How inexpressibly sweet for the Christian to look up and say, My Father! We knew how well parents love to do their children good, and when we feel that we are God’s children how easy it is to trust in Him! Do troubles thicken around us? He has promised He will never leave nor forsake us. Does keen anguish come upon us so that we feel that our hearts are breaking ? Our Father does not willingly suffer us to be afflicted. We must be crucified to the world. Our Saviour has suffered far more than this for us, and shall we not be willing to suffer with Christ if we would reign with him ? Oh, the love of God in giving His Son to die for a race of rebels ! Oh, for that love to be the ruling principle in my heart. Then shall I develop a character like that of my divine Lord, and those around me will see the likeness.
My life has been a scene of afflictions and trials severe, yet I can look back and see that goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of ray life. My trials and afflictions have all had the effect to show me the sinfulness of my nature, and my need of a Saviour. It is wrong to murmur or complain of afflictions, for at such times the Christian is compelled to lean constantly on Jesus, and continually feel that without help from God he must perish, and therefore will be gaining an experience which can be gained in no other way.
“Far more the treacherous calm I dread,
Than tempests bursting o’er my head.”
But it is very little calm we can expect here in the perils of the last days. The little space that is left us should be well improved in preparing for the Coming storm.
As all nations of the earth are making great preparations for war, and every thing is preparing for the great day of the Lord, should not we be getting on the whole armor of His righteousness, that we may be able to stand when he appeareth. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which can never be removed, but abideth forever. Oh, the wondrous love of God, and the matchless depths of a Saviour’s love. 0 my soul, why should I ever lack faith in God ? I am reminded of the words of an ancient poet who wrote thus.
“Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stock on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor would the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky.”
What an exalted privilege is ours, to be His children, if we will only keep His covenant ! Truly his commandments are not grievous, and Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden light, for ‘God is love’.
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Jan. 15, 1867