Way-Marks by C. O. Taylor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 3, 1872

Way-Marks.

By C. O. Taylor

MILE-STONES along the highway, and light-houses on the rock-bound coast, are very important to the weary traveler and weather-beaten mariner. They serve several purposes. They tell the traveler how far he has come, how much farther he has to go. In addition, the light-house points out the dangers to the sailor. He has long been separated from loved ones. He would reach the harbor. He would not shipwreck now. He strains his vision forward until he catches a glimpse of light. Though dim at first, he does not lose sight of it. His safety depends on keeping it in view and sailing by it. He is coming nearer to it. It affords him ample light. He is safe while by it. It is now at his side. He has passed it. It is in the rear, now far in the distance. He still steers by it. He watches it till nearly lost to sight.

He casts his eye forward, and beholds another. He now directs his course by it, as he did by the first. He continues to see light after light. He governs by each as by the first. He keeps his course by these lights till the last is passed, and he drops anchor in the safe harbor, or rounds the pier and is safe from every storm and danger. His safety and that of others depends on his watching. He knows it. Though his eye is heavy at times, still he watches. Though the night be long and dark, he watches.

What the mile-stones are to the traveler, and the light-houses to the sailor, the prophetic word of God is to the church of Christ. As the former is in great danger without these, so is the latter. These lights are placed by the government. The great Governor of all worlds has placed lights and way-marks all along the stream of time, to warn the church of dangers, and to bring her safe to the rest that remains for her. He has increased these lights, as the church gets nearer home, or comes into the perils of the last days. Of the many, we have only time to mention one, “The angry nations.” Rev. 11: 18. By looking, we can but see that this light-house to the church is far down the coast of time; what follows is the wrath of God, the Judgment, the giving reward to the good and bad. Look where you will, north, south, east, or west, where there is a nation, and this light-house has been in sight for the last fifteen or twenty years. We need not go from our own nation to see a clear fulfillment of this prophecy. I copy a part of a correspondence written from Albany, N. Y., to the Jefferson County Journal, which utters the feelings of thousands in every nation:

“Arriving in Albany, I found that a good deal was being said about the Alabama claim, and the prospects of a war with England. Not a man have I heard say, ‘Let us have peace,’ even if it must be bought by a little backing down on the part of the American people. The word of our President has gone forth, and there is not a man in the country that will not fight, if need be, to back it up.”

The talk of fighting shows the pent-up feelings that will have vent when the church has passed another light, now in sight. Rev. 7:1. We see the red torch of war, when nations will have fighting to their full, and will wipe each other out on the bloody plains of Armageddon. Jer. 25:15–33. C. O. TAYLOR.