Force by W. M. Healey

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 14, 1875

Force.

By W. M. Healey

"For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right." Jer. 23: 10.

Nothing is accomplished without the application of some force. See one of the large woolen or cotton mills of the East, with its many looms and spindles all in motion, weaving hundreds of yards of cloth each day. What is it that keeps these spindles in motion? It is force derived from the water that comes tumbling down upon the great water-wheel, which, being forced to turn, in its turn forces other wheels around, and thus the force goes from wheel to wheel until the whole complicated machinery is set in motion.

We move westward until we find ourselves crossing the continent upon the great Pacific Rail Road. As we wend our way up the Sierra Nevada mountains, take a look from that car window, just as we are rounding a curve in the road, and you will see two beautiful engines moving gracefully around the curve, puffing away as they drag behind them the long train of cars, at the rate of twenty miles an hour, and the whole train seems almost a thing of life. Surely there is beauty in this manifestation of force, and it seems to be right. But as we descend the mountains suppose a brake gives way and the whole train comes dashing down the grade to certain ruin. Here is force that is not right; that is, it does not accomplish a good or desirable object.

Suppose, again, that we are standing upon the wharf in San Francisco, and looking out upon the Bay toward the Golden Gate, we see a noble ship that has come across the ocean. How majestically she glides upon the water, driven by the force of wind. But imagine that same ship far out at sea; a sudden storm arises, her sails are torn, her masts broken, and she, laden with human life, is fast being driven on toward destruction. In this case that force, whose work we were just admiring, becomes a thing of dread.

We might go on with these observations to almost any length, but let us bring them to man. Man has force, physical and mental, or force of body and force of mind, or rather these are the channels through which his force is manifested, and this force is brought into action in all he does. It seems to represent the amount of active, real life which he possesses, and is supplied by the air he breathes, and the food he eats.

The prophecy from which our text is taken looks forward to a time when prophets and pastors seem to be plenty in the land, and the Lord finds no fault here with their lack of energy, or force, but says, "Their force is not right." They ran, but God had not sent them. They prophesied, but God had not spoken. See verse 21. In their prophecy they say, "The Lord hath said, ye shall have peace." See verse 17. What is this but the cry of many in our day. If we preach the Lord is soon coming they cry, "Peace, peace; do not be alarmed, the world is to be converted and there will be a thousand years of peace before the Lord comes." And does not God say in verses 5, 6, that he will raise up a King to execute judgment, and justice in the earth, and in his days Judah shall be saved? Yes, and he also says in the same connection, that this King shall be "The Lord our righteousness." Lo the Lord is to come before that reign of peace.

God also says that these very persons who are prophesying peace, peace, shall be cast out of his presence. See verses 39, 40.

What else do they say in their prophecy? "They say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you." Verse 17. How often we hear this doctrine taught. If we urge upon the people the necessity of studying God's word, and tell them they are breaking the law of God by violating the fourth commandment, in not keeping the seventh day, which is the Sabbath of the Lord, instead of the first day which is commanded only by men.

These prophets say, "Oh! it makes no difference, your father and mother kept the first day and taught you to do the same. You are doing as well as you know how; you live according to your conscience (imagination of your own heart), no evil shall come upon you." Dear reader, be careful how you take these sleepy medicines, for "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 16: 25.

But to return to our text. Verse 10: "Their force is not right." The prophets and priests, as well as the people, were using their force but not right. They were full of adulteries and profanity. How well this is fulfilled in our day I need not stop to argue. For the first, I have only to point you to the newspapers of the time; and for the second, you have only to go among men almost anywhere in our broad land. Now these profane and adulterous persons have force, but it is not right. Some persons do not have sufficient force to accomplish much of anything in life. They are born deficient in life elements, or these elements have been destroyed by improper living. But the great trouble is not want of force in man, but his force is wrongly directed. The highwayman has sufficient force, but he uses it to accomplish a wrong end. The same amount of force used in the service of God would be of great use in the cause.

Thus we see the reason why some of the worst men, when converted to God, become the brightest lights in his service. There are no new faculties created, but the great force which places them beyond their fellows in wickedness, has been applied to a new purpose and is telling, with the same effect. The apostle Paul is a good example of this kind.

There are those who use nearly all their force physically. They take great pride in their strength, but they take no pains to cultivate their minds; they seldom read, and I might say, scarcely think. They have very little relish for study of any kind, and yet they often have good, natural, mental ability; but they have allowed it to become dwarfed by using all their force through the body, leaving their mind unsupplied.

Again, we see those who spend nearly all their force through the mind leaving their body weak and nervous. One man spends his force in animal pleasure, another in seeking wealth, another in trying to gain the honor and vain glory of the world. But how few there are who are using their force according to all the laws of God, both natural and revealed. Reader, would you be among those who shall hear the welcome plaudit, "Well done good and faithful servant," then be careful how you use your force.

There are those who know their duty in many things yet fail to do it, many who cannot deny the obligation they are under to keep God's commandments, but do not keep them. Some are convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord and the only one he has commanded us to keep, do not keep it, but hold back from doing what they know is right. What is the matter with these persons? Evidently they lack force, or their force is not right; the latter I think is usually the case, for if we were to follow them to the ball-room, the card, or billiard table, or to some church festival, we would not think they lacked force. But, alas! there is more force in the festivals of many a church than there is in her prayer meetings. Are they not "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God?" Paul says such shall live in the last days. See 2 Timothy 3: 1-5.

My dear reader, whoever you are, stop and think, how are you spending your force? Are you spending it as you would were you to render an account to God at this time for all your actions? Would you not pray instead of cursing? Ah! how much force is used in profaning God's name, that ought to be used in seeking his favor.

Many a man spends more force in a fit of anger than he ever spent in prayer. Many a woman spends more force in fashionable dress, or gossiping about some other woman, than she ever spent in trying to elevate her own sex; and more time and force in reading the latest novel than she does in reading her Bible, and more time in talking about her beaux than she does in trying to refine her own mind. Young men, yes, and old men too, how are you using your force? Is it in lounging around stores, hotels, or billiard rooms? Is it in drinking intoxicating drinks or using that filthy weed tobacco, or is it in trying to do right? May God help us all to see that our force is "right."

W. M. HEALEY.