Trials Will Come by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 2, 1873

Trials Will Come.

By R. F. Cottrell

“It must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” Matt. 18: 7. “For there must be also heresies [margin, sects] among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” 1 Cor. 11: 19.

We may expect that trials, offenses, and apostasies, will come. These should not discourage us, “as though some strange thing” had happened to us. The primitive church were not free from these things, and we should not expect to be. There was a Judas among the chosen twelve; and when Jesus was betrayed and apprehended, the disciples present forsook him and fled; and Peter went so far as to deny, with cursing and swearing, that he knew him. But, thanks to our merciful Saviour, he was converted, and restored to favor.

Terrible sins were discovered in the church, as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira and the person mentioned by Paul in 1 Cor. 5. The Corinthian church also got divided up into factions or sects, into Paulites, Apollosites, Cephasites, &c. And besides this, the church had become so disorderly that they could not come together to eat the Lord’s supper and do it in a decent and proper manner. See chap. 11: 17-34. Such abuses the apostle was constrained to rebuke sharply, as he afterward directed Titus to do in such cases, in order that they might be sound in the faith.

Paul knew what it was to stand in defense of the truth, when none stood with him, but all forsook him. 2 Tim. 4: 14-17. Behold the apostle standing alone, forsaken of his brethren who should have stood by him. But the Lord was with him and strengthened him; and in behalf of his brethren that deserted him, he had grace to pray that it might not be laid to their charge. He had confidence in the truth, while some were laboring to overthrow the faith. He knew that the foundation of God stood sure—that the Lord knew his faithful servants and would approve their course. 2 Tim. 2: 17-19. Large numbers of those for whom the apostle had labored, bringing them into the truth, turned away from the aged prisoner of the Lord, so that he could say, “All they which are in Asia be turned away from me.” Chap. 1: 15. Perhaps they were ashamed to recognize him in his bonds; and they may have thought the condition he was in was evidence that the Lord had removed him from the work. But Onesiphorus oft refreshed his spirit, not being ashamed of him, though he was bound with a chain. Verse 16.

The venerable apostle John, beloved of the Lord, had experience also of a similar kind. 3 John. 9, 10. Diotrephes, who loved to have the pre-eminence in the church, would not receive the advice of the aged apostle, who leaned on Jesus’ breast at the last supper, but prated against him with malicious words, nor would he receive the brethren that were laboring in harmony with the apostle, and those that were in favor of receiving them he cast out of the church.

If such were the trials of the primitive church, should like things, occurring amid the perils of the last days, weaken our faith in regard to the work of God? Not in the least. But if all things went smoothly, we might have reason to doubt. It is enough for the servant to be as his Lord. Many of Jesus’ disciples went back and walked no more with him, at one time. “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” The reply of Simon Peter was sensible: “To whom shall we go?” Before he left, he wished to be sure of something better which would be gained by an exchange. And if any now are tempted to leave this cause, it will be wise for them to inquire beforehand where they are going. Is there something better to choose?

The foundation of God stands sure. This message is the truth. It is sent of God. In it are the words of eternal life. Whatever trials may come, whoever goes away, here will we abide. There is no place of safety to which we may retreat. Our only safety is in moving forward with the work of the Lord.

R. F. COTTRELL.