Will our Children be Saved?
By H. L. Doty
Our hearts have been made glad by the news that comes from different parts, that tells of the youth becoming interested, and some of them obeying the truths of the third angel's message. To every one whose heart is imbued with the spirit of the message, this will cause feelings of joy, and will call forth the earnest prayer that the work commenced will, by the blessing of God, spread until every place where the truth has a foothold shall feel its influence. And especially the parent who has children unsaved will feel a deep interest in the work. Many parents have no doubt asked the question while with anxious thoughts they have looked after the welfare of their children, Will the church here partake of the Spirit, and share in the general outpouring? Like causes will produce like effects. This is true in the material world, and is no less true in the spiritual. When God has had a special blessing to bestow upon his people, he has always required of them a preparation for that blessing; and he has never failed to bestow the blessing on those who obeyed him by making the required preparation. Here, then, is the answer to the foregoing question. If we, as a church, are in that state of readiness that God requires, we shall share in the blessing. These thoughts have rested with some weight upon my mind since reading Bro. White's article in No. 6 of the present volume, headed, The Cause. Let me quote that part which has a bearing on the subject we are considering: "In every place where the message has been lived out by those who have professed it, and the testimonies which God in mercy has sent have been received, to the putting away of idols, we may now expect a precious ingathering of souls." By this light, dear brethren and sisters, let us examine ourselves, and if we can respond affirmatively to the questions that the words above quoted will suggest to the thinking mind, we shall find ourselves occupying a position where we may with confidence expect that our labors for our children will be blessed of God to their conversion. In making this inquiry we shall notice a few of the most prominent characteristics that we should expect to see in one that professed faith in, and was living out, the teachings of the third angel's message. A prominent feature in our faith is the second advent near. Do our plans, our engagements, our words, and our actions, all tend to carry conviction to the minds of our children that we believe what we profess? If they do, our children will feel their force, and will be affected thereby; but if we by word or deed deny our faith in this particular, our efforts to impress them with this truth will be a failure. The third message draws a line of distinction between those who heed its warning and all the rest of the world; so much so, that it makes them a separate and peculiar people: separate from the world, its spirit, its pursuits, and its ambition, peculiar in their hopes, their aspirations, &c. Are we this separate and peculiar people? Or, in other words, is the message so wrought into our being that it may be said of us, that there is hardly an interest that we share in common with the rest of the world? We profess to be commandment-keepers. A prominent feature that distinguishes us from the rest of the world is our observance of the fourth precept. Do we keep it according to the commandment? Do we from our hearts call the Sabbath a delight? Do we while yielding obedience to the fourth precept hold proper views of the binding obligation of the other nine? These are a few of the questions that crowd upon the mind while viewing the responsibilities that rest upon parents, and the part that God designed they should act in bringing their children into covenant relations with himself. But this is not all. The great work of getting the truth before those who have ears to hear requires means; and to get the necessary means God's people have according to the teaching of the Word adopted a system that draws equally upon all. Now are we heart and hand with the body in this movement? Do we give of our substance to carry the truth to others? If we do, God's blessing is upon us, but if not, we have no more cause to expect the blessing we desire than would the Israelite who in the former dispensation withheld the required offering. The conditions and the blessing are plainly set forth in the word of God: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Mal. iii, 10. Let us heed these words, and cease robbing God by withholding that which he86requires at our hands, that we may receive the promised blessing. Let us inquire further, for this matter is worthy of a careful search. Bro. White speaks of the testimonies' being "received to the putting away of idols." Upon this point I fear we shall find more that have been remiss than upon any other test that has been brought to bear upon us. Let us look into our hearts, and in the fear of God ask the question, Have we put away our idols? Here let us pause, and in our mind repeat the solemn inquiry, and then in view of the blessing we desire, and knowing that the eye of God is upon us, answer truly; and if we have not, let us seek forgiveness for our half-heartedness, and resolve that we will no longer be remiss in this matter. There is one more inquiry that claims our attention, which we must notice before we leave the subject. The duty of parents to their children is a subject that has been dwelt upon in the testimonies, and if God has spoken to us in reference to this matter, we certainly dare not refuse to listen. No one will doubt for a moment that the probabilities of our children's becoming obedient to the truth is enhanced by being taught to reverence and obey their parents. Have we discharged this important duty that we as parents owe to our children, that they by learning to submit to our authority may more willingly submit to the government of heaven? There are but few who will not regret their unfaithfulness in this matter. But past unfaithfulness is no excuse for continuance therein. Let us awake to a sense of our duty, and awake to act, for the time is short in which we may work to make amends for the past. Let us quote from the testimony, and remember that it is God that speaks; it may stimulate us to greater faithfulness: "The curse of God will surely rest upon unfaithful parents. The false sympathy and blind love of parents causes them to excuse the faults of their children, and pass them by without correction, and their children are lost in consequence, and the blood of their souls will rest upon unfaithful parents." He that would stand acquitted must be faithful in all things. Let us gird on the armor and enter into the conflict, and be prepared for the refreshing when it comes.