Who Will Stand the Test?
By W. H. Blasdell
We often hear fears expressed by brethren and sisters that they shall not be able to resist all the temptations that await them in the future and be overcomers when the great trial and final test shall be brought to bear upon them. There are other persons who have been convinced of the truth and convicted of their duty to obey, but have suffered darkness to some degree to come upon them because they refused to walk in the light, who seem to have but little, if any, such fear. They say they intend to wait and see if this nation ever takes the position which teachers of present truth say it will take, and that, if it does, and they see that the image beast is formed, and obedience to his authority is required, and the Sabbath question becomes the great and final test, they shall then decide in favor of the truth and go with the people of God. Let us illustrate these two cases in the following manner:— Suppose two young men enter school to engage for the first time in the study of arithmetic. One enters the primary class, and patiently and faithfully studies the introductory rules. And while he makes sure and thorough progress, it appears to him that he advances very slowly, and he often says, I find all I can understand and comprehend here in these problems in the first part of the book, I fear that when I get over to the very hard problems of the last part of the book, I shall not be able to understand them or make any progress whatever. The other thinks the introductory rules are of too little importance for him to spend his time in their study, and concludes to wait till the class advances to the most difficult rules of the latter part, thinking that they are all he needs to learn, and that he will then join the class and be fully able in a short time to master them, thus expecting to get a knowledge of arithmetic, and gain as great advantages therefrom, as he who has studied long and hard in learning the rules of the whole book. The one works his way along, and in due time arrives at the place where the other thinks he might better commence, and having faithfully conquered and overcome the former rules, he is now fully prepared to understand the latter, and he finds that he is now just as capable of solving and comprehending the problems here, as he was where he first commenced. The other undertakes to join his comrade and finds himself entirely puzzled. That which one can readily understand is all perfect darkness to the other. The one passes on and receives a just reward—the other gives up in discouragement. Thus, brethren and sisters, will it be with us. If we overcome daily, and patiently and faithfully learn the lessons of the present, and gain an experience with the people of God, and become acquainted with the wiles of Satan, continually walking in the light as it shines upon our pathway, we shall be just as well prepared to overcome in the greater trials of the future, as we are now to overcome those of the present. Let us remember that it depends on our faithfulness from day to day till the victory is finally gained. But he who rejects present light, and neglects to learn the lessons which God assigns him now, will not be likely to understand those of the future, nor be able to resist the greater temptations of that time at which he thinks to unite himself with those who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”