Who Will Be on the Lord's Side?
By Martha D. Amadon
In Review No. 9, is a short appeal to the young, which has done me much good. I have often questioned why there was no more zeal among the young, why we so seldom hear from them, why those whose minds are perplexed with other cares, must alone feel the burden of their case, why we do not oftener see devoted growing Christians among those who have few or no burdens to bear. Why is all this? I know there is the Instructor, but it is mostly devoted to the children who need it all. But those who are approaching manhood and womanhood, why may not they manifest a zeal in the work of God? Why may they not tell of an experience in the things of God, simple though it be? Fearful is the time in which we are living, solemn the moments, and unless our hearts swell with emotions of interest now, where shall we find ourselves when far more fearful days draw on? It is unsafe to live on in security now. It is all-important that duties small and great be well performed, that we be faithful over a few things now, if we would finally be made ruler over many things. I remember well when my heart was first touched by present truth. I remember how warm were the prayers and exhortations of the young then. How full of interest were the prayer-meetings in private dwellings. It was a sacrifice to remain away from one of them. Praise to God often floated on the air from those dwellings. But trials and tests came, and where now are those who fought the battles of the Lord then? Some seem to have become weary in the warfare, and have turned their backs upon the celestial city. They have found something else to satisfy the longings they had then for eternal life. Some toiled on with helmet, sword, and shield, till it was their lot to fall at their post, and of them it is written, "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth." They sleep in Jesus, and no more shall we hear their songs of praise and shouts of victory until they join in the everlasting triumphs over death and the grave. O may our hearts be united again as then! Others are still toiling on, hoping to the end. But are all our powers enlisted in the work of God? Are we striving for the strait gate and narrow way? Does each day tell of duties well done, trials well borne, and complete victories over our wily foe? Do we love the way of the cross, so that, forgetting the things which are behind, we press forward to those which are before? or do our duties, unfulfilled, lie in our path, piercing our feet with thorns? How faithfully should we tread the path of holiness, so zealously pursued by holy ones of old! Then can we with confidence ask to be sheltered from the gathering storm in the future? How grateful will the words, "Well done" fall upon our ears at last! Anxious fears often fill our hearts now, lest we fall in the hour of temptation coming on all the world to try them. How then will joy fill the breasts of all who hear it said to them, "He that is holy, let him be holy still." O that the young, with one consent, may stir up themselves to call upon God to work for them. We have all need to pray, "Gather not my soul with sinners nor my life with bloody men." May none rest until, like Enoch, who was a type of those who will be translated without seeing death, they have the evidence that God approves of them, a hope in God which cannot be shaken by winds or tempests. Then will our bark abide every storm and anchor safely on the eternal shore. "We'll stand the storm, it won't be long,
We'll anchor by and by."