Streator, Ill., June 30, 1871 by R. F. Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 11, 1871

Streator, Ill., June 30, 1871

By R. F. Andrews

Inconsistency.

THE outward acts are an index to the heart; and the true condition of our hearts is shown by the daily acts of life. Quite often our actions contradict our words, or, in other words, our lives give the lie to our profession. I have known individuals who professed to love God, and who have testified that it was their chief pleasure to do his will, but who, when the claims of his holy law have been presented before them, have tried every way possible to evade its claims, contradicting their own positions, and giving evidence that in their hearts they were hostile to it.

It quite often happens that those who have never made a profession of religion, when they hear the arguments in favor of the immutability of the law of the Most High, and its binding force upon the children of men, will tremblingly turn their feet away from the Sabbath, and make an effort to regard the day as sacred to the Lord. Such a course evinces that the fear of the Lord is not entirely banished from the mind, and that the law has been doing its work of conviction upon the heart and conscience. Now how it looks right here at this point, for an individual who professes to be a servant of the Lord to assail such an one thus: “It will do you no good to keep the Sabbath without you keep all the other commandments perfectly.” This, although in one sense true, shows hostility to the commandments of God.

Suppose an individual who had been in the habit of profaning God’s name, stealing, or testifying falsely, should be awakened to a true sense of his terrible condition and make an effort in the fear of God to put these sins away, and to lead a life of obedience; how it would sound for a professed lover of Jesus Christ to come and say to such, “It will do you no good to stop swearing, stealing, or lying, without you keep all the other commandments.” Would we not think that the one who would do this was discouraging a trembling soul who was making an effort to extricate himself from the snares of the adversary? Notwithstanding his professed devotion and love for Christ and his cause, we should regard him as a real enemy in thus discouraging and weakening the hands of one who was making an effort to be on the Lord’s side.

Now is it consistent to talk in this manner to individuals who are endeavoring to cease their violation of the fourth commandment, when we would shudder to do so, if any other commandment were the one in question? How much better it would be, to encourage such to take hold of the service of God with all the heart, and to come out fully on the Lord’s side. Paul says that “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7. Oh! that we might heed the exhortation of the word of God, and keep the heart “with all diligence,” remembering “that out of it are the issues of life.” R. F. ANDREWS.