p. 165 | The Gospel Hid by John Henry Durland

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 11.

The Gospel Hid.

By John Henry Durland

SOME one asks, Does not the Bible teach that the gospel is hid from some, and they cannot understand it? Such persons generally think they are of this class. They try to avoid the plain truths of God's word by saying it is hid from their eyes, and they cannot see it, hence they are not responsible for not obeying the truth presented before them. But let us look at the text that is supposed to teach their theory. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." 2 Cor. 4:3. If we read the next verse, we will find how it is hid. "In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." The things of this world have such a strong hold upon them that they cannot give them up. They see the truth is very plain, yet how can they accept it and lose their position in life? They cannot have both. They want to be saved, yet, like the young man (Matt. 19:22), they wish to be saved and have the world also. Presently the God of this world makes them believe that they need not be so particular, and thus they become blinded. The gospel is hid from them, their judgment becomes void, and they think that they are all right.

When the claims of the fourth commandment have been presented to people who have been conscientiously observing the first day of the week as the Sabbath, how plain they seem at first. They wonder why they never saw it before. They wish the whole world would see it and change to the right day. But after considering the matter, they see it will interfere with their business affairs. The man in the shop sees that it will take the best day in the week from him, if he obeys what he knows to be God's truth. The mechanic fears he will lose his place, and he cannot see how he may support his family and obey God. The builder does not see how he can obey the truth and carry on his business. After dwelling upon these thoughts for some time they begin to think that God is so merciful that he will save them if they do not do just as he says, when it is so inconvenient. They soon begin to think that it makes no difference which day they observe, although the Bible plainly says the seventh day is the day God has appointed to be observed. Then the world gets so round they cannot observe any day, and time is lost, so they cannot tell which day is the Sabbath. What is the trouble with these persons? The god of this world is blinding their eyes. Their business comes between them and the God of Heaven, and they turn against the light of truth, because it is inconvenient. The same principle is true of every truth that has been presented before the world. The rejection of it has brought darkness, for "he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth."

How many of the readers of this paper have seen light in the articles on the Sabbath question? Have not the evidences produced been so plain that you dare not deny that it is truth? Have you thought that you should obey, but have yielded to convenience? Do you say you would like to keep all of God's commandments, but you do not see how you can and support your family? Ah, be careful, my dear reader! The light is shining upon your pathway, and you may stand still until it passes by, and then you will be left in darkness. "Walk while you have the light," says our Saviour. Trust in his promises and walk out by faith. Do not let Satan deceive you and make you think that God is not particular. God is merciful to those who obey him. "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them." Ps. 103:17, 18. God has not promised to be merciful to those who willfully disobey him.

May the Lord help you, my kind reader, to walk where you can have the blessing of God resting upon you. If his truth is unpopular and it costs all you have, yea, even life itself, step out and trust in him who was able to shut the lions' mouths that they hurt not his servant Daniel. Remember those who stood at the stake and burned to ashes for the precious truth. Are you not willing to suffer something to have a part with them? "Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth."—J. H. Durland, in Present Truth.