Early Conversions Desirable by William Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 26, 1912

Early Conversions Desirable

By William Covert

THE right path for life should be found early. Therefore the young are advised to remember their Creator in the days of their youth, before evil habits block the way, or dark sorrows make the life bitter. See Eccl. 12:1-6.

There are many good reasons why this advice is given; but none of them is more important than the one mentioned by Solomon in Prov. 8:17: "Those that seek me early shall find me." The very young have not gone so far out of the way as their elders, and therefore can the more easily find the good path.

In nearly forty years of gospel work I have seen only a very few who had passed the age of fifty seeking for salvation from sin. Indeed, the great majority who find the Saviour and become happy in his work obtain a Christian experience before their physical powers begin to wane.

Jeremiah, who was himself dedicated to the prophetic work by his parents before he was born, and called unto it by the Lord when he was but a child (Jer. 1:4-7), said, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Lam. 3:27.

It is fully as essential that a person, in order to be a good Christian and a successful Christian worker, begin early in life as it is that one who desires to become an expert in any profession begin that work early. It is the early years of ardent application that tell for the most in making up the sum total in the work of a lifetime.

It is absolutely impossible for any person to do a vast amount of work in any line who neglects to enter upon that work until after the sap of his life is almost gone, and his vital energies are about used up in some other calling. This is not written to discourage those of ripe years and rich experience from working, but it is written to encourage all, and especially the young, to consecrate all their powers to God's service at the earliest opportunity. Only those who begin early can put in a long life of service for God. We sometimes hear men thanking the Lord for the privilege of putting in a score of years or more in soul-saving work; but some, by seeking the Lord early, and faithfully improving the opportunities that came to them for doing good, have been enabled to labor earnestly and well for threescore and ten years. In this way they increased the sum total of their life-work. The little things, as well as the larger ones, which Providence placed in their way, received their attention. Patience strengthened as experience gave approved character to their work, and ability increased as years multiplied into decades, until in heaven it was written of them, "Blessed are these who have sought to walk in the ways of the Lord from the days of their youth even down to old age."

Those converted in their youth have grown up in the love of the truth, and have fitted into every nook and corner of God's work because they never allowed Satan to harden their hearts and destroy their Christian flexibility. These are they whom God could use and has used to best advantage in difficult places in his cause. They did not develop stubbornness, but in gentleness and faithfulness served God all the days of their lives. Even now their citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and long ago in their souls' desire they were translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son.

No loathsome chapters of crime darken their record, for they sought and found the Lord before the evil days came. The halls of their memory are hung with bright pictures, photographed from souls converted and victories won for heaven.

Aurora, Ill.