Our Hope by Sarah M. Swain

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1858

Our Hope.

By Sarah M. Swain

"Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail." Heb. vi, 19.

WHILE pilgrims and strangers, despised by the world, surrounded by temptations and trials, subject to all the infirmities of this mortal state, daily exposed to the shafts of death, and often called to mourn the loss of those we dearly love, how dark would be our prospect, how miserable our condition, had we no hope of a future life, had we no bright prospect placed before us, as an object for which we may toil and suffer, to cheer our hearts under discouragements, and to sustain and comfort under affliction. Our heavenly Father well knew what most we needed, and has set before us a glorious hope, upon which we may lay hold as a refuge in every emergency, and which as an anchor to the soul will preserve us unmoved amid the stormy billows of life's tempestuous sea.

It is not the hope of worldly care and comfort, for Christ has said, In the world ye shall have tribulation. He has told us that we shall be hated of all men for his name's sake, and that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. He has compared his people to sheep in the midst of ravenous wolves, who shall seek to devour and destroy them. It is not the hope of worldly riches, for we are forbidden to lay up treasure on earth. We are told that they that will be rich fall into a snare, and into foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition; and our meek and lowly Pattern, though Lord of the universe, became for our sakes so poor that he had not where to lay his head. It is not the hope that we shall be freed (in this life) from the bodily pain and suffering incident to others, for we often see the most humble christian enduring sickness and distress, and we are told that whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. 'Tis none of these, 'tis a hope which far exceeds them all. It is the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is the hope of seeing Jesus, and being made like him; the hope of a glorious rest in his everlasting kingdom, when the present earth with all its treasures shall have passed away. It is the hope of dwelling forever with that lovely Saviour who has redeemed us by his own precious blood, who bore our sins in his own body on the tree, by whose stripes we are healed. It is the glorious hope of seeing him, whom having not seen we love, who is to us the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. It is the hope of seeing those who sleep in Jesus break the fetters of the tomb, and come forth clothed with immortality, and with them be permitted to join in the universal song of praise to the Lamb, which shall resound through the wide expanse of heaven, and with immortal powers to adore his matchless grace to all eternity. O is not this a good hope? Not only is our hope a very cheering one, but it is sure and steadfast; it can never fail, for it reaches to that within the vail, where Jesus is for us entered. It is confirmed by the word of him who cannot lie, and as long as we hold on to it with an unyielding grasp we are safe.

What though the winds of adversity blow, and waves of sorrow roll around? What though at times we are almost overwhelmed by the foaming billows? our anchor is sure, and it is cast on good anchorage ground. 'Tis true that we must let go of every thing else in order to lay hold of it, but what of that? What else can we desire? Our hope embraces every thing that we need. We have the promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. His word assures us that no good thing will be withheld from those who walk uprightly. Our Saviour watches over us with more than a parent's care, and what need of a child, who has kind parents who are able to protect him from every ill, and to provide for all his wants, being perplexed with anxious care?

Not only is our hope sure, but it is soon to be realized. The church of God in former days looked through a long vista of years for the realization of their hope, but we have the most unmistakable evidence that we are living very near the time when

"Hope shall change to glad fruition, Faith to sight, and prayer to praise."

Dear brethren and sisters, have we fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us in the gospel? Are our hearts cheered by the bright prospect that opens to the view beyond this scene of suffering and conflict? Do Zion's glory-crowned summits rise to our view, and the hope of soon seeing them in all their unveiled splendor lift our hearts above the sorrows, and toils, and cares of this mortal life, and enable us to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ? Does this hope have a purifying effect upon our hearts? Does it make us dead unto the world, and the world unto us, so that with Paul we can say, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me? Do we cheerfully suffer the loss of all things and count them but dross that we may win Christ? If so, we may rejoice, knowing that soon the victory will be gained, and crowns of dazzling splendor will be given to adorn the beauteous brows of those who have come out of great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. We shall doubtless have severe trials to pass through before we reach our journey's end; but if it be in the furnace of affliction that our kind Father sees fit to purify us and prepare us for the pilgrim's home, God help us not to shrink. O how perilous the moment, how fraught with weal or woe! O to be kept pure and unspotted from the world!

Brethren and sisters, let us awake, and show to the world around us by our daily walk and conversation, that we have Christ formed within the hope of glory. Let our affections be glued to earth no longer. Let us no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who gave himself for us, that he might purge us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. The battle is almost over, the victory almost won. Soon if faithful we'll hear from the lips of the Judge, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord.

"O what has Jesus bought for me! Before my ravished eyes, Rivers of life divine I see, And trees of Paradise." Brethren and sisters, I'll try to meet you there. SARAH M. SWAIN. Orwell, Ohio, Dec. 5th, 1857.