Why Tarriest Thou? by John Matteson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 9, 1866

"Why Tarriest Thou?"

By John Matteson

“ESCAPE for thy life; look not behind thee.” The prayer of our Saviour was, “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Free from what? “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid: how shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” “Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.” For this purpose Christ came and died, that sin should not reign in our mortal body. “Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.” “Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” “God sending his own Son . . . condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. . . . The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God.”

Brother, believest thou all this? I know that thou believest. But do you find no strength? “As thy day is, so shall thy strength be.” “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.” Sayest thou, I can do nothing, God must do all? Well, without him we can do nothing; but with him we can do all things. Every means of grace is the gift of God; but it is ours to use them. God worketh in us both to will and to do, and he giveth the increase; but we must also work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. And if we do not plant and water, He will give us no increase. The nobleman delivered to his ten servants their number of pounds, but they must occupy till he comes. And if we do not occupy, and gain some with our pound, the awful sentence will sound in our ears, “Thou wicked servant.” Faith is the gift of God; but we must exercise faith if we want the Lord to increase it.

My brother, are you so easily discouraged? so soon worn out? Have you already resisted unto blood striving against sin? Can nothing awaken, nothing move you? Can you be contented in bondage under the elements of the world? Is it popular fables, or the word of God that we have preached unto you?

Art thou also among “fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken?” Will you not open your eyes to see, your ears to hear, and your heart to understand? Is it in vain that Christ with his blood has sealed the truthfulness of his word, and proved by his death his deep and infinite love? Cannot this love move you, can it not constrain you? Did he live, die, and suffer for you, and will you do nothing in return? Have you these many years served the Devil and the world, and will you not spend a few days in the service of Jesus? Have you been faithful in serving your lusts, and will you now be lukewarm in serving God? Cannot the gentle voice of your Saviour awaken you?

Contemplate for a moment the great love of the Father. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “Whosoever,” means also you, my brother. Think how it pains the tender Father’s heart to give his only Son for you. See how Abraham with heavy heart and slow step ascend on mount Moriah, to offer up his son Isaac. But Jesus was his Father’s only Son. He leaves his happy home, and bids farewell to the bright morning stars who sang together, and the sons of God who shouted for joy when the sockets of the earth were fastened. And this was for you, my brother. Cannot this love move you? His love to you so great, and yours to him so cold. Are you still contented in your lukewarm condition, which will terminate in being spewed out of his mouth? Have you a heart harder than the rock, colder than ice? Do you still shut its doors against your best friend?

The Father bringeth in the first-begotten into the world. The whole multitude of the heavenly host sing in sweetest harmony mid the stillness of the night. The bright messengers bring tidings of greatest joy, which shall be to all people. Unto you is born this day a Saviour. Do you not hear the heavenly music, the good tidings for erring mortals? Behold the babe lying in a manger wrapt in swaddling clothes. Is this the Son of God who has come to save sinners? Oh, come and see. Here is no royal throne, no golden scepter; but angels throng around. Kings from the east, worship before the child, presenting their gold, and frankincense and myrrh. The shepherds and angels smile; and the Father himself in Heaven smiles upon a world in which a Saviour has appeared. Oh this is a gracious event for poor sinners, and for you, my brother. Come, oh come away from the deceitful lusts of the world. Curse your lukewarmness. Break away from the heavy yoke of evil habits. Away with friends and relatives who hinder my union with Jesus. My Saviour has become my salvation and my song. In him will I live and die. With him will I rise and reign.

Behold the hardships of Jesus throughout life. Hear his prayer on the lonely mountain in midnight silence, while others slumber in sweet repose. For you, my brother, his supplications ascended to Heaven, and will you not pray for yourself? See him in the garden in deep agony. He is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Forsaken by all, he wrestles in the deepest anguish and pain. Heavy drops of blood roll down his trembling flesh. All for your sake, to pay your debt. Oh will you not strive for yourself? Will you not wrestle with a little anguish and tears in your prayers? Can you not find time? Have you so much to take care of in this world? Oh yes, take together your chips, fill your mind with your many worldly plans, go with the world and a lukewarm church, and perish at last with them. Or, take time, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, go with the remnant people of God, and rejoice at last with them.

Does the world despise you? Jesus was spit upon. Must you walk upon thorns? He wore a crown of thorns, which sank deep into his holy head when cruel soldiers struck him with the reed. Does it smart to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts? Did not his back smart when he was cruelly scourged until his blood flowed in streams? Do you groan under the heavy burden? See how Jesus sinks to the ground as the heavy cross is laid upon his shoulders. Forsaken of God, forsaken by men, condemned as a malefactor, he hangs on the tree, nailed to a shameful cross.

Oh the Lamb, the loving Lamb! He is tasting the bitter cup of death for you, my brother. He dies for your sinful passions, evil habits, many transgressions. And will you still continue in sin? Oh no my brother, say No. God being my helper I will do so no more. Now I will say good-by to the filthy habits of the world. My Jesus has purchased me. I cannot serve sin any more. The Son of God has delivered me from the bondage of sin. He lives and I shall live. He rose and I shall rise. I am weak but he is strong. I am poor but he is rich. I will not, I dare not, let him go till he blesses me.

Brother, "yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." The morning-star has already appeared. It tells of an eternal day. Soon the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings. The unmingled wrath of God is soon to be poured out. Men are scorched with great heat, but repentance is found no more. They gnaw their tongues for pain, and blaspheme the God of Heaven. The great tribulation such as never was has come. Destruction goeth forth like a whirlwind. The very air is rent with shrieks and groans. Mourning and despair is seen everywhere. False teachers curse the time when they misinterpreted the word of God, and deceived ignorant souls. Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn.

But the elect cry unto God night and day. Do you not hear the angels of God coming after you? Now you are to meet the Saviour in the air. Oh, that will be joyful. Sink below my feet thou old and trembling earth. Perish with thy pain and sorrow, thy sin and death. From thy ruins a new earth shall come forth in which dwelleth righteousness. There shall I inherit the land which Jesus the testator in his testament has promised, and by his death enforced. I go to meet the Son of man. Amid the angelic host in the white cloud is a place for me. Brother, will you too go? Have you no time? Are you still busy with the world? Do you still cling to your filthy lusts and bad habits? Brother, I cannot let you go. Come, oh come with us! Do you not hear the angels sing? Do you not see the happy company in white array? Will you not sing with them redemption's sweet song, while angels in silence listen? Oh blessed hour! Oh glorious ascension! Upward, homeward we go to the heavenly city. The pearly gates are opened. The righteous nation enter in. On the sea of glass before the throne of God they stand, and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. They praise the Father, praise the Son, harping with their harps. Their song is sweet and harmonious as it were but one voice, and yet mighty and strong as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder.

Brother, have you no desire to mingle your voice with theirs? Is not this crown worth striving for? What have you sacrificed to obtain it? Are your eyes tired from weeping, your tongue from much crying? Have you become poor for Jesus' sake, or suffered persecution, or lost wife and children for his name? Have you left home or suffered hunger and cold to serve your dear Redeemer? Are you not ashamed that you love him so little? Not ashamed to love a filthy lust more than the fellowship of God's children? Brother, I cannot leave you. I have prayed to my dear Saviour for you, and will continue to do so. Have you no tears for yourself? then I will weep for you. Do you close your heart? that will open mine wide. Oh steel not thy heart against my love, my prayer. Tear away from the pollution of the flesh. Seek a pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father. Keep yourself unspotted from the world. Does the habit to which you cling so firmly, purify your heart, cleanse and renew your mind? Is not temperance a Christian virtue, and intemperance a vice? Is it not temperance to abstain from everything which is hurtful and useless? But it is written, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, . . . temperance." "And as he [Paul] reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee." Brother, has not your convenient season come yet to hear a word about temperance? "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we are incorruptible."

Dear brother, open your eyes, and strive with us to be temperate in all things, that we with all the dear children of God may obtain an incorruptible crown. JOHN MATTESON.