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Striving

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 26, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 15.

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Striving.

By W. H. Blaisdell

JESUS said, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” Luke 13: 24. By these, and other words of his, we may learn that he designed to impress upon our minds the truthful fact that if we would walk in the narrow way that leads to everlasting life, it would require our greatest efforts. His apostles taught the same fact, and compared the struggle to running a race, engaging in battle, fighting a warfare, &c., always setting forth the idea that those who indulge in carelessness, indifference, and stupidity, cannot be successful in the Christian warfare.
On the other hand, we may learn from the Scripture that it will cost no great effort to walk securely in the road that leads to destruction. Not much exertion need be made to insure the success, such as it is, of those who chose to walk in the broad way.
If they simply stay away from the light and neglect to interest themselves in the truth, destruction will be their sure portion. Heb. 2: 3.
But there are many persons who act as if they were determined to be lost and were striving hard to have it so.
They take special pains to oppose the truth and are very persistent in watching and finding fault with God's people, and often make themselves much inconvenience and even expense that they may hinder the advancement of the cause of truth and hedge up the way of those who are striving to do right.
They act as if they feared they should be saved and thought there was a probability of its being so, unless they strove hard to avoid it.
To such it might be said, that they are taking too much pains and are making needless efforts to secure the end they appear to have in view.
They are in the broad way that leads to destruction, and will no doubt find its end without any such extraordinary efforts. Oh! that they might see the folly of their present course, speedily repent and strive as hard to promote the cause of truth as they now do to hinder its progress.
Let those who claim to be walking in the narrow way remember the words of Jesus if they would gain the reward of the overcomer. “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” W. H. BLAISDELL.