A TROUBLED SOUL by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 6, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 10.

A TROUBLED SOUL.

By Editor

THUS a troubled, tempted soul writes us, and asks for help and instruction:

"I sincerely want to do what is right and please God, but it seems I do not progress as I ought. I feel that your church has the truth. O, tell me, can such a sinner as I become a member? And how? I once had many opportunities of becoming one, but I failed to take advantage of them. Now I have to seek for them. I am even trying to keep the true Sabbath. E. T."

1. All the above is good, as far as it goes. It is encouraging, because it shows that the Spirit of God is at work upon the heart of this troubled one. We would have no desire to seek Him at all if He did not call us. John 6:44. Therefore, when we feel drawn to serve God, we may know that God is by His Spirit calling us, and He would not call us if there was no hope. Be assured, then, that when God calls us, if we will follow, He will lead us to light and life and home.

2. We do not know how great a sinner this soul is. We do not need to know. We do not want her to tell us her sins. She may be the greatest of sinners; Jesus is the greatest of Saviours. Her sin may overwhelmingly abound; but where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. Rom. 5:20. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15. He declares, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." With infinite love He pleads, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." His grace and power is sufficient to cleanse the double-dyed scarlet sin, and make the heart as white as snow. Believe and praise Him.

3. It is well to feel the enormity of the sin. There is no unimportant sin. It is spiritual leprosy, and death dooms all who have it. Its outbreaking symptoms may be small. We may never have done the actual deeds of stealing, killing, or committing adultery, and yet have cherished coveting, hatred, and lust in our hearts. Hate them all with deadly hatred. If we love them, desire them to stay, Christ will not come in; He will not divide the dominion of our heart with sin. But if our heart hates the sin and we confess it to Him, put it away, He will forgive the sin and accept us. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. Confess the sin, plead the promise. He can not lie. "He abideth faithful." Then may we say: "I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." Ps. 32:5.

4. Then join the church; for you need its associations, its helpfulness, its discipline, its cooperation. We never develop well-balanced characters alone. We need to learn to bear and forbear, to be patient and charitable toward others. Go to the church; ask for baptism and membership. All that is required is that you promise what God's word requires—to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." That means the cheerful, loving doing of all that His word requires, walking in the light as it shines upon your pathway. After your baptism, the elder, or pastor, of the church will present your application before the church, and unless there is something wrong, the church will vote to receive you. If there is any delay or misunderstanding do not in any wise be discouraged. Let it be found and put away. The church and yourself both may need the lesson.

5. Then you want to grow, to make progress. That is good. How do children grow?—They breathe, or ought to, pure air and eat pure food. These are essential. The children of God need pure air. They need the breath of His Spirit, the association of good companionship. Let this be a rule of life: unless bound by family ties, break from every companionship which is dragging downward, of either books or men. If you can not grow strong and help your companions, forsake them for Christ's sake. He will more than make up all your loss.

Then feed upon His word, "the sincere milk of the word," "that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2. It alone is "able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified." Acts 20:32. Read it daily. Let it be like the manna, fresh every morning. Make it yours by faith and conduct. Read with prayer. Ask God for His Spirit. If you fail, go quickly to your best Friend, and confess it. Keep the conscience tender by heeding its voice. Keep the conscience true by the word, and we know that you will grow, and salvation will be yours daily.