Never before has there been so great a need of sympathy and comfort. Every day hundreds of hearts are torn by the news that their loved ones in war areas will not come back. Thousands on the battlefields are wounded or missing. Thousands are homeless. There is hardly a life that has not been touched by some great sorrow, hardly a corner of the earth unaffected by war. Anxious eyes scan the daily headlines, hoping, longing for good news.
In all this mountain of sorrow there is no hope but Christ. What are we, as Christians, doing? Having the "blessed hope" and the love of God in our hearts, we cannot in this crisis stand aloof from the world's anguish. We must hold up the crucified Saviour before the people in such a tender, loving way that they will find hope at the foot of the cross. When the world is going down in eternal night, we must show them that the morning is coming. We must find in Christ comfort and help, not only for ourselves but for all mankind. What an opportunity is ours to present to the world the Christian's hope. Years ago the Lord's messenger wrote these words:
"The truth planted in the- heart will reveal the love of Jesus and its transforming power. Anything harsh, sour, critical, domineering, is not of Christ, but proceeds from Satan. . . . We must love men for Christ's sake."—Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 156, 157.
"Among God's people today there is a fearful lack of the sympathy that should be felt for souls unsaved."—Testimonies, Vol. VII, p. 13.
"The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian."—Ministry of Healing, p. 470.
If these words were needed then, how timely they are in this crisis when all the world has lost its way. Christianity must identify itself with the suffering, for was not this what Christ did when on earth? When Mary and Martha were sorrowing for their brother, Jesus wept."
"We are to be courteous toward all men, tenderhearted and sympathetic ; for this was the character Christ manifested when on earth. The more closely we are united with Jesus Christ, the more tender and affectionate will be our conduct toward one another. . . . Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we can be a blessing to all with whom we associate ; for the Holy Spirit's power upon the human heart can make and keep it pure."—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 377.
Christ never sent people away from Him without helping them. How will He feel today, if He looks on His people who are giving His last warning message, and sees that they are so busy preaching the doctrines of the Bible that they have no time to present the Christ of the Bible? In every contact let us hold up, not a creed, but a living Christ.
Did you win one for Him last year? Then by the grace of God, you may win one hundred this year. Do you doubt it? Listen: "If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one."—Testimonies, -Vol. IX, p. 189.
Let us in our work be so sympathetic and loving that God can increase our usefulness one hundred percent.
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