Counterfeit by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1874

Counterfeit.

By S. N. Haskell

Probably no generation has ever entered more extensively into the work of counterfeiting than the people of the present age. Bank bills are counterfeited. Gold and silver coin are counterfeited. Every useful article is immediately followed by something worthless purporting to be the genuine. Bogus concerns are gotten up in the various cities throughout the country to allure the unsuspecting to give of their means without receiving an equivalent. And thus unprincipled men enrich themselves at the expense of others.

Not long since, I received an article of jewelry for which the lady paid seven dollars. She wished it converted into money, and placed in the missionary cause. The jeweler examined it, and pronounced it worthless.

The world is full of such counterfeits and deceptions. A very few get value received. The prophet describes this time as follows: “The good man is perished out of the earth; and there is none upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood. They hunt every man his brother with a net.”

But the worst of all counterfeits that exists is a counterfeit religion. A man may be deceived in jewelry and a thousand other things and never learn the deception, because he has never applied the test, and there is nothing very ruinous in this to him who is thus imposed upon. And even if he should learn the deceit practiced upon him, he may be able to survive the loss. But it is not so with the hope that relates to eternal things; for “every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

This will be terrible, for there will be no opportunity to remedy this deception at the day of Judgment. It is then forever too late. The importance of examining ourselves while we have an opportunity to learn our true condition cannot be overestimated. The test should be applied by ourselves while here in probationary time. The heart should be examined when there is an opportunity to reform. But if left wholly to our own selves, without the Spirit of God to enlighten our minds, and to make our own choice of circumstances under which we may be placed, and consult our own preferences as to the manner of examining ourselves, we should never learn the amount of selfishness there is in our hearts. For “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and who can know it?” Therefore we read, “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

A man may donate large sums to the cause of God and do very many commendable things, and be called very religious and liberal by those that know him, yet selfishness be the ruling principle in his heart. “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity it profiteth me nothing.”

Love or charity never murmurs or complains. It suffereth long and is kind. And whenever the true spirit of love enters the hearts of individuals, if they have a complaint against any, as Christ forgave, so will they forgive. It envieth not. Charity vaunteth not itself, and is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, but will rejoice in the prosperity of others. In lowliness of mind will esteem others better than themselves. There will be no room for an unsanctified imagination to dwell upon a thousand evils that do not exist. It rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth. It does not live in a kind of selfish way without any regard for righteousness and equity, but the principles of morality and rectitude will be exalted. The individual who possesses this spirit will honor that which God honors, and despise that which reproaches his Maker, bearing all things, enduring all things, believing all things.

Charity never faileth. It elevates fallen humanity to become a partaker of the divine nature. It is a golden cord, like the telegraphic cable in the ocean, let down through this world to unite us with the throne of the Eternal. The heart goes out after others. It takes delight in doing good to our fellow-men. It cannot live without works of a disinterested, benevolent character.

God’s providence often changes our circumstances to test us. We come in contact with the afflicted under such circumstances that we may benefit ourselves at their expense or benefit them at our own expense. God permits this, that our true characters may be developed, and we thus behold the motive that actuates us. If we have a disposition to sacrifice our personal ease and comfort, which perhaps will cost more than means, it will then be made manifest. If selfishness reigns there, it will be discovered. The heart will flutter between selfishness and disinterested benevolence until one or the other gains the victory. It is then we approach the mirror, and behold ourselves as we really are. If we have been deceived in the real condition of our own hearts, now will come murmurings, envyings, jealousies, with surmisings, &c., &c.

Conversion is not the work of a moment. It is learning, whatever state we are in, therewith to be content, and overcoming every selfish principle, getting out of the narrow, bigoted feeling which all centers on a “me” and “mine,” and having, on the contrary, a large and liberal soul.

Hannah More, the late missionary to Africa, now sleeping in Northern Michigan, spent months at our house in New England, and was contented while she could be doing for others. Deprive her of that privilege, and she would immediately become uneasy, and feel that she could not remain longer. It had become second nature to her to do for others. Take this from her, and she was out of her element.

This is the true missionary spirit. This is the change of heart that should be wrought in every one who names the name of Christ, and this will be accomplished in the hearts of all who will yield themselves to God and his truth. The work of grace transforms and molds the character according to the likeness of our divine Lord and Master. And if the work fails to be accomplished in our hearts while living here upon the earth, we shall fail of everlasting life. We may flatter ourselves with the thought that we have a well-grounded hope in God, yet our religion will prove to be the counterfeit, and life will prove a failure.

James says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

In Luke 14:12–14 we have a key that explains why works of this class are a test of Christian character. Here is a practical test we can apply daily. Does our soul go out after others? Are we anxious to engage in that kind of labor that brings in no reward in this life? Are we anxious to sacrifice our means, our ease, and if need be our comfort, to make others happy? Do we know the afflicted and needy in our neighborhood? and are we often found ministering to their wants? Perhaps the answer would be that “we are so hurried with work that we have no time.” And is not this very work that so takes up our time, as the saying is, “to get a living,” which virtually means, To keep good what we have and add to it.

If this is the case, we possess a spurious article. We have the counterfeit; and it will not stand the test of the Judgment. We have not the spirit that led Christ to die here upon the earth, that led him with meekness to wear the crown of thorns, and when he was reviled to revile not again, and when he suffered, to threaten not, but to commit himself to Him who judgeth righteously. It is when this spirit actuates the person that it will give him freedom in God and a life of usefulness in God. It is then we can labor for others successfully, and God will crown the effort with his blessing. S. N. Haskell.