p. 451 | THERE IS HELP IN GOD by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 6, 1881

THERE IS HELP IN GOD.

By John Nevins Andrews

THE Lord of hosts is the present help of those who put their trust in him. The arm of man is too feeble to help us in trouble, even when he is disposed to do his utmost for us. Those therefore do greatly err who put their trust even in princes. And why should we ever commit an error of this kind? Has not God invited us to trust in him? And has he not warned us not to trust in the arm of flesh?

God knows our sorrows as man cannot know them. To him all hearts are open. He knows our temptations, he understands our errors and faults. He is able to succor in the hour of our extremity, and he has promised to do it. There is no arm like his. If he is for us, he is more than all that can be against us. There is but one thing that will prevent him from extending help to us, and that is sin. And even sin cannot hinder God from helping us, if we will truly repent of it. But true repentance always involves a change of conduct. We must leave off our transgressions and turn from them to a course of true obedience.

Now God does not deny his mercy and his favor to penitent sinners. These are the very persons who may trust in him. All his promises are made to this class. We must not forget this fact, for it is of priceless value. God does not reject us because we have sinned, but because we refuse to put away our sins by repentance. If we could keep this fact before our minds, it would be a constant strength and support to us. We could then take hold of God's arm for help, and we should never be disappointed in the result. But we have an adversary who knows how to thwart our efforts in the great struggle for eternal life. He puts forth his utmost effort in every way to lead us into sin, and if he succeeds to any extent in his temptation, he then becomes our accuser that he may cause us to distrust God's mercy, and to neglect to come to him for pardon and for salvation. This is a most cruel temptation, and its effect in paralyzing our strength is great.

But we need not be thus thwarted in our efforts to seek God. When we seek him with all our hearts, he promises to receive us. It is our duty to believe that he is as good as his word. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:7. These are exceedingly precious words, and they were written on purpose that our faith may take hold on them. God is infinitely and supremely good. It is our privilege to trust him when every earthly refuge has failed us.

The Saviour says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt. 12:28-30. This invitation is addressed to all who feel the burden of their sins. Though Satan will attempt to hinder us from accepting it by urging the fact that our burden of sin renders us unworthy of the Saviour's notice, yet the invitation is addressed to none but those who feel this burden. Those who feel no need of relief are offered none by Christ. We need not stay away because of the burden upon our souls. We are the ones invited, and we may be sure that it is our privilege to accept the offer of mercy. He will in no wise cast out him that cometh to him. This is the very Saviour we need. We can find salvation through him. We can trust in him with the assurance that he will save us. We must indeed accept his yoke, but it is a privilege to accept it. We must leave our sins, but they are the very cause of our burden, and in the end they will ruin us if we do not put them away. Let us thank God for such a Saviour. Let us prove ourselves true to him and to his cause. He will never leave us: let us see that we never forsake him. We can trust in him always if we will but keep his sayings; and he will assuredly guide us with his counsel, and afterwards receive us to glory.

J. N. A.