Your ShelfYour Projects

JOY AND SORROW

20%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 11.

Read the full edition

JOY AND SORROW.

By Mary M. Place

Being sadly grieved in hearing that one of my young friends had given up the Sabbath, I was led to serious meditation. When the young neglect to heed the injunction to search the Scriptures, they are apt to lose their interest in the truth; they forget to watch and pray, and are led to love the things of this world, spoken of in 1 John 2:16, which are soon to perish. How zealous ought we to be in redeeming the time which God has so graciously given us, and in striving to repent of all our sins. We are assured that if we do this the Lord will abundantly pardon. “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, . . . to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” Ps. 103:17, 18. “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.” Prov. 7:1, 2. “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us.” Ps. 62:8. “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:17.
How sad the thought that any who have once tasted that the Lord is gracious, should now have a heart to draw back. We are told that “there is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” If this be true, it must cause sorrow among the pure and holy angels when one departs from the truth. When tempted to turn from the path of duty, how can we but exclaim with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” I earnestly beseech the young everywhere not to forsake the sacred truths which they have been taught, for any worldly pleasure that may allure them in their pathway. The yoke of Christ (when we have learned meekly to bear it) is easy, and his burden is light.
Oh, be faithful, for soon you shall reap if you faint not. Soon shall close all earthly scenes; and how vigilant ought we to be in these last days. We need to keep the armor on continually, to shield us from the many assaults of the adversary. We also need the counsel of our older brethren and sisters, who through long faithfulness have gained a rich experience. Brethren and sisters, especially pray for the young, that they may ever be humble and faithful in serving the Lord.
Mary M. Place.