Your ShelfYour Projects

SPRING

13%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 19, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 49, No. 16.

Read the full edition

SPRING

By John G. Matteson

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.” Everything is changeable in the earth. The winter is followed by seedtime. Then comes the summer and the harvest. This year's winter must also pass away with its cold and snow, with its hard times for thousands of poor people who have been without employment, some of whom have succumbed in the struggle, while others have sustained a wretched existence. It must pass away with its wars and misfortunes and sins and crimes which all will be brought to light in the great Judgment day.
The Lord causes again a new spring to dawn on this dark earth. It reminds us of that eternal spring which soon shall dawn on the seed of Abraham. The cold and dark winter comes to an end, but the gentle rays of Paradise will shine with heavenly light on the hills and vales of the new earth, when the spring of eternity dawns before the longing hearts of the friends of Jesus.
There will be a rich harvest when those who have sown in tears shall reap in joy. The great day for settling all accounts is near. It will bring a solution of the curious riddle of life. Then all will receive according to their deeds—punishment for sin and reward for virtue. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then the haven of rest will be sweet. It brings comfort in our sorrow and helps to bear life's burdens when we have faith in those precious promises which are given to us through Jesus Christ—have faith to believe, that by these we can be made partakers of the divine nature, and at last obtain an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. Gentle rays from the spring of salvation light up our pathway through the dark winter of this world, and keep our hearts warm, when they otherwise would congeal under the storm and snow and ice of winter.
With the glorious, heavenly harvest before us we take new courage to labor through spring. The laborers are few. The field is large, and the ground often unfruitful. The sun does not always shine gently. It is inconvenient to work the soil. The rain is unpleasant, and the storm severe. Rapid currents threaten to wash away the seed. But in spite of all this the incorruptible seed must be sown in peace with patience and endurance; for this the Lord of the harvest has ordained.
When we behold a world lying in wickedness, and consider the signs of the times, which show that the end is drawing near with great speed, and the precious truth which God has caused to shine through the last message of mercy, then we pray from our inmost hearts, O Lord, send forth laborers in thy harvest. Help all who have honestly embraced the truth to “catch men.” Luke 5:10. Give us not only a few preachers to labor in this mission, but make us all workers—men, women, and children.
Those who are advanced in life can honor God by a holy life, and help the mission with their means. The young are strong. The Lord has given them precious talents with which they can help forward the cause, when they are sanctified by the truth. Those children who know the Father, and love Jesus, can show a Christian example before other children, and cause the light of the gospel to shine in young hearts. All can work for the glory of God and the salvation of precious souls, until the time of grace is ended, and the Lord of the harvest comes with his heavenly host. Let this be the sole object of our lives, then God will pardon all our sins for Jesus’ sake, and say to us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
JOHN G. MATTESON.