p. 8 (104) | HOPEFULNESS by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 13, 1901

HOPEFULNESS

By T.

Why look on the gloomy side of things and become pessimistic, morbid, and morose? What if things are going wrong in the world? There is a Father in heaven who lives and reigns, and He has cheer, and hope, and comfort for every soul that will come to Him.

He earnestly invites us all to come, but He will coerce no one. He presents the reasons why we should come, He urges us to accept the shelter that He provides, but He can not compel us to enter. To do that would be to deprive us of our freedom, and He will not do that.

The hearts of some who will read these lines will be failing them for fear. If you ask why we know this, the reason is at hand: We are living in the very time when the prophetic Word of God says there shall be “upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21: 25, 26.

There are things coming on the earth to-day that are causing men's hearts to fail. God said that it would be so, and we see that it is truly the case. Some are distressed because of the wars that are springing up in every part of the world. They eagerly and anxiously ask, What does it mean? Has peace departed from the earth nevermore to return? Will all the world be involved in war, and our homes be broken up by the storming of shot and shell?

But do not be disturbed by these things. Do not become gloomy and pessimistic. The Lord Jesus Christ is the rightful Ruler, and He holds the reins of power in His hands. His kingdom is the kingdom of peace. There will be no shade of anything in His fair domain that will in any degree savor of war or strife or bloodshed. And He tells us that this war spirit that is in the world to-day, is nothing more than the last great effort of Satan to destroy as many as possible. But the Lord will shield every one who trusts Him, and while He is thus shielding us, He is pointing us forward to the glories of His own soon coming in the clouds of heaven, at which time He will destroy every bit of this war evil, and bring in the reign of peace. Is it not grand to think of it, and to know that instead of the war in the world to-day being a necessary omen of destruction, it is a sign to us of the end of strife and the near approach of the time when Christ is to be crowned King?

A letter from a friend a day or so since asked the question, “Is crime as rampant in your part of the country as it is here? Things are in a terrible condition in this place. Murders and robberies and evils of every sort are filling the days with terror. What are we coming to?” When we think of the crime that is being committed in these days, and consider the possibility of our being victimized by it, it does indeed put a gloomy aspect over the world unless we know the significance of it. But if we know that all these crimes are the result of Satan's last malignant effort against Christ and His cause, and that soon the Lord will come in person to put an end to all this evil, then the gloom is completely driven away.

Those who will not yield themselves to the ways of the Lord's righteousness, in the very nature of things must become the instruments of Satan in filling the world with evil and woe. But Satan can not force the mind or the hand of a single soul. We will have to yield to him before he can fill us with gloom and terror. But, contrariwise, every one who yields himself to the Lord will have his mind kept in perfect peace. He will look at things just as they are and see everything in its true light. He will know that everything will not be allowed to go to pieces, but that God will save, yes, everlastingly save, every soul that will give Him the opportunity.

These are days of gloominess only for those who look to the things as they appear to human eyes. He who reads the sure word of prophecy and knows its glorious meaning has the positive evidence that the glory of all the ages is just at hand. These are the grandest days that have existed since God first spoke the light into existence. The coming of Christ is right at hand, and this is a theme to ravish the soul with the highest and fullest emotions of joy. Every nook and corner of the mind is set to vibrating with delight by the knowledge of the fact that He who is the Friend of sinners, He who is the Prince of Peace, He who is Lord of lords, and He who is King of righteousness, is about to return in person to the earth.

Let the men who can not look above the things of the earth have their hearts harrowed and broken because of the fear of the things that are coming upon this earth. But the child of God should be so filled with the spirit of joy as to carry light and cheer and sunshine with him everywhere he goes. Like his Master he should be able to say:—

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness; the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.” Isa. 61: 1-3.

There is balm in Gilead; there is joy for every mourner; there is comfort for every one who is distressed because of the conditions of this time. Let us receive these blessed assurances from the living Word of the living God, and no longer be among the mourners and the gloomy, pessimistic ones, but among those who are spreading joy and gladness.