Effectual Calling

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 5, 1879

Effectual Calling.

Sennacherib described the hopeless perils of resistance, thus driving them—to surrender? Nay, to God! When mass meetings were held to enlist men for the war, the speakers did not picture the ease and pleasures of camp life: they spoke of battles, wounds, soldiers’ graves, the country saved. They put the question, Shall the nation die? or will you suffer and die for it? Crowds flocked to enlist. So the Lord Jesus, when great multitudes followed him, described not an easy Christian life, but said, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my disciple. If any man will come after me, let him take up his cross, and deny himself daily, and follow me.” When scholars hesitate to receive Christ, because his service requires so much, do not deny it. Tell them, “This is Christ’s way for you. Now, will you take Christ, and the cross, and the crown? or the world, and self, and shame? Put the issue clearly. Do not fear the result. ’Tis Christ’s own call. Try it. Such a call calls faithful ones.—Sel.