed to that source of all hope, Christ, and here it is that we may obtain a knowledge that will be comforting to the soul. “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning”—written that we might gain a true knowledge of the will of our Heavenly Father concerning us.

“Knowledge is power,” and may there not, then, lie hidden in these aforetime-written things a knowledge that will give the learner such a power as can be obtained from no other source? To the humble and sincere Christian, one who has had experience in the things of God, the only acceptable answer is, Yes. But do we all understand the kind of learning to which Paul refers? Have not many fallen in with the idea that the learning spoken of is of an exemplary or historical nature, and written to inform later generations of what men in those times did, what mistakes they made, what sins were reproved, what trials were endured, &c.?

That the scope of the Scriptures embraces these things, none will dispute; but that this is all, the close reader of sacred lore is forced to deny. The subsequent words of the text under consideration prove that more than this is embraced in the teachings of the Bible; for we may through patience and comfort of these very Scriptures have hope. Indeed, hope seems to be made very prominent in the text, and it is that upon which all its considerations depend, and this hope, the text says, we may gain a knowledge of in those things that were written aforetime for our learning.

Hope is defined to be expectation joined with desire. We ask, then, What is there in the Scriptures that is able to inspire hope in our hearts? According to the words of Christ, the Jews had hope of eternal life through the teachings of the Scriptures. He did not reprove them for this hope, and by his silence on this point we may safely believe that he approved of it. If, then, a knowledge of an eternal existence, of an endless life, is to be derived from their perusal, what a comfort there is in them.

Let us consider the elements of hope. These, as before stated, are desire and expectation. Desire springs from surrounding circumstances. Now, are we not placed in a world where, according to our better reason and judgment, there are things not just right? Does not the true Christian daily, not only around, but within, himself see things occur that sicken the heart, thus kindling within him a strong desire for something better, for a world where all is bright, and where sin and unrighteousness are not known?

This desire having been created, is it at all unreasonable that we should look about ourselves to discover, if possible, evidences that we may realize that desire? Certainly not. But where look for the desired information? In nature, says the naturalist. But when death summons him, all seems dark. He who has trusted so much to nature, as it is termed, to enlighten him, has a hope that is truly fallacious; one that carries him to the dark portals of death, and there deserts him, leaving him in despair. No; finite man may boast as he will of the revelations of nature, but in regard to evidences of a future life, they are a blank. With all his intellect, Ethan Allen failed to find here a satisfying hope. Although he trusted so much to “reason and nature,” on his death-bed he is said to have told his daughter to heed the instructions of her mother, who rested her hope on the Scriptures alone.

Shall we not go, then, to the Scriptures, which Paul tells us are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”? They certainly contain the things that were written aforetime, and through them we have hope of eternal life. Now, in order to inspire a hope of this kind, they must contain evidences that such a desire may be fulfilled.

That all desire eternal life, none will dispute; and that all may have it is amply set forth in the Bible. The following passage, found in 1 Tim. 2: 4, contains testimony on this point: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” This salvation can only be obtained by patient continuance in well-doing. (Rom. 2: 7.) If, as some affirm, we already have immortality, or eternal life, there is no need that we continue in well-doing to gain it, and therefore here is a portion of Scripture that is not profitable to us. If we already possess immortality

or eternal life, it is no more a matter of hope; for Paul says, Rom. 8: 24, “But hope that is seen [or known] is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” and in the next verse he says, “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Would it not be better, then, to wait patiently in the comfort of the Scriptures for that hope which is to be realized in the future, when life shall be given us at the glorious revelation of Christ?

For further evidence that this hope has not been realized, we will resort again to that fountain of real knowledge, the Scriptures. In Job 4: 17, we find the following question: “Shall mortal man be more just than God?” Job here calls man mortal, and he must necessarily mean the thinking, intelligent part, as that, and that alone, can be just or unjust. But we are not left in the dark in regard to the meaning. In verse 19, we read that this man dwells in a house of clay. Here is most positive testimony in regard to our circumstances contained in things that were written aforetime for our learning. What greater evidence is needed to create a desire for something better? Surely, those who believe in the inherent immortality of man are mistaken, and they have no true hope.

Further evidence that our departed ones, the dead, have not realized this hope, or its fruition, is found in Job 14: 21: “His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.” Now if immortality is inherent in man, and his intelligent existence continues after death, why may he not know of the trials of his sons who are left to battle with the realities of this world? Because, says the psalmist, in the day that his breath goeth forth, “his thoughts perish.” Read Ps. 146: 3, 4. Thought is an essential property of the mind, and an essential property cannot become extinct unless the thing to which it belongs becomes so.

We now have evidences that awaken a desire for eternal life, and will proceed to look for evidences upon which to base expectation. If these can be found, then we can indeed have hope through the things written in the Scriptures. David had very high expectations in his heart when he exclaimed, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Ps. 17: 15. The beloved disciple bears a similar testimony in 1 John 3: 2: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Paul also, Phil. 3: 21, confirms the above in the words, “Who [Christ] shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.” 1 John 3: 3.

What reasons had these worthies for this strong hope—the strongest in the world? They had been eye-witnesses of the power of Christ in raising the dead to life; had seen him go into the grave; had talked with and handled him after his resurrection; had heard him say that he would also raise his followers “up at the last day.” What more was needed to convince them? Admitting their testimony to be true, we may rest in the blessed expectation of a realization of our desires of a better life; and if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we can also rest assured that he will, when he comes, bring all the sleeping believers with him. Says Christ, “To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Rev. 2: 7. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Chap. 3: 21.

Reader, let the uppermost thought of your mind be the hope of eternal life. Overcome, and with all the redeemed share with Christ eternal blessedness in his everlasting kingdom.

A. H. Vankirk.