Hoping for a Hope

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1865

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 25, No. 25.

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Hoping for a Hope.

A MAN dying of thirst stands before a fountain.

"Have you drank?"

"No! but I hope I shall."

"Do you wish to drink?"

"No! but I hope I shall wish to drink."

"Do you see that you are just ready to die for want of water?"

"No! but I hope I shall see it."

Why does he not drink? Because he has no desire to. Why, then, does he stand there? Because he hopes to have such a desire. But if the promptings of a dying agony, and the sweet gushing streams before him, leave him without that desire, what does his life amount to?

So stand we, poor sinners, by the fountain of Life. We look at the waters, and at those who are drinking, and look at the invitation, "Whosoever will," and then stand there still and hope we shall drink. What is such a hope good for? Why not take the water of Life freely? This hoping for a hope is often the Devil's opiate for a partially awakened sinner. The direction of God is, Lay hold of the hope set before you.

—Tract Journal.