Shall We Inherit? by D. F. Quinby

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 5, 1873

Shall We Inherit?

By D. F. Quinby

How fearful the thought, that we may reject the counsel of God against ourselves, and, though innumerable opportunities have been afforded us for securing an inheritance with the saints, we may, by our neglect, come short of the grace of life, and have to say, “The summer [of opportunities] is past; the harvest is ended, and we are not saved.” How much of regret, and how long it may continue, before we are swept with the besom of destruction, we do not know. But “he that knoweth his Master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.” So much has God given us to know from his own record.

It may be well, then, for us to impress on our hearts the fact, that grace may be received in vain. Even the grace of God as revealed in, and through, Christ, may be rendered all powerless to save, if we neglect so great salvation. It is not necessary for us to become noted for sin and wickedness that we may suffer loss, yea, utter destruction. Simply disregard God’s mercies, slight his proffered grace, and move on as we list, giving no attention to the requirements of our merciful God, and we as effectually treasure for ourselves wrath, and lay up in store for ourselves indignation, tribulation, and anguish, as we should if we were violent in our transgressions, and determined to follow a course of sin and wrong.

Let our all, then, be laid on God’s altar, and let us approach the throne of his grace, and earnestly cry unto him who is able to save, unto the uttermost, all who come to him in humility, confessing all wrongs, all sin, and looking by faith to the Strong for strength, to the Merciful for mercy and salvation; yea, for every grace that is needed in order to a life of devotion to God here, and a successful journey to the rest that remaineth for the people of God. Let our souls be lifted up in the prayer of faith, that he that succoreth the tried and tempted may lay underneath us his strong arm, so that victory over every foe may be ours, until we come to the perfect stature of a man in Christ Jesus. Then let us continue in well doing, seeking for glory, honor, and immortality, and thus secure eternal life. What a treasure! Shall we have it? or shall we have indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, which is the inheritance which every evil-doer shall ultimately secure? Which shall be our inheritance? Let our lives answer this question, and not our tongues only. “If ye keep my commandments,” says Christ, “ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” Then shall we be overcomers, and shall sit down with Christ in his kingdom. Amen.

D. F. QUINBY.