BE ZEALOUS by G. | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 17, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 51.

“BE ZEALOUS.”

By G.

The zeal of superstition, a zeal “not according to knowledge,” is well illustrated in all heathen religions. A letter from Mrs. J. N. Anderson, missionary in Hong Kong, China, to the Mission Board, gives an example. She remarks that it is a touching scene to see the poor Chinese, after the day’s work is done and the evening meal is over, sitting about or lying on their backs on a rush matting, beside two or three sticks of burning incense, and chanting prayers to Joss. “They seem so earnest in their worship of ‘they know not what.’ One man who is a Christian, but whose wife is still a heathen, says she often spends almost a whole night in religious exercises. When a member of the family is ill, she waits to implore or propitiate Joss; in times of prosperity she thanks him.”

Of all sad things in this sad world, one of the saddest is the hypnotic influence of the enemy of souls over the devotees of error. If all who profess the religion of Jesus Christ could be inspired with a like zeal for the truth, a like earnestness in the worship of God, a like desire to be at peace with Him, to exemplify His life, and thus advance His cause and kingdom in the earth, what a marvelous light would be thrown over the regions of darkness and superstition! The Lord is now saying to His people:—

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Isa. 60:1–3.

“The zeal of the Lord of hosts” alone can accomplish His great work in the earth. May His people be more and more inspired with it. Only through such zeal as was manifested by the Master Workman, the great Head of the body, can His disciples hope to cope with the zeal of the enemy and come off victorious. “Be zealous therefore, and repent.”