Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

and daughters of the Lord Almighty. It is incomprehensible; but still with all
these promises and encouragements there are many who question and
hesitate. They are in an undecided position. They seem to think that if they
were to become Christians, there would be a mountain of responsibilities to
be borne in religious duties and Christian obligations. There is a mountain of
responsibility, a life-time of watchfulness, of battling with their own
inclinations, with their own wills, with their own desires, with their own
pleasures; and as they look at it, it seems like an impossibility for them to
take the step, to decide that they will be children of God, servants of the
Most High.
By this I am reminded of an incident I once read, of an aged gentleman
who had been broken down by hard labor yet was seeking some employment
by which he could obtain means. A nobleman who had a hundred cords of
wood to cut, was informed of the wish of the old gentleman. He told him that
if he would cut the wood he should have one hundred dollars for the job. But
the old gentleman replied, No, he could never do that. It was impossible. He
was an old man, and not able to undertake such a job. "Well," said the
nobleman, "we will make a different bargain. Can you cut one cord today? if
so, I will give one dollar." The bargain was made, and the cord of wood was
cut that day. "Now," said the nobleman, "you may cut another cord
tomorrow;" and another cord was cut the next day; and thus the whole job
was accomplished. In one hundred days the work was completed, and the
laborer was in just as good health as when he commenced the work. He
could take it cord by cord, but when presented to him in one large job the
accomplishment of it seemed impossible.
This well represents the cases of many who are undecided. They have a
desire to be Christians, yet the responsibilities of a Christian life seem so
great to them that they fear they will make a failure, are almost certain they
can never reach the mark if they make the attempt. But when it is taken into
consideration that it is not for them to see the end of the Christian's journey;
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