Keeping the Heart by E. G. Rust

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 26, 1864

Keeping the Heart.

By E. G. Rust

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." Oh, what a work we have to do, after once confessing the name of our Father in Heaven, in keeping our heart! How often we find them turning from Christ, and things truly divine, and yearning after the things of this world! How many times in the course of a day, young Christians, do we find ourselves guilty of the base ingratitude of entirely forgetting that merciful Being who has made us all we are, and musing, perhaps, on the dark pages of futurity, and speculating as to what station we shall fill in the world, or how we are held in the estimation of that circle which we have separated ourselves from, in taking up our Saviour's cross? How ungrateful we are in making the cold return we do for the matchless depths of that Saviour's love, who died on Calvary's cross to save us from the just wrath of God, for breaking his great moral law. It is "amid the little cares and perplexities, and the busy scenes of life, that we sometimes lose sight of the prize, forget that we have an enemy, and, worse than all, an evil nature, and carelessly lay down our armor; then it is, while unguarded, we grieve from us the Spirit of God; but never while supplicating at his throne for mercy and grace, or waiting upon the Lord for any object. Then let us be alive to our duty, young friends, casting aside our desires for the pleasures of this world, knowing that the Lord will work every thing for our good, and try to concentrate our minds on the one object, that "better land," that we may continually possess the rich blessing of God.

How often do we arouse to the consciousness that our minds are wandering to unprofitable subjects? We all find, by experience, that this is dangerous. It tends to lead us from God. Then let us strive to keep our hearts, and place our thoughts upon God's great goodness to us, which surpasseth all things.

We have a hope which is both sure and steadfast, and by cherishing that hope and searching our grounds for it, we grow in grace and in knowledge of the truth.

There is, indeed, great danger, in these perilous times, after having once tasted the rich blessing of God's love, of allowing the love for and spirit of the world, like a cankerworm, to eat this precious truth, which we so much love, entirely out of our hearts. And oh, how great then will be our condemnation! Then let us keep our hearts and be able to say, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

We have all much to do to get ready for the coming of Jesus, which is very near at hand. Then let us be watchful, and not let that fact be lost sight of, nor covered up by the cares and thoughts of this world, but let us hold it up where we may have a clear view of it, and make it the main object of our lives to be fitting for that glorious event. Let us each try to keep in our proper lot and place, never once thinking of rising above the humble walk of life to which we belong; always heeding the injunctions of the apostle, to "mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate."

True, we have many little trials, and perplexities, and disappointments, and often have our hopes of this world dashed to pieces; but these are only to purify us. So let us praise God for the grace which he gives us to withstand them. And whenever we feel a murmuring spirit on account of them, we will do well to remember that "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Oh, what a glorious thought! Let us be faithful a little longer, striving to keep our hearts in all purity, abstaining from all appearance of evil, that we may win that glorious crown of immortality, which is only a little way in the future. This is well worth striving for.

E. G. Rust.

Battle Creek, Mich.