p. 388 | THE MARK IN THE FOREHEAD by Mrs. J. E. M’Connaughy

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · June 17, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 25

THE MARK IN THE FOREHEAD.

By Mrs. J. E. M’Connaughy

When a Hindoo rises in the morning, he first of all prays to his god, and the exercise is not over in a minute or two. He takes time for his devotions, such as they are. Then he puts the mark of his god on his forehead. If he belongs to one great party, he makes three rays of paint on his forehead; if to the other, he puts ashes upon it, and a black spot in the center. Then when he goes about his daily affairs every one knows what god he worships.

There is something suggestive to Christians in the practice of these pagans. Shall we give less time in the morning to our God than they to their stocks and stones? If our closet hour were more regarded, would not his mark be plainer in our foreheads? Would not our daily life show that we had been with Jesus in the morning? When we walk through a garden, and gather our hands full of clover pinks and damask roses, no one needs to ask us where we have been. There are some whose lives seem to breathe a constant perfume from the garden of spices, and often they are very lowly ones here on earth. Sometimes, like the sainted Mrs. Doremus, they have wealth and high position. This high honor is accessible to all, of any rank or station, but it is attained by each in the same lowly way. The spirit of devotion is the daily breath. Communion with God can make the face glow, as did Moses', when he came down from the mount.

Sometimes you will hear surprise expressed that such a person is a member of the church. “I should never have suspected it,” says one who has had dealings with him. The mark in the forehead was thought to belong to quite another party. It is generally taken for granted by those without, that, if one is a Christian, his life should show it. When he does not, he is regarded much as a soldier would be who is not true to his colors. But that is a small consideration compared with that which the Lord places upon him. Those who have not “the mark,” as they go about among men, will hear at the last the cold declaration, “I never knew you.”—Mrs. J. E. M’Connaughy, in S. S. Times.