Be in Earnest by M. Wood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 14, 1872

Be in Earnest.

By M. Wood

THE reason why so little good is accomplished by professing Christians may be owing to their own defect of character. They are not awake to the perils of the last days. They have not that purity of heart from whence all outward holiness proceeds. When we read the acts of the apostles and the epistles which they wrote to the several churches, we cannot but be struck with their zeal and earnestness, the spirituality of mind, the purity of heart, the simplicity of spirit, the contempt of the world, the patience under suffering, the love of the brethren, the oneness of purpose, in leading souls to Jesus, the dependence on the Saviour which appeared so conspicuous in their lives and actions, and which caused them to shine as lights in the world.

All who beheld them were constrained to confess they were not as other men. They saw the change, and persecuted them for it. But now the shades of difference between many professed followers of Jesus and the men of the world are so faint that it requires the Sabbath day to discover the line of separation.

Inward purity and outward sanctity are true marks of God's children. If we are pure hearted, we shall go to work in earnest, and strive, by a life of devotion and consecration to God, to lead some precious soul to Jesus. The path of the Christian may be rough and thorny; it may be filled with doubts and fears, trials, troubles, and discouragements, but the gospel abounds with rich promises unto the hungry souls who seek the Lord whole-heartedly, and keep all his (God's) commandments. Jesus pronounced his first blessing upon the poor in spirit, his last, upon those who keep the commandments of God. What rich promises are made in the gospel to the faithful, earnest, honest Christian! The Scriptures abound with beautiful descriptions of the privileges and blessings which are the portion of every faithful follower of Jesus.

M. WOOD.