The Three Wishes | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1875

The Three Wishes.

I ASKED a student what three things he most wished. He said: “Give me books, health, and quiet, and I care for nothing more.” I asked a miser, and he cried, “Money—money—money?” I asked a pauper, and he faintly said, “Bread—bread—bread!” I asked a drunkard, and he loudly called for strong drink. I asked the multitude around me, and they lifted up a confused cry in which I heard the words, “Wealth, fame, and pleasure.” I asked a poor man, who had long borne the character of an experienced Christian: he replied, that all his wishes could be met in Christ. He spoke seriously, and I asked him to explain. He said, “I greatly desire these three things—first, that I may be found in Christ; secondly, that I may be like Christ: thirdly, that I may be with Christ.” I have thought much of his answer; and the more I think of it the wiser it seems to be.

1. “May I be found in Christ,” not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but the righteousness which is of God by faith. If I shall be found in him, I shall not be under the curse of the holy and terrible sentence of the law. For there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. If I am in him, the storm of wrath which shall beat on a guilty world will not reach me; for he is a hiding place from wind, and a covert from the tempest, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. If found in him I shall thirst no more; for he is as rivers of waters in a dry place. Christ himself said: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” If found in him, I shall hunger no more, “for the bread of God is that which came down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” If found in him I cannot perish; I cannot be condemned; I cannot want any good thing. He is my shepherd, my strong habitation, my advocate, my elder brother, my intercessor, my righteousness, my all!

2. May I be like Christ. He is like the Father, and I would be like God. Oh, that I had his image now! I hope I have the outlines of it on my heart. But I would be in my measure wholly like him. He who is like Christ has the beauty of holiness; has neither spot nor wrinkle, nor blemish, nor any such thing.

“My grief my burden long has been, Because I could not cease from sin.”

Nothing grieves me, nor makes me so ashamed, as to find my heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. I do loathe and abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. I have wept and prayed over my sins. Tears have been my meat day and night. The sweetest thought I have of Heaven, as growing out of my experience here, is, “there I shall never sin.” Sometimes I fear I shall never be like him. Then I cling to the promise: “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Would God have given me this longing after holiness if he had not designed to supply it? May I not hope yet to be like Christ? If I shall ever be, it will be enough. Blessed Saviour, “I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.”

3. May I be with Christ. I hope I am with him now by faith, and through the power of his Spirit dwelling in me. But I wish to be with him where he is, that I may behold him in his glory, which he had with the Father before the world was. Here I hear him often derided; and I weep that my Master should thus be vilified. Here most men reject him; and I am sad that he should thus be rejected of men. Sometimes I am with many who seem to love him. Then I rejoice. But I shall love to be where I know all honor him as he deserves. Besides, I wish

to see him for myself. He is precious to me now; at least, I hope he is. I should delight to see him as he is. He was full of grace and truth on earth; but he is full of glory now. Once he wore a crown of thorns; now he wears the highest crown in the universe; yet he is full of kindness. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. He is as tender as when he wept at the grave of Lazarus. He has done much for me; but if I can but be with him, he will do far more for me yet. It does not yet appear what we shall be; but when we shall see him and be with him, we shall learn better what is the height, and depth, and length, and breadth of his love. Oh, that exceeding weight of glory! Shall I ever share in it? Gracious Redeemer! with thee, any place is Heaven. Without thee, any place is like hell. May I be forever with the Lord!

Blessed is he who, like the poor man of whom I write, longs after Christ. The more I think of it, the more do I wish that I was like that same poor man. He is wise, he is safe, he shall be blessed forever.—Sel.