Who Believes! by R. F. Cottrell

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Mar 4, 1875

Who Believes!

By R. F. Cottrell

JESUS, the Son of God and the Son of man hath said, "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:37-39. "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30.

Fearful language! But who believes it? Jesus, who was once upon the earth, who labored, suffered, died and rose again, to save lost men, sinful, rebellious and under condemnation to death, has promised, "I will come again." He is coming the second time to save them that believe and obey him, and to destroy them that "know not God and obey not the gospel" of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:28. A day of gladness and joy to those who love him, but terrible to those who know him not! "Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?" In the days of Noah and Lot the few were saved, and the multitudes perished. These did not believe the warning given, and consequently destruction came upon them unexpectedly, as a thief in the night. Even thus shall it be when the Son of man shall be "revealed from heaven in flaming fire." "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them."

Who believe these things? Not the giddy world rushing on its thoughtless career of business and pleasure, sin and folly. Not the professed Christian who closes his eyes to the signs of the times and hopes and trusts that the Lord will not come in his day, and leisurely floats on the tide of time, and carelessly drifts with the current of the world, and eats and drinks with the "lovers of pleasure," drunken with self-indulgence and sin. These are they who in their hearts, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and shall have their portion with the hypocrites—weeping and gnashing of teeth. Not the professed believer in the advent at hand, who rejects the last message and does not make the preparation required, namely, to keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. (See Rev. 14:9-12.) Neither is it the professed believer in this message who is at ease, and does not exert himself to publish abroad the warning to his fellow-men and thus save them from the wrath which is threatened in this message.

Such a faith as this demands immediate, earnest and persevering action. Faith without corresponding works is dead; and a faith which believes that the last warning is being heralded to the world—the closing message of probationary time, a message which is to decide the eternal destiny of the living generation—should be characterized with an earnestness and zeal such as the world of mankind have not yet witnessed.

Selfishness cannot enter heaven. The plan of human redemption and salvation is laid in self-sacrifice for the good of others. Jesus has set the example. He laid the corner stone in the sacrifice of himself. Christians are those who follow Christ. And can we hope to be approved of Heaven, while we see men exposed to the wrath threatened in this last message, and not exert ourselves to save them? May God help us as a people to let our course of action correspond to our faith. Who is sufficient for these things? Our sufficiency is of God. Let us seek to God for the Spirit to qualify us for this work of overwhelming magnitude, and while we seek power from on high, labor with our whole heart in all the strength he gives.

R. F. COTTRELL.