Present Opportunity by Jos. Clarke

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 10, 1878

Present Opportunity.

By Jos. Clarke

To-day, the ambassador of Jesus Christ stands pleading with thee, O sinner. His heart overflows with love. He knocks at the door of thine heart. Wilt thou open the door, and admit the heavenly messenger? To-day, Jesus pleads before his Father for thee, lukewarm professor; and the angels beckon thee on to victory. The Spirit of God is already near thee; and thine eyes are moved to tears; and thine heart is tender. Wilt thou repent and reform?

To-day, thy sins are set in order before thee. The heavenly messenger has softened thine heart; but it is not yet purified. The showers have softened the soil. Now is the time to pull up the weeds. To-day, he stands knocking at the door of thine heart. Wilt thou remove the rubbish, and open wide the door? Perhaps some vile habit, or some unruly passion, or unhallowed desire, or bitter feeling, closes fast the door, and shuts out the heavenly guest.

For six thousand years Jesus has stood pleading for sinners. A few have accepted his mediation, and the work is nearly accomplished. As we near the end, we more highly prize the great atonement soon to culminate in victory. The resurrection is near, and the final reward. To-day, we hear the startling voice of the angelic message, calling to all who love God and his word to come out and separate themselves from error and sin; calling to all who love purity to rally around the standard of the cross, and by lives of obedience, humility, purity and holy love, to win the approbation of God. Jos. Clarke.

Only Trust Him.

There are times, no doubt, in the experience of God's people, when some passage of Scripture comes home to the soul with especial power and comfort.

It was a time of trouble. Affliction after affliction had come upon me till I was nearly overwhelmed. I said to myself one night as I entered my room, God has certainly cast me off. But I took up my Bible, and it opened to the words: "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." The words seemed to burn in my soul. In the midst of my rebellious murmurings God had spoken the words of assurance and comfort.

And as I read on, "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee," my life with all its imperfections, compared with God's long-suffering love and patience, rose before me, and in strong supplication I besought his forgiveness for the past, and faith to trust him in the future; and he who "will in no wise cast out" any who come to him, I trust, graciously forgave.

Oh tried and tempted one! God sees your suffering, hears your supplication, and in his own good time will answer. Only trust him, and though clouds rise dark and ominous, remember they

"Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head."

And when we no longer "see through a glass darkly, but face to face," we shall thank God for every trial, every affliction, and shall know then that he chasteneth not willingly, but in love.—Sel.