True Honor by E. Hilliard

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 29, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 38.

True Honor

By E. Hilliard

WHO knows the meaning of honor?—Not necessarily the monarch whose will is the law of his kingdom. Not necessarily the queen in her royal palace, nor the general who never lost a battle, nor the rich man in his lofty mansion, nor the decorated daughter of fashion. None of these may be enrolled on the list of true honor.

They may be laid away to rest under the eulogy of the world's greatest orators. The highest tribute of national honor may be expressed in the costly monument that marks the place where they repose in dreamless slumber. Yet if in life their only ambition was to acquire position, wealth, and earthly glory, they may rest in less abiding honor than the pauper that begged at their door.

The world may praise, promise, and allure; but its charms are like the morning mists that disappear in the first rays of the rising sun. If, then, true honor is not always found in the royal palace, or wrapped in imperial robes; if it does not invariably abide in the mansions of the wealthy, or is not enclosed in the warrior's martial cloak,—where shall we seek for it?

True honor must come from a sinless realm, from the royal dominion untainted by evil. "For," says the Lord, "them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." 1 Sam. 2:30.

Outside of the great, glorious plan of redemption, there is no abiding honor. But through the plan of salvation, the vilest of men may attain to honor that will abide the ages. The Lord has promised to take the penitent beggar and place him among heavenly princes in the realms of bliss. He will make the penitent poor eternally rich, and they shall inherit the throne of His glory. 1 Sam. 2:8.

The Lord sometimes reduces the rich to poverty in order to bring them to repentance. He humbles the proud in the dust, that they may cast their helpless souls on Him, and learn the unsatisfying and transitory nature of earthly things. The poverty-stricken one who delves in the dust in almost abject despair, through the Crucified One can be lifted to the heights of heavenly glory. Let the humble poor who are struggling under adverse circumstances be of good cheer. Let them, in the fear of God, clothed in heavenly armor, battle against the powers of darkness, then at last receive the heavenly riches that waste not away nor tarnish with time.

The exalted of the earth who know not God, may revel in luxury and worldly honor; but eventually their monuments will crumble, their wealth disappear, and their names will rot. Prov. 10:7. But the humble soul that seeks for glory, heavenly honor, and immortality, be he rich or poor, high or low, will be eternally exalted. "Before honor is humility." E. HILLIARD.