Chapter 24—Onward and Upward
I wish I could portray the beauty of the Christian life. Beginning
in the morning of life, controlled by the laws of nature and of God,
the Christian moves steadily onward and upward, daily drawing
nearer his heavenly home, where await for him a crown of life, and
a new name, “which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
Constantly he grows in happiness, in holiness, in usefulness. The
progress of each year exceeds that of the past year.
God has given the youth a ladder to climb, a ladder that reaches
from earth to heaven. Above this ladder is God, and on every round
fall the bright beams of His glory. He is watching those who are
climbing, ready, when the grasp relaxes and the steps falter, to send
help. Yes, tell it in words full of cheer, that no one who perseveringly
climbs the ladder will fail of gaining an entrance into the heavenly
city.
Satan presents many temptations to the youth. He is playing the
game of life for their souls, and he leaves no means untried to allure
and ruin them. But God does not leave them to fight unaided against
the tempter. They have an all-powerful Helper.
Stronger far than their foe is He who in this world and in human
nature met and conquered Satan, resisting every temptation that
comes to the youth today. He is their Elder Brother. He feels for them
a deep and tender interest. He keeps over them a constant watch-
[96] care, and He rejoices when they try to please Him. As they pray,
He mingles with their prayers the incense of His righteousness, and
offers them to God as a fragrant sacrifice. In His strength the youth
can endure hardness as good soldiers of the cross. Strengthened with
His might, they are enabled to reach the high ideals before them.
The sacrifice made on Calvary is the pledge of their victory.
90
Onward and Upward 91
God Not Unreasonable
The church of God is made up of vessels large and small. The
Lord does not ask for anything unreasonable. He does not expect
the smaller vessels to hold the contents of the larger ones. He looks
for returns according to what a man has, not according to what he
has not. Do your best, and God will accept your efforts. Take up the
duty lying nearest you, and perform it with fidelity, and your work
will be wholly acceptable to the Master. Do not, in your desire to do
something great, overlook the smaller tasks awaiting you.
Beware how you neglect secret prayer and a study of God’s word.
These are your weapons against him who is striving to hinder your
progress heavenward. The first neglect of prayer and Bible study
makes easier the second neglect. The first resistance to the Spirit’s
pleading prepares the way for the second resistance. Thus the heart
is hardened, and the conscience seared.
On the other hand, every resistance of temptation makes resistance
more easy. Every denial of self makes self-denial easier. Every
victory gained prepares the way for a fresh victory. Each resistance [97]
of temptation, each self-denial, each triumph over sin, is a seed
sown unto eternal life. Every unselfish action gives new strength to
spirituality. No one can try to be like Christ without growing more
noble and more true.
Develop Confidence
The Lord will recognize every effort you make to reach His ideal
for you. When you make a failure, when you are betrayed into
sin, do not feel that you cannot pray, that you are not worthy to
come before the Lord. “My little children, these things write I unto
you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” With outstretched arms He
waits to welcome the prodigal. Go to Him, and tell Him about your
mistakes and failures. Ask Him to strengthen you for fresh endeavor.
He will never disappoint you, never abuse your confidence.
Trial will come to you. Thus the Lord polishes the roughness
from your character. Do not murmur. You make the trial harder by
repining. Honor God by cheerful submission. Patiently endure the
92 Messages to Young People
pressure. Even though a wrong is done you, keep the love of God in
the heart. “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking
guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The
eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto
their cry.”
“Beware of desperate steps; the darkest day, Wait but tomorrow,
will have passed away.” “In quietness and in confidence shall be
[98] your strength.” Christ knows the strength of your temptations and
the strength of your power to resist. His hand is always stretched
out in pitying tenderness to every suffering child. To the tempted,
discouraged one he says, Child for whom I suffered and died, cannot
you trust Me? “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”
“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall
bring it to pass.” ... He will be to you as the shadow of a great rock
in a weary land. He says, “Come unto Me, ... and I will give you
rest,”—rest that the world can neither give nor take away....
Words cannot describe the peace and joy possessed by him who
takes God at His word. Trials do not disturb him, slights do not vex
him. Self is crucified. Day by day his duties may become more
taxing, his temptations stronger, his trials more severe; but he does
not falter; for he receives strength equal to his need.—The Youth’s
Instructor, June 26, 1902.
Cost of Victory
Christ sacrificed everything for man, in order to make it possible
for him to gain heaven. Now it is for fallen man to show what he
will sacrifice on his own account, for Christ’s sake, that he may win
immortal glory. Those who have any just sense of the magnitude
of salvation, and of its cost, will never murmur that their sowing
must be in tears, and that conflict and self-denial are the Christian’s
[99] portion in this life.—The Signs of the Times, March 4, 1880.
