p. 115 | Whosoever Will

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 25, 1873

Whosoever Will.

Why is the longing for a full and rich experience in the divine life so often unrealized? Is it not because so many look to themselves and their own efforts for attainment, and forget that it comes by the abounding grace of Christ, that whosoever will may take freely? These two words are a passport to all the privileges of salvation. For you, but not for me, is this blessing, says the fearful and unbelieving soul. But Christ contradicts this with his plain, unqualified declaration. Supposing a fountain were opened in the great desert, would the traveler, parched with thirst, pass it by because he was not by name invited to partake? Would not the fountain itself be an invitation to every thirsty soul? Here is Christ, the fountain of all grace, open to the approach of every living soul, from whom we may all receive, and grace for grace, and yet we hesitate to partake. Ah, there is more involved in that second little word than most are willing to perceive. The trouble is in the will. We voluntarily hold back; we neglect, delay, fail to reach out our hand. What causes this reluctance, this hesitation? Unbelief. What else could restrain us from accepting such royal generosity? We do not believe the fullness, the value, the efficacy of Christ’s salvation, or our absolute need of it. If we did we should run eagerly to the fountain, and drink and drink again, to our utmost satisfaction.

Dear friends, who are looking at the higher life as some grand, glorious gift beyond your attainment, let us say, it is for you, if you will have it. We need not here repeat the gospel invitations: we can not find words to express its exceeding richness and blessing. We weep when we think of the loss to every faint-hearted disciple; we are pained when we see so many such. But what can we do? You must choose, accept, or refuse the blessing, each for himself. God has furnished the needed grace for its attainment, and made it accessible to every one. Whosoever will, receives, and is forever and supremely blest. Alas! Jesus said of some in his own day, “Ye will not.” He would repeat it were he here: “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.”