THE RAINY DAY by Frank Starr

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 16, 1876

THE RAINY DAY.

By Frank Starr

How often, when our duty to help the cause with our means is presented, such expressions as these are heard: “Oh! we must look out for ourselves; we must lay up something for a rainy day, which may possibly come upon us sometime.” Very true; and this rainy day, mentioned as a possibility, is a certainty. Of this day, definite information is given in Rev. 16:21. This storm is so severe the caves in the solid rocks prove insufficient shelter. Isa. 2:19-21. Neither silver nor gold can procure for shelterless man a secure retreat in that day. Who will find shelter when God shall rain from heaven this storm which he has reserved for this very time? Job 38:22, 23. “Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” Ps. 50:3-5. Let us by all means make a sacrifice, enter into this covenant, and thus prepare for that day.

If actions be allowed to speak, it would seem that some, who expect the Lord soon, suppose this sacrifice is to be made when he shall appear—that they must keep their farms and other property entire and in good order, and then present them to him. But, if any really have this idea, they should know that this has been tried. At the first advent of our Lord, the offer of the entire world was made him, but it was not accepted.

The amount of genuine faith we have in the immediate coming of Christ may be very approximately estimated by the degree of willingness we manifest to let go the things of this life, to forward the message of the third angel. But it is evident that our Lord might well ask the question, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

The people of God have the solemn charge to extend the message to many nations and kings; and in order to fulfill this commission, plans must be laid requiring much means to carry them out. But it is so hard to be continually pledging, and to have to scrimp and deprive ourselves of part of our income in order to meet these pledges. Well then, try this plan: “Give alms of such things as ye have.” Luke 11:41. How? “Sell that ye have” and give the cause immediate relief. But some see only the door of the poor-house open ready to receive them, when anything is said about selling. We see what a sacrifice of real estate took place in the early church; we hear of those who gave their property to help sound the first message. Did they die in the alms-house? No; some of them still live to cheer us with their thrilling testimonies. But where are those believers who would make no investment in that movement? Will some one inform us where?

At this time, when not one cent should be lacking to forward the work, when, if we realized our position, more would be brought than could be used, continued appeals must be made for means. What will arouse the Laodicean church to its responsibility? Rather than let the work be hindered , we should sacrifice lands, houses, pleasure, convenience—and what should we not sacrifice?

Think not of the poor-house. Other mansions are waiting to receive the followers of Him who for our sake became poor. The disciples could appreciate the words of Him who said he would go to prepare them mansions, for he was known as “the carpenter;” but of the glory of those dwellings he has gone to prepare, they never conceived, nor have we. Rev. 21. Shall we be true to our profession? Shall we make a covenant with God by giving ourselves and what we have as a sacrifice, thus bringing relief to the cause of God, and securing a shelter in the day of tempest and wrath, and a title to a mansion in the skies?

FRANK STARR.

Springport, Mich., Nov. 2.