p. 8 | Let Us Hold Fast by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 14, 1911

Let Us Hold Fast

By F. M. W.

THE apostle Paul exhorts the believers to hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering, knowing that he who has promised is faithful and will fulfil all his word. We who are living in this day of earth’s history need to heed this admonition. We have reached the time when men are letting go of the things of God, when the Scriptures of truth and the foundation doctrines of the Christian faith are being repudiated. On every side we see those who have made shipwreck of their faith, and who are drifting on the great sea of theory and speculation. Voices are sounding from every quarter, claiming to be the exponents of the truth, and inviting a following. The darkness of error and unbelief is growing more and more dense. All that can be shaken will be shaken. Only the pure gold and sound wheat will stand the test and trial. The dross and chaff will be swept away. In these times it is well for us often to recount the evidences of our faith, and to realize constantly that it is not founded upon the word of man, that we have not followed cunningly devised fables, but that our hope is anchored to the everlasting Scripture of truth, the eternal Rock of Ages.

How the evidences of the heaven-born origin and the divine character of this great movement in which we are engaged, have multiplied! Where we possessed one evidence twenty years ago, we have one hundred to-day. The progress of events in our own country alone is sufficient to demonstrate to every candid mind that our hope in the coming of the Lord is well grounded. Years ago when we first taught that there would arise in this country a union of church and state, and that the United States, the ideal of the world in free and enlightened government, would turn its back upon the great principles which gave it birth, and, following in the path of old-time church and state nations, would lead the world back again to the fold of Rome, and unite with that power in bringing persecution upon those who stood for the truth of God, the position was regarded by many as utterly untenable—the wild speculation of fanciful minds. But how truly have the positions taken back in the early days of our work been verified by the onward march of events. We can see influences on every side whose working shows how strongly the tide of reaction is setting in. The old-time spirit of true Protestantism, with the Protestant principles which once actuated the Protestant churches, is rapidly passing away. In its place we see the spirit of compromise, of trucking to Rome, of joining hands with her in the accomplishment of her purposes.

In State legislatures and in the federal Congress we see repeated efforts in behalf of Sunday legislation. The general favor with which these measures are regarded by strong organizations and federations and unions, embracing the leading religious denominations, shows the evil work of education which has been carried forward, and the extent to which these principles are received by the multitude of the people.

But we are not confined to these evidences alone to verify our position as a denomination. Fulfilling conditions in the social, political, religious, and commercial worlds all point out in no uncertain manner the fulfilment in our own day of the prophecy which sets these conditions forth as signs of the day of God. Progressive steps in European history which are clearly bringing nearer and nearer the time when in fulfilment of Daniel II Turkey shall be driven out of Europe, may be witnessed from day to day.

But the working of the elements of evil by no means furnishes the only proof that the coming of the Lord draweth near. Striking evidences may be seen in the message of warning and the reformation now hastening to earth’s remotest bounds. God does not leave man without warning of approaching evil. In every quarter of the earth the proclamation of the judgment hour is now being sounded. Everywhere men are being warned against the work of the beast, against the worship of his image, and the reception of his sign of authority.

We are forced by the logic of the facts, by the striking fulfilment of history, by the fulfilment not only of one sign but of hundreds, to reiterate as a people more emphatically than ever before the Scriptural authority and foundation of the principles and doctrines which have given us an existence as a denomination. There can be no mistake.

We do not mean by this that the system of doctrine held by Seventh-day

Adventists amounts to an infallible creed. We do not mean that the canon of Scriptural truth is closed to investigation, and that the future holds nothing in store for the earnest seeker in the great mine of truth. God forbid. On this doctrine the denominations of the past have made shipwreck of their experience. The Scriptures of truth still hold untold wealth inviting the earnest seeker. There are still heights and depths to which we have not yet attained. But we do mean that as the blessed Scriptures of truth are true, and as they mean what they say, our faith in the coming of the Lord and in the doctrines which we hold as a people is well founded. We know in whom we have believed. We can declare with positive assurance that “we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This system of belief which we hold as a people is the everlasting truth of God. It is founded upon his infallible Word, and will triumph in the end. And those who take these principles into their lives and are transformed by them will triumph with them at last. Let not Satan by any argument of sophistry or deceit draw any away from this position. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” “Cast not away therefore your confidence, . . . for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

We are in that period of darkness which just precedes the dawn. The east is already lighted up with the first rays of approaching day. The glorious city of our God, the haven of eternal rest, is almost within view. Let us not grow weary nor become disheartened. Let us hold fast, that no man take our crown. The conflict from now to the close of earth’s history will be sharp, but it will be short. Our Captain is leading; let us be faithful to keep step with God’s advancing hosts.

F. M. W.