Issue 27, October 2012

Pilgrim Youth

Issue 27, October 2012

Pilgrim Youth

Issue 27, October 2012

Pilgrim Youth

Words to the Young

By Ellen G. White FOR ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance with legal religion, through striving to fulfil the claims of the law in our own strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospel preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel that is preached to us to-day, through which we have hope. Abraham looked unto Jesus, who is also the Author and the Finisher of our faith. In viewing the holiness and glory of the God of the universe, we are terrified; for we know that his justice will not permit him to clear the guilty. But we need not remain in terror; for Christ came to the world to reveal the character of God, to make plain to us his paternal love toward his adopted children. We are not to estimate the

character of God by the stupendous works of nature alone, but by the simple, lovely life of Jesus, who presented Jehovah as more merciful, more compassionate, more tender, than our earthly parents. Jesus presented the Father as one to whom we could give our confidence and present our wants. When we are in terror of God, and overwhelmed with the thought of his glory and majesty, the Father points us to Christ as his representative. What you see revealed in Jesus of tenderness, compassion, and love, is the reflection of the attributes of the Father. The cross of Calvary reveals to man the love of God. Christ represents the Sovereign of the universe as a God of love. By the mouth of the prophet he said, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. We have access to God through the merits of the name of Christ, and God invites us to bring to him our trials and temptations; for he understands them all. He would not have us pour out our woes to human ears. Through the blood of Christ we may come to the throne of grace, and find grace to help in time of need. We may come with assurance, saying, My acceptance
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is in the Beloved. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. As an earthly parent encourages his child to come to him at all times, so the Lord encourages us to lay before him our wants and perplexities, our gratitude and love. Every promise is sure. Jesus is our Surety and Mediator, and has placed at our command every resource, that we may have a perfect character. The blood of Christ in ever-abiding efficacy is our only hope; for through his merits alone we have pardon and peace. When the efficiency of the blood of Christ becomes a reality to the soul through faith in Christ, the believer will let his light shine forth in good works, in bringing forth fruits unto righteousness. He will tell the sinner that Christs love extends to him. He will present before him the merits of the blood of Christ, bidding him renounce all self-dependence, pointing him to the cross of Calvary, and encouraging him to say, In my hand no price I bring; Simply to thy cross I cling.

This is the story that the labourer together with God will repeat in earnest love to those who are the purchase of Christs blood. taken from The Youths Instructor, September 22, 1892

***

Two Riddles
Riddle 1 (an Adventist pioneer):
Malaria had made him weak, But through it all Gods help hed seek. When healed, a preacher he became. The Word of God he would proclaim. At just sixteen it all began: To preach, though barely een a man. But God chose him to preach the Word, And there were many souls who heard. ***

Riddle 2 (a Bible character):

As a child, Gods Words he knew, These he loved his whole life through. He would work for his dear Lord. Seeing souls saved: his reward. By the side of Paul, hed stand; Strengthened by Gods mighty Hand. ~ L. Scheman
(answers on page 11)

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Pilgrim Youth

My Mothers Voice
A friend told me not long ago a beautiful story about kind words. A good lady passed a drinking saloon just as the keeper was thrusting a young man into the street. He was quite young and very pale, but his haggard face and wild eyes told that he was far gone in the road to ruin, and with an oath he brandished his clenched fists, threatening to be revenged on the man who had ill-used him. This young man was so excited and blinded with passion, that he did not see the lady who stood very near to him, until she laid her hand on his arm, and spoke in her gentle, loving voice, asking him what was the matter. At the first kind word he started as if a heavy blow had struck him, and turned quickly round paler than before, trembling from head to foot. He surveyed the lady for a moment, and then with a sigh of relief he said, I thought that was my mothers voice; it sounded strangely like! But her voice has been hushed in death these many years.

You had a mother then, and she loved you, said she. With that sudden revulsion of feeling which often comes to people of fine nervous temperaments, the young man burst into tears and sobbed out. Oh yes, I had an angel mother and she loved her boy! But since she died all the world has been against me, and I am lost to honor, lost to decency, and lost forever! No, not lost forever, for God is merciful, and His pitying love can reach the chief of sinners, said the lady in her soft, sweet voice. The timely words swept the hidden chords of feeling which had long been untouched in the young mans heart, thrilling it with magic power, and wakening a host of tender emotions, which had been buried deep beneath the rubbish of sin and crime. More gentle words the lady spoke, and when she passed on her way the young man followed her. He marked the house she entered and wrote the name which was on the silver doorplate in his memorandum book. Then he went slowly away with a very earnest look on his pale face and a deeper

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Pilgrim Youth

and more earnest feeling in his heart. Years glided by, and the gentle lady had quite forgotten the incident we have related, when one day a stranger sent up his card and desired to speak with her. Wondering who it could be, she went down to the parlor where she found a noble-looking, welldressed man, who rose deferentially to meet her. Holding out his hand, he said, Pardon me, madam, for this intrusion, but I have come many miles to thank you for the great service you rendered me a few years ago, said he, in a trembling voice. The lady was puzzled and asked for an explanation, as she did not remember ever having seen the gentleman before. I have changed much, said the man, that you have quite forgotten me; but though I only saw your face once, I am sure I should have recognized it anywhere. And your voice, too, is so like my mothers. These last words made the lady remember the young man she had kindly spoken to in front of the drinking saloon so long before and
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the tears flowed freelyboth wept. After the first gush of emotion had subsided, the gentleman told the lady how those few gentle words had been instrumental in saving him and making him what he was then. The earnest expression of No, not lost forever, followed me wherever I went, said he, and it always seemed that it was the voice of my mother speaking to me from the tomb. I repented of my many transgressions and resolved to live in Jesus as my mother would have been pleased to have had me; and by the mercy and grace of God I have been enabled to resist temptation and keep my good resolutions. I never dreamed there was such power in a few kind words before, exclaimed the lady, and surely, ever after this, I shall take more pains to speak them to all the sad and suffering ones I meet in the walks of life. taken from In the Twilight

Never underestimate the power of words

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Pilgrim Youth

One Thing Thou Lackest.

II
By Ellen G. White The experience of the young ruler who valued his riches above the heavenly treasure is presented to us as an object-lesson. It contains a lesson for us all. The young man turned from Christ, saying, inwardly, I will not have this man as my leader. Christ was not as much to him as his possessions or his name among men. He rejected the offer of eternal life, and went away, refusing to follow Jesus; and ever afterward, the world was to receive his worship. Thousands are passing through this experience, weighing Christ against the world, and many choose the world. Every invitation refused makes the heart harder. Seeds of resistance are sown that will bring a harvest of resistance. But what a price Christ paid to make it possible for this young man to obtain salvation! He stepped down from the throne of honor, laid

off his royal robe and his royal crown, gave back into his Fathers hand the scepter, and veiling divinity with humanity, humbled himself, and came to a world all seared and marred with the curse. For your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. Although he was the Majesty of heaven, he bore the cross of shame. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Notwithstanding his glory, his exalted character, and his position as commander in high heaven, where he was equal with God, in order to bring the precious gift of eternal life and immortality to the fallen race, he took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Think of the elevation, the glory, the majesty that Christ, the only begotten Son of God, possessed! Yet he condescended to leave all
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this. In behalf of man he descended, step by step in the path of humiliation. He knew, as no human being can know, the elevation from which he descended to become a man among men. He was compassed about with poverty. Although rich, for our sake he became poor, that we, through his poverty, might enjoy eternal riches. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! Christ humbled himself. In him the infinite and the finite met in a close and mysterious union. Deity was veiled with humanity. The Creator stooped to the created. God was manifest in the flesh. Having become mans substitute and surety, Christ felt a longing of soul, a hunger, for the accomplishment of the salvation of the human race. To rescue them he came to this world, that by humbling himself, he might reach man in his fallen condition. And when man accepts the great salvation, and becomes a co-worker with God, Christ rejoices. Love returned makes glad the heart of Christ. Those who obey his words become sons and daughters of God.
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Blessings flow through Christ to them, and their influence draws others to him. God has given us the rule of conduct which every servant of Jesus Christ must follow. It is obedience to his law, not merely a legal obedience, but an obedience which enters into the entire life, and is exemplified in the character. God has set his own standard of character for all who would become subjects of his kingdom. Those who can and will say, Lord, all I have, and all I am, is thine, will be given grace and fortitude to come out from the world and be separate. They will be acknowledged as sons and daughters of God, members of the royal family, children of the Heavenly King. The light of the Sun of Righteousness will shine upon their pathway. All should consider what it means to desire heaven, and yet to turn away from Christ because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say No to Christ! The ruler said, No, I cannot give you all. Is this what you say? Christ offers to share with you the work that God has given you to do. He offers to use the means that God has given you to

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Pilgrim Youth

carry forward his work in our world. Only in this way can he save you. The worlds policy is to acquire money and advantages in any way that they can be obtained. An accumulation of this worlds treasure is the ambition of worldlings. But the object of the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ is to become Christlike by selfdenial and self-sacrifice. They keep their eyes on the eternal riches, which they can obtain by renouncing earthly treasure. They heed the words, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. They keep Christ in view, following where he leads. Why cannot we learn the methods and results of Christs lifepractise? We may never have opportunity to do great things, we may never be required to make sublime sacrifices; but the greatest victory we can gain is to follow Jesus. What does the great Teacher say?If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Every day that Christ lived in our world was for him a day of selfdenial. If we would follow him over the rugged path of self-denial,

we must commence with the earliest years of our life to deny self, and this denial must be carried into the every-day occurrences and actions of life. In the name of Jesus I would entreat those who, because of their high position and their possessions, think themselves more favored of God than their fellow men are, to learn in the school of Christ the lesson given to the young ruler. Many thousands have followed his example, and, turning away from the heavenly treasure, have chosen earthly riches. But who can afford to do this? Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. If any man come to me, Christ declared, and hate not [love less than God] his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Again
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Christ declares, Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. This is Gods claim. He will accept nothing less than this. He is God. He is our Creator. We are bought with a price, and what a price,even the precious blood of the only begotten Son of God! God owns us. By creation and by redemption we are his. He holds out the only terms upon which we can be saved. We are to love God with all our heart and mind and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. Only whole-hearted service will be accepted by God, and for this life-service he gives us all heaven. Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods. In fulfilling Gods claims, we are only giving back to him his own. All who would be saved must do this. It is essential for all who would possess heavens treasure to understand and practise this principle. It may seem to those who, like the young man, are in high positions of trust and have great possessions, that it is too much to give up all and follow Christ. But this is the rule of conduct for all who would win heaven. To be a Christian is to
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become a disciple of Christ. This means obedience, and nothing short of this will be accepted. Selfsurrender is the substance of the teachings of Christ. Often is it presented and enjoined in language that seems authoritative, because there is no other way to save man than to cut away those things which, if entertained, will demoralize the whole being. When Christs followers return to the Lord his own, they receive a blessing; for they are accumulating treasure which will be given to them when they shall hear the words, Well done, good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The joy of seeing souls redeemedsouls eternally saved is the privilege of those who overcome obstacles in order to put their feet in the footprints of him who said, Follow me. By refusing to follow Christ, we lose our hope of eternal life. Christs claims may be regarded indifferently, they may be neglected and ignored; but they are still binding. Our service is due to him who has bought us. Over and

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over again men act out their own will and way. They deny and reject Christ. They betray and crucify him afresh; but his claims remain just the same. The standard of character which men must reach is the same that it has been from the foundation of the world. taken from The Youths Instructor, May 27, 1897

Please, Sir, I Would Rather Not

An old sailor tells the following story of a boy who suffered much in resisting temptation: When offered a drink, the lad said, Excuse me; I would rather not. They laughed at him, but they never could get him to drink liquor. The captain said to the boy: You must learn to drink grog if you are to be a sailor. Please excuse me, captain, but I would rather not. Take that rope, commanded the captain to a sailor, and lay it on; that will teach him to obey orders. The sailor took the rope, and beat the boy most cruelly. Now, drink that grog, said the captain.
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For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

Riddle answers: 1: John Loughborough 2: Timothy

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Pilgrim Youth

Please, sir, I would rather not. Then go into the foretop and stay all night. The poor boy looked away up to the masthead, trembling at the thought of spending the night there, but he had to obey. In the morning the captain, in walking the deck, looked up, and cried, Halloo, up there! No answer. Come down! Still no answer. One of the sailors was sent up, and what do you think he found? The poor boy was nearly frozen. He had lashed himself to the mast, so that when the ship rolled, he might not fall into the sea. The sailor brought the boy down in his arms, and they worked upon him until he showed signs of life. Then, when he was able to sit up, the captain poured out some liquor and said: Now, drink that grog. Please, sir, I would rather not. Let me tell you why, and do not be
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angry. In our home in the cottage we were so happy, but father took to drink. He had no money to get us bread, and at last we had to sell the little house we had lived in, and everything we had. It broke my poor mothers heart. In sorrow she pined away, till, at last, before she died, she called me to her bedside, and said: Jamie, you know what drink has made of your father. I want you to promise your dying mother that you will never taste drink. I want you to be free from that curse that has ruined your father. O, sir, continued the little fellow, would you have me break the promise I made to my dying mother? I cannot, and I will not do it. These words touched the heart of the captain. Tears came into his eyes. He stooped down, and, folding the boy in his arms, said: No, no, my little hero. Keep your promise, and if any one tries again to make you drink, come to me, and I will protect you. taken from Stories Worth Re-reading

I have loved you, saith the Lord.

Malachi 1:2a

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Pilgrim Youth

A Note From Us to You

Recently my family read a story which I thought was so amazing and touching, reminding me of our Gods great care. James and Ellen White were doing much travelling. They were tired and, of course, transport back in those days was not anything like ours. Some kind friends of the cause decided to give the Whites a horse and buggy of their own. The friends decided to offer them a choice between three horses. Before the Whites were to decide, Sr. White was given a vision, telling which one was for them. When the three horses were offered them, Sr. White realized that everything was exactly like the vision. Needless to say, Sr. White selected the horse in accordance to the directions of her vision. Dear reader, if God cares that much for even the choice of which horse would be best, dont you think He cares for our decisions in life? The morning after we read these story, I wrote the following words in my journal: How beautiful that God

cares so much about our decisions, as to decide which horse to choose. If God cares so much about which horse, I know He really cares about my future. Dearest Lord, I dont know what my future holds or what way to go in life or what decisions to make. But this I know: I want to trust You! Theres nothing else safe I can do. Please choose for me & may I live in happy submission to Your plans. I know that a God Who cares enough about the choice of a horse, also cares for me and my choices....For now, I choose to trust You. Oh, friends, pause and think of the preciousness of trusting Him! As I look back on my life, I see the Lords abundant leading, and Im determined to trust my future to His dear Hands. It is beautiful seeing the Lords working in hindsight, but how much more precious it is when you can look back and say, I trusted You fully in the darkness, and You brought me to the light! Now I see by sight the wondrous plans You had all along, which in times past I only grasped by faith. So many, especially we young people, seem to express much anxiety about the future. But lets choose to trust Him now. He tells us to seek first the
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kingdom of God, and His righteousness. This is our work. And the beautiful promise is that so long as we do thisso long as we put Him above all else in our lives, seek Him, give Him our time, our affections, our allall things needful will be added unto us! So friends, lets choose to trust ourselves, our future, our all to His hands, and for now, make sure we are truly seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, knowing that as we do this, He will take care of the rest all these things will be added unto you. Whether we are concerned about something small or great, this we know: a God Who cares about the decision of a horse really cares for you and me in all our decisions and perplexities! Lets encourage each other to trust more. To Your Hands my life I give, Wanting this: Your plans to live. Simply grasping now Your Hand; Seeking most that Better Land. Knowing that You always care, Knowing that Youre always there, Even though I do not know, Just what blessings Youll bestow, All my future dreams and plans, Ill place gladly in Your Hands!

Delight thyself also in

the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart
(Psalms 37:4). 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 (FLB 226).

~ Liesl Scheman ~

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