The
Present Truth
September,
1849
[In
Times of Trial]
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September 1, 1849
[In Times of Trial]
Ellen G. White
Dear
Brethren and Sisters
In
this time of trial, we need to be encouraged, and comforted by
each other. The temptations of Satan are greater now, than ever before; for
he knows that his time is short, and that very soon, every case will be
decided, either for Life, or for Death. It is no time to sink down beneath
discouragement, and trial now; but we must bear up under all our afflictions,
and trust wholly in the mighty God of Jacob. {RH September 1, 1849, par. 1}
The
Lord has shown me that his grace is sufficient for all our trials; and although
they are greater than ever before, yet if we trust wholly
in God, we can overcome every temptation, and through his grace come off
victorious. {RH September 1, 1849, par. 2}
If
we overcome our trials, and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we
endure the time of our faith, which is much more precious than gold, and are
stronger, and better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink
down, and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker, and get
no reward for the trial, and shall not be so well prepared to meet the next.
In this way we shall grow weaker, and weaker, until we are led
captive by Satan at his will. We must have on the whole armour of God, and
be ready at any moment, for a conflict with the powers of darkness. When
temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God, and agonize with him
in prayer. He will not turn us away empty; but will give us grace and strength
to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. O, that all
could see these things in their true light, and endure hardness as good
soldiers of Jesus. Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the
power of his might. {RH September 1, 1849, par. 3}
God
has shown me that he gave his people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse
them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more
bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining.
Those who receive it thus, must have another draught; for the
first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does
not effect the work, then they must have another, and
another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy
and impure in heart. I saw that this
bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance and prayer, and that it
will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus received it,
and God will be honored and glorified. It is no small thing
to be a Christian, and be owned and approved of God. The Lord has shown me some
who profess the present truth, whose lives do not correspond with their
profession. They have got the standard of piety altogether too low, and come
far short of Bible holiness. Some engage in vain, and unbecoming conversation;
and others give way to the risings of self. We must not expect to please
ourselves, live and act like the world, have its pleasures, and enjoy the
company of those who are of the world, and reign with Christ in glory. {RH
September 1, 1849, par. 4}
We
must be partakers of Christ’s sufferings here, if we would share in his glory
hereafter. If we seek our own interest, how we can best please ourselves,
instead of seeking to please God, and advance his precious, suffering cause, we
shall dishonor God, and the holy cause we profess. {RH September 1, 1849, par.
5}
We
have but a little space of time left to work for God. Nothing should be too
dear to sacrifice, for the salvation of the scattered and torn flock of Jesus. Those
who make a covenant with God by sacrifice now, will
soon be gathered home to share a rich reward, and possess the new kingdom
forever and ever. {RH September 1, 1849, par. 6}
O,
let us live wholly for the Lord, and show by a well ordered life, and godly
conversation that we have been with Jesus, and are his meek and lowly
followers. We must work while the day lasts, for when the dark night of trouble
and anguish comes, it will be too late to work for God. Jesus is still in his
Holy Temple, and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers, and our
confessions of faults and sins, and will now pardon all the transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before he leaves the
Sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the Sanctuary, then he that is holy and righteous, will be holy and righteous still; for all their
sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the
living God. But those that are unjust and filthy,
will be unjust and filthy still; for then there will be no Priest in the
Sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers
before the Father’s throne. Therefore, what is done to rescue souls from the
coming storm of wrath, must be done before Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place of the
Heavenly Sanctuary. {RH September 1, 1849, par. 7}
The
Lord has shown me that precious souls are starving, and dying for want of the
present, sealing truth, the meat in due season; and that the
swift messengers should speed on their way, and feed the flock with the present
truth. I heard an Angel say, “speed the swift messengers, speed the swift
messengers; for the case of every soul will soon be decided, either for Life,
or for Death.” {RH September 1, 1849, par. 8}
I
saw that those who had the means, were required to help speed those messengers,
that God had called to labor in his cause, and as they went from place to
place, they would be safe from the prevailing pestilence.
But if any went that were not sent of God, they would be in
danger of being cut down by the pestilence; therefore all should earnestly seek
for duty, and be sure and move by the direction of the Holy Spirit.
{RH September 1, 1849, par. 9}
What
we have seen and heard of the pestilence, is but the
beginning of what we shall see and hear. Soon the dead and
dying will be all around us. I saw that some will be so hardened, as to even
make sport of the judgments of God. Then
the slain of the Lord will be from one end of the earth, to the other; they
will not be lamented, gathered, nor buried; but their ill savor will come up
from the face of the whole earth. Those
only who have the seal of the living God, will be
sheltered from the storm of wrath, that will soon fall on the heads of those
who have rejected the truth. {RH September 1, 1849, par. 10}
In
Hope, {RH September 1, 1849, par. 11}
E.
G. White