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To the Obedient

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 15, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 45, No. 3.

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To the Obedient.

By Esther Field

Our Saviour in closing his beautiful sermon on the mount makes a comparison between those who hear the word of life, and obey, and those who hear, and refuse to practice its precepts. He says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it.” Matt. 7:24-27.
Thus is set forth the security of the obedient, and the terrible destruction of those who hear the word, and neglect the great salvation. What a fearful contrast. A foolish man—a fallen building, crushed and drifting in sand, surrounded by floods of water, beaten by the fierce winds, and tossed by the angry billows till finally sunk beneath the sand, and lost, lost to all eternity in the dark waters of oblivion.
This is the certain doom of those “that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Who would not wish to escape the destruction awaiting the wicked, “who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 2 Thess. 1:9. Who would not rather be an heir of God to the saints’ inheritance? Then listen to the voice of truth as it gently fell, like golden sunbeams, from the lips of Him “who spake as never man spake.” Obey and live. It is a blessed privilege to hear and obey the truth. There is joy and peace in believing. Though earthly calamities, temptations, and storms of affliction, and persecution, beat around the obedient, they are secure. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Ps. 34:7.
ESTHER FIELD.
Hamilton Co., Neb.