p. 588 | HELP FOR THE HELPLESS by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1901

HELP FOR THE HELPLESS.

By Uriah Smith

THAT “man’s necessity is God’s opportunity,” is a saying that is as true as it is trite. In Isa. 59:16 we read: “And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him.”

Thus the Scriptures represent that the very reason why the Son of God gave himself to humility and sacrifice, for man’s salvation, was the fact that man had reduced himself by sin to a state of utter helplessness. There was no man who could save, and therefore Christ appeared for our redemption.

The Laodiceans (Rev. 3:15–17) are represented as being in a state of wretchedness and helplessness, which, it seems, would appeal in the same way to the compassion and help of the Lord. So it has, and Christ for the same reason has offered us the assistance we need. But Christ undertook man’s redemption before man had felt his need or sought His help. Will He not therefore send help when we do feel the need of it, and seek Him for it? And if His love and compassion were so great, may not every one who seeks divine aid be sure it will be granted? The True Witness, therefore, comes forth and offers us all that we need—gold, white raiment, eyesalve—if we will accept it, without money and without price, at His hands. U. S.