True
Worth
By Mrs. E. G. White
In his word the Lord has shown what man may become if
connected with the Source of all wisdom. The soul of every
one is precious. All heaven is interested in the plan of salvation, and
its power is waiting our demand. We may choose wisely, and through Christ
become more precious in the sight of God than the golden wedge of Ophir, or we may become as sounding brass and a tinkling
cymbal; but
if we do choose to degenerate, we shall become wholly worthless, and lose
heaven with all its riches.
Character cannot be bought with gold; it does not come to
us by accident. Character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace
of Christ. It is formed by hard,
stern battles with self. Conflict after
conflict must be urged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to
criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain
uncorrected, unreformed.
If the character is left to be molded as chance may
direct, it will become deformed and unlovely. There are in every one weak points that need to be strengthened; for Satan will take
advantage of every unguarded spot. The question to be settled is, Will you follow the light God has given? If you would do
so, close the door against your own suggestions, desires, and doubts. Temptations will thicken about your pathway; but the Lord
will be nigh to you if you call upon him in sincerity. Stand fast in the strength of Jesus. Swerve not from the
right to gain any one's friendship or to avoid difficulty. Christians can
afford to be straight-forward, and firm as a rock to principle. All the
excellence of character we attain will be gained in moving in this straight
line. Be kind and considerate to others; but at the same time be frank and
sincere; for the Lord despises dissembling. Never allow the gold of character
to be dimmed with the dross of earthly, corruptible metal. The standard of the
world is not the criterion for the Christian. Reputation, property, everything
earthly, may be sacrificed; for this will not lessen our value in the heavenly
records; but principle must be preserved.
Truthfulness and frankness should be ever cherished by
all who claim to be followers of Christ. God and the right should be the motto.
Deal honestly and righteously in this present evil world. Some will be honest
when they see that honesty will not endanger their worldly interests; but all
who act from this principle will have their names blotted out of the book of
life.
Strict honesty must be cultivated. We can go through the world but once; we cannot come
back to rectify any mistakes; therefore every move made should be with godly
fear and careful consideration. Honesty and policy will not harmonize; either
policy will be subdued, and truth and honesty hold the lines of control, or
policy will take the lines, and honesty cease to direct. Both cannot act
together; they can never be in agreement. When God makes up his jewels, the
true, the frank, the honest, will be his chosen ones, his treasures. Angels are
preparing crowns for such; and light from the throne of God will be reflected
in its splendor from these star-gemmed diadems.
These things will bear thoughtful consideration,—close,
critical examination. With your Bible in your hand, study its claims with
earnest prayer that you may never be self-deceived. We are now living in an age when the question
is asked, "When the Son of Man cometh,
shall he find faith on the earth?" In this age of degeneracy, where we are
surrounded with moral pollution, God's people are to form characters for
heaven. This work is to go on daily.
We are in the investigative judgment; and the work for
the time is solemn heart-searching. The duty
devolves upon every one to consider, to watch, and to
pray. You are not bidden by the Lord to examine your neighbor's heart. Let your
investigative powers be put to work to discover what evil is lurking in your
own heart, what defects are in your character; what work needs to be done in
your own home. Parents are responsible for the souls of their children; they
are accountable for the mold of character they give them. They will, if they
realize their duty, work most earnestly for their own salvation and for the
salvation of their children. When parents are careless in their own ways, and
in regard to the character and deportment of their children, they lose the
favor of God. But every family that will seek God with humiliation and prayer
will be doing the work that is essential for eternal salvation.
Satan is working diligently and most successfully to put
his selfish stamp upon the characters of even professed Christians, and many
are becoming narrow in their ideas of duty and obligation. They are
degenerating, and receiving a stamp of character which is offensive to God. Self-love and unholy passions occupy the citadel of the
soul. To those who are professedly keeping
the law of God, but are daily transgressing its holy principles, let me say,
Search, O search and see how little reverence you have for eternal things, how
little love for devotion.
The proving time has come, and angels are watching the
development of character. How many, since they have professed Christ, have
changed for the better? My brother, my sister, are you becoming more and more
like Jesus, who is pure, holy, undefiled? Can your associates see in you the
likeness of Christ? Can they see that you maintain in your dress, in your
conversation, your daily life, the simplicity of your Master?
Many know so little about their Bibles that they are
unsettled in the faith. They remove the old landmarks, and fallacies and winds
of doctrine blow them hither and thither. Science, falsely so-called, is
wearing away the foundation of Christian principle; and those who once were in
the faith drift away from the Bible landmarks, and divorce themselves from God,
while still claiming to be his children. But are they?—No; no. The relation
they sustain to God is truly represented in Matthew
7:22, 23: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity."
Christ is our Pattern. Separated from God, leaning to
their own understanding, men become fools; and yet in their own estimation, and
in the estimation of others, they are often the wisest of men. Their sayings
are eagerly caught up, repeated, extolled, and adopted, while the utterances of
the living God, who made heaven and earth, are disregarded because not in
harmony with their ideas of science. Could these once see themselves as God
views them, how soon their attitude would change, how soon the godless prating
would cease, how ashamed they would be of their boasting and their vanity; how
their vain imaginations would change. Their corrupt hearts, roving on the
enemy's ground, can find no happiness, no peace. We are not safe in trusting in
ourselves. Unless divested of the robes of our own wisdom and self-righteousness,
and clothed with Christ's robe of spotless purity, we shall be in infinite
peril. We shall not appear of half the value
in our own estimation when we view Jesus in his matchless charms.
The ambition of every soul should be to make straight his
paths, that the feet of others may not be led astray. But the care and anxiety
with many is to shape their course to be admired by men. The highest effort of
their mental powers is directed to this end. They speak and act that they may
float upon the tide of popularity. There is no dependence to be placed upon
this class; for they will betray sacred trusts, if by so doing they can serve
their own interests. They study their own purposes so intently that they have
no time for the study of God's word. The day of retributive judgment is coming
on apace, and it will find them unprepared.
What value can Christians place on the praise and
flattery of men who have no reverence for God nor love for his truth? The honor
of such persons is of no worth. We should not aim to receive the applause of
the world, but to render honor to Him who is worthy of the heart's best and
holiest affections. This is a worthy ambition, and it brings the highest
reward; for God has promised, "Them that honor me I will honor."
O how much the Spirit of Christ is needed by every one who has any interest or acts any part in the work
of God! God would have every one make the most of his
own talents and opportunities. Brethren, show your appreciation of the gifts of
God by putting them to a wise use, with an eye single to his glory. Self must
not gain the mastery. Hide yourself in Jesus, and let the precious Redeemer
appear as the One altogether lovely, the chiefest
among ten thousand. You must become a
partaker of the divine nature if you would escape the corruption that is in the
world through lust.
There are many men of noble qualities whom God would use
in his cause; but the bewitching power of Satan has been cast over them like a
spell. Science, falsely so-called, would
lead them to reason away the very foundation of true religion. It has so confused their senses that the testimony of
the Spirit and word of God is questioned. Doubts are entertained because they
cannot harmonize these with their views of science and natural principles. Thus
they enter the wilderness of unbelief, and make shipwreck of their faith. The
truth as it is in Jesus, in its simplicity, would have proved an anchor to
them; but they have broken away from the stronghold, and drifted about, beaten
by the winds and waves of unbelief.
It is the duty and privilege of all to use reason as far
as man's finite faculties can go; but there is a boundary where man's resources
must cease. There are many things that can
never be reasoned out by the strongest intellect, or discerned by the most
penetrating mind. Philosophy cannot determine the ways and works of God; the
human mind cannot measure infinity. Jehovah is the fountain of all wisdom, of all truth, of
all knowledge. There are high attainments
that man can reach in this life through the wisdom that God imparts; but there
is an infinity beyond that will be the study and the joy of the saints
throughout eternal ages. Man can now only linger upon the borders of that vast
expanse, and let imagination take its flight. Finite
man cannot fathom the deep things of God; for spiritual things are spiritually
discerned. The human mind cannot comprehend the wisdom and power of God.
The End