p. 54 | Selecting Our Cross by H. C. Miller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 18, 1865

Selecting Our Cross.

By H. C. Miller

OUR Lord chooses for us just such a cross as is best for us, and if we take up this, our cross, and follow him, not taking it up and walking in a contrary direction, but meekly bearing it after the pattern he set, it will bear us safely through to the Master's feet in the kingdom of God, where we shall lay our burdens down; leaving our cross for a glorious crown.

But in this choosing of crosses, many are like the youth who was represented in a picture I once saw, entitled "The Cross Selected." His cross had been given him by the Master, but dissatisfied with it he had put it under his feet; and, seated upon it, amid a number of crosses large and small, he was choosing one to suit himself. He had taken up one, the very smallest, a little diminutive thing, when his Lord suddenly appeared to him, looking sorrowfully upon the scene. We all want the crown—a large, bright, and glittering one, but we want a very small cross, one we could carry in our pocket out of sight. Any one but that the Lord gives us. Foolish children, why will we be so wayward? Says the Lord, "I gave thee this cross. It was prepared for thee in the councils of Heaven. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost sent it to aid in fitting thee for thy final home. Infinite Wisdom made the choice. Infinite Love approved it. And dost thou, weak, foolish child, think to find a better one by thine own understanding?" The following from a religious writer of the day upon selecting crosses, is, I think, well said:

“There are disciples earnest in purpose, benevolent in disposition, giving and laboring freely to promote religious enterprise. Some of them are rough and of an ungovernable temper; active in building up good institutions, but neglecting to build up that best institution—a meek and gentle spirit. They can crucify avarice, because they have none in their natural disposition, but they cannot brook an insult. ‘No’ was the reply of one, when urged to forgive an offending brother:—‘No, I could forgive any other insult; but that is not to be borne.’

“And so there are some who could be honest, if it were not for the peculiar temptations they meet in their business. They are willing to sacrifice much for Christ; but just this sacrifice is too much to expect from them. And yet this selecting our cross is not the way of wisdom, obedience, or peace.

“This was the error of the rich young magistrate who came running to Christ, to learn what yet remained to complete his title to Heaven. The Lord handed him a cross. It proved to be just the one he was not willing to carry. So he went away sorrowful, because he could not choose the cross he was to bear.

“To one the cross of meditation is too heavy; so he selects that of activity, which is congenial to his nature. Another will be active; even make himself prominent in religious circles; yet there may be all the time a great sparing of a petted sin. Ambition can be gratified notwithstanding; self-will can still insist on carrying things in its own way. Harsh judgments can escape from lips that profess extraordinary attainments. Many a reformer has stumbled just here. Slander and gossip can go along with much zeal. A man may conquer his aversion to confess Christ, or to pray with his household, who never overcomes his avarice or his pride.

“One dislikes the severe part of secret prayer, which seems to be the struggle of the soul against the powers of darkness; or what the apostle Paul terms, ‘wrestling with principalities and powers.’ Such, therefore, prefer social to secret prayer, where they are not expected to have any special heart-struggles. They want only agreeable religious exercises.

“One shrinks from the vexations of his position, which is the very cross his Lord has laid upon him. Another attaches himself earnestly only to those pursuits which are agreeable. Self-pleasing is ever uppermost.”

Said Fenelon: “God gives to some, crosses of iron, and of lead, which are overwhelming in themselves; some he forms for us of straw, that seem to weigh nothing, and yet which are no less difficult to bear. Some he makes of gold and precious stones. And it is not for us to prefer the leaden to the golden; but to prefer that our Lord's blessed will may be perfectly done in us, and by us.”

“Some with Jesus are delighted While he speaks of joys to come, Thinking that to them is plighted After death a happy home; But the ‘Cross,’—when he declares it, ‘None but he who takes and bears it, Can my true disciple be; Few, how few, to this agree.’

“When we think the cross that is presented is too heavy, too hard to be borne, when the way he chooses for us seems rugged and rough, and we try to select one smoother and more pleasant, and lighter; as we begin to bear it along the way we have chosen, its seeming lightness is turned to heaviness that oppresses and crushes, and the pleasant way is dark and lonely. We pray to be relieved and the Lord relieves us, and again presents his chosen cross. We bow in humble, happy submission, and take the gift.

“And while we thus the chosen one confess, We see a heavenly brightness on it rest; And as we bend, our burden to receive, The first presented cross we do perceive.

“But oh, how different does it seem to be Now we have learned its preciousness to see! No longer can we unbelieving say, Perhaps our own is still a better way.

“Ah no! henceforth each one's desire will be That he who knows us best may choose for me; And so whate'er his love sees good to send, We'll choose as best, because He knows the end.” H. C. MILLER. Woodlawn, Ill., July, 1865.