p. 7 | ONLY A LITTLE CRACK

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 42.

ONLY A LITTLE CRACK.

At first there was only a little crack in the marble coping of the temple roof. Into this the rain fell, and the frost, heaving, widened the crack. Dust gathered in it, and then a tiny seed, dropped by a flying bird. The tiny sprout swelled and swelled, making the crack still wider. Years passed, and the little plant became a shrub, its strong roots crowding wide the crevice, until the massive stone parted and fell from its place.

It was only a little thought at first, passing through the mind,—a little envy, lust of power, appetite, sensual pleasure. It came again, and found a tiny crevice in which to lodge. Silently, and unobserved, it drew to itself nourishment, and became more firmly fixed in the heart that cherished it. Gradually it sunk its roots deep into the heart, until, at last, it held the soul with a strong clasp, while its spreading branches overshadowed the whole life. In vain the victim struggled; what he could have so easily rooted out at first was now beyond his control. The noxious growth had mastered him, body and soul.

There is a line of the nearly-forgotten poet, Young, that deserves to be remembered:—

“Guard well thy thoughts, Our thoughts are heard in heaven.”

He who habitually dwells in the region of noble and pure thoughts is removed from many temptations which beset the path of him who lives on a lower level. Miasmas do not infest mountaintops, and dwellers upon the highlands of obedience and purity are not endangered by a thousand ills that plague those who are yet lingering in the valleys of self-will and gratification. Come up higher into the pure air and sunshine of Christ’s presence. The life-giving breezes from heaven will give new vigor to your lagging steps, until service will be a joy, and the healing that is in his wings will leave no open wound for the lodgment of forbidden seed.—Evangel and Sabbath Outlook.