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TRUE RICHES

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 3, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 1.

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TRUE RICHES.

By George O. States

The latter part of October I had occasion to go from Santa Anna, Cal., to Orange. As it is only a few miles, and I needed the exercise, I walked. As I was passing a beautiful residence in the outskirts of Santa Anna, an old gentleman who was sitting on the porch called to me, and as I walked up he said, "Sit down and let us talk a little." I replied, "All right. I have more time than money." "Well," said the man, "I want you to understand that I have both."
He then told me how he owned his residence and some acres of orange, lemon, and walnut groves; had eighty thousand dollars on interest, and his wife had forty thousand; and he had made it all honestly, through the rise in real estate. I laid my hand on his shoulder and, looking him in the eye, replied, "My brother, having all this wealth, if you have not Christ, you are poorer than I."
He appeared somewhat surprised, and asked, "Who are you?" I then told him I was an Adventist minister, broken down in health, and was resting. I remained over an hour correcting some false ideas he had regarding our work, and telling him how I once owned a valuable fruit farm in Colorado, but sold it that I might go out and tell the people we are nearing the coming of Christ. I told him that in time this earth, altho containing so much that is beautiful, is marred by sin, yet it is to be restored to its Eden beauty, and become the eternal abode of God's people.
I told him that at the coming of Christ those who have died in faith will all be raised, and the living saints will be changed and taken to the New Jerusalem; then, after a thousand years, the city will come down to this earth, which will be purified and become the abode of God's people through the eternal ages.
The old gentleman seemed to enjoy the talk, and asked me very earnestly to come and see them again. I could but think as we talked of the reality of the future home of God's people, that no doubt there are many who are longing for more than the riches that perish. I felt anxious for the time to comewhen my health will admit of my going out and interesting people in the true riches.
Escondido, Cal. GEO. O. STATES.