Our
Present Dangers
OUR PRESENT DANGERS
Delivered Tuesday evening, March 24, 1891.
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
BRETHREN and sisters, I appeal to you as Seventh-day Adventists
to be all that this name signifies. There is danger of departing from the
spirit of the message, and adopting measures that will imperil the work of God.
As the Lord has presented these things before me at several times and in
different places, I have
been brought into your assemblies where articles were read and statements made
which were false in principle and dangerous in their tendency. I was shown that those who advocated
these sentiments were not following the counsel of God, but were bringing in
that which would surely lead souls away from safe ground, away
from the third angel's message, into wrong paths, to a careless disregard of the injunctions of
God, thus imperiling their own souls and the souls of others.
In your councils, how little experience many of you have in humbling the heart before God! How little you know of striving in
prayer that you may enter in at the straight gate! The question of highest importance to
you is, "Do I have an
experimental knowledge of God? Am I ready to believe what he tells me, to do
what he bids, instead of following my own judgment? Am I drawing nearer to
God?" The Scripture
says, "The natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." If
your hearts are not fully surrendered to God, if you do not submit your will to
his, you will devise and plan without the guidance of Him who is mighty in
counsel. Some have
manifested a spirit of Pharisaic prejudice and criticism. As soon as this is
indulged, the holy angels depart from you; for they cannot administer to sin.
You possess in a large degree the same spirit that was revealed in the
Conference at Minneapolis. The deception that was upon minds there still
exists. Some have not been willing to see and acknowledge their errors, and
their blindness of mind remains.
You who have been educating yourselves and others in a spirit of
criticism and accusing, remember that you are imitating the example of Satan. When it suits your purpose, you treat
the Testimonies as if you believed them, quoting from them to strengthen any
statement you wish to have prevail. But how is it when
light is given to correct your errors? Do you then accept the light? When the
Testimonies speak contrary to your ideas, you treat them very lightly.
It does not become any one to drop a word of doubt here and
there that shall work like poison in other minds, shaking their confidence in
the messages which God has given, which have aided in laying the foundation of
this work, and have attended it to the present day, in reproofs, warnings,
corrections, and encouragements. To all who have stood in the way of the Testimonies, I would
say, God has given a message to his people, and his voice will be heard,
whether you hear or forbear. Your opposition has not injured me; but you must
give an account to the God of heaven, who has sent these warnings and
instructions to keep his people in the right way. You will have to answer to
him for your blindness, for being a stumbling-block in the way of sinners.
"To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Even the work of the Holy Spirit upon
the heart is to be tested by the word of God. The Spirit which inspired the Scriptures, always leads to the Scriptures.
"Because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold." The True Witness says of the church, after
enumerating many virtues, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love." The
prevailing idolatry and iniquity have
had a paralyzing, deadening influence upon piety and godliness. There is distrust, selfishness, and
suspicion. A few hold fast their profession of faith. Others have been leaving
the simplicity of the faith, and as the result they are now treading on the
border-land of skepticism. They are spiritually beclouded; and thus many are
holding serious errors. Some
sit in judgment on the Scriptures, declaring that this or that passage is not
inspired, because it does not strike their minds favorably. They cannot
harmonize it with their ideas of philosophy and science, "falsely so
called." Others for different reasons question portions of the word of
God. Thus many walk blindly where the enemy prepares the way. Now, it is not the province of any man
to pronounce sentence upon the Scriptures, to judge or condemn any portion of
God's word. When one presumes to do this, Satan will create an atmosphere for
him to breathe which will dwarf spiritual growth. When a man feels so very wise that he
dares to dissect God's word, his wisdom is, with God, counted foolishness. When he knows more, he will feel that he has
everything to learn. And his very first lesson is to become teachable. "Learn
of me," says the Great Teacher; "for I am meek and lowly in heart,
and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
Would that the spiritual eyesight of all the workers might be
clear to distinguish the sacred from the common. Blinded by self-love, many
lose sight of the claims of others, and also of the glory of God. When you see yourselves as you really
are, and see God as he wants you to see him, you will feel deeply your need of
Jesus, and will seek him with contrite hearts. Then he will be found of you. You will seek for his heavenly treasure
of graces as one seeks for precious pearls; and when you find it, there will be
no doubt on the minds of your brethren but that you have found the pearl of
great price. You will have the mind of Christ; you will work and speak as
Christ did.
The people of God are not to be guided by the opinions or
practices of the world. Hear what the Saviour said to his disciples, "I
will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the worldcannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but
ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be
in you."
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because
it knew him not."
The word of God plainly declares that his law is to be scorned,
trampled upon, by the world; there will be an extraordinary prevalence of
iniquity. The professed
Protestant world will form a confederacy with the man of sin, and the church
and the world will be in corrupt harmony.
Here the great crisis is coming upon the world. The Scriptures
teach that popery is to regain its lost supremacy, and that the fires of
persecution will be rekindled through the time serving concessions of the
so-called Protestant world. In
this time of peril we can stand only as we have the truth and the power of God.
Men can know the truth only by being
themselves partakers of the divine nature. We have need now for more than human
wisdom in reading and searching the Scriptures; and if we come to God's word with humble hearts, he will
raise up a standard for us against the lawless element.
It is difficult to hold fast the beginning of our confidence
firm unto the end; and the difficulty increase when there are hidden influences
constantly at work to bring in another spirit, a counter-working element on
Satan's side of the question. In the absence of persecution, there have drifted
into our ranks some who appear sound, and their Christianity unquestionable,
but who, if persecution should arise, would go out from us. In the crisis, they
would see force in specious reasoning that has had an influence on their minds.
Satan has prepared various snares to meet varied minds. When the law of God is
made void, the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and larger proportion
than we now anticipate, will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of
devils. Instead of being strengthened when brought into strange places, many
prove that they are not living branches of the True Vine; they bore no fruit,
and the husbandman taketh them away.
Note by Ron: Most Adventists misinterpret Ellen White’s phrase “go
out from us.” This
refers to Zion, the true bride of Christ (Isa. 62), and not the professing SDA
church militant organization, because that organization fails so completely
that Ezekiel 9 begins at His Sanctuary, His church, Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 207-211, and the following statement
prophesying the outcome of that new movement, new organization church that has
removed God, and which allows nothing to stand in its way:
"Jesus
sends HIS PEOPLE a message of
warning to prepare them for his coming. To the prophet John was made known the
closing work in the great plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying
'in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them
that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour
of his Judgment is come and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of waters [Rev. 14:6, 7.].
The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a
class of faithful men, who, obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit
and the teachings of his word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of
earth. This message was not to be
committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to
preserve their connection with God, and had REFUSED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN
therefore they WERE NOT of the number described by the apostle Paul: 'But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye
are all the children of light, and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness' [1 Thess. 5:4, 5].
The watchmen
upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the tidings of the
Saviour's advent, the first to lift their voices to proclaim him near, the first to warn the people to prepare for his coming. But
they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the people were asleep
in their sins. Jesus saw HIS CHURCH, like the barren fig-tree, covered
with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful
observance of the forms of religion, while the spirit of true humility,
penitence and faith--which alone could render the service acceptable to
God--was lacking. Instead of the graces of the Spirit, there were
manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, oppression. A BACKSLIDING CHURCH closed
their eyes to the signs of the times. God did nor forsake them, or suffer his
faithfulness to fail but they departed from him, and
SEPARATED THEMSELVES from his love. As they REFUSED
TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, his promises were NOT FULFILLED to
them."
E.G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol.
4, pp. 199-200 [The
1884 edition of The Great Controversy, 199, 200]. End note.
But when the world makes void the law of
God, what will be the effect upon the truly obedient and righteous? Will they be carried away by the strong
current of evil? Because so many rank themselves under the banner of the prince
of darkness, will God's
commandment-keeping people swerve from their allegiance? Never! Not one who is
abiding in Christ will fail or fall. His followers will bow in obedience to a higher authority than
that of any earthly potentate. While the contempt placed upon God's
commandments leads many to suppress the truth and show less reverence for it,
the faithful ones will with greater earnestness hold aloft its distinguishing
truths. We are not left to our own direction. In all our ways we should
acknowledge God, and he will direct our paths. We should consult his word with humble hearts, ask his
counsel, and give up our will to his. We
can do nothing without God.
There is the highest reason for us to prize the true Sabbath and
stand in its defense, for it is the sign which distinguishes the people of God
from the world. The commandment that the world makes void is the one to which,
for this very reason, God's people will give greater honor. It is when the
unbelieving cast contempt upon the word of God that the faithful Calebs are called for. It is then that they will stand firm
at the post of duty, without parade, and without swerving because of reproach.
The unbelieving spies stood ready to destroy Caleb. He saw the stones in the
hands of those who had brought a false report, but this did not deter him; he
had a message, and he would bear it. The same spirit will be manifested to-day
by those who are true to God. The
psalmist says, "They have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy
commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold." When men press close to the side of
Jesus, when Christ is abiding in their hearts by faith, their love for the commandments of God
grows stronger in proportion to the contempt which the world heaps upon his
holy precepts. It is at
this time that the true Sabbath must be brought before the people by both pen
and voice. As the fourth commandment and those who observe it are ignored and
despised, the faithful feel that it is the time not to hide their faith but to
exalt the law of Jehovah by unfurling the banner on which is inscribed the
message of the third angel, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Let not those who have the truth as it is in Jesus give
sanction, even by their silence, to the work of the mystery of iniquity. Let
them never cease to sound the note of alarm. Let the education and training of the members of our churches be such that the children and youth among us shall
understand there are to be
no concessions to this power, the man of sin. Teach them that although the time will come when we can
wage the war only at the risk of property and liberty, yet the conflict must be
met, in the spirit and meekness of Christ; the truth is to be maintained and
advocated as it is in Jesus. Wealth, honor, comfort, home, - everything else, -
is to be a secondary consideration. The truth must not be hid,
it must not be denied or disguised, but fully avowed, and boldly proclaimed.
The Lord has faithful watchmen on the walls of Zion to cry aloud
and spare not, to lift up their voice like a trumpet, and show his people their transgression and the house
of Jacob their sins. The Lord has permitted the enemy of truth to make a determined
effort against the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. He designs by this means
to awaken a decided interest in that question which is a test for the last
days. This will open the
way for the third angel's message to be proclaimed with power.
Let not one who believes the truth, be silent now. None should
be careless now; let all urge their petitions at the throne of grace, pleading
the promise, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do." It
is a perilous time now. If
this land of boasted liberty is preparing to sacrifice every principle which
enters into her constitution, making decrees to suppress religious freedom, and
for the enforcing of papal falsehood and delusion, then the people of God need
to present their petitions in faith to the Most High. There is every encouragement, in the
promises of God, for those who put their trust in him. The prospect of being
brought into personal danger and distress, need not cause despondency, but
should quicken the vigor and hopes of God's people; for the time of their
peril is the season for God to grant them clearer manifestations of his power. We are not to sit in calm expectancy of
oppression and tribulation, and fold our hands, doing nothing to avert the
evil. Let our united cries be sent up to heaven. Pray and work, and work
and pray. But let none act rashly. Learn as never before that you must be meek
and lowly in heart. You must not bring a railing accusation
against any, whether individuals or churches. Learn
to deal with minds as Christ did. Sharp things must sometimes be spoken; but be
sure that the Holy Spirit of God is abiding in your heart before you speak the
clear cut truth; then let it cut its way. You
are not to do the cutting.
There is to be no compromise with those who make void the law of
God. It is not safe to rely upon them as counselors. Our testimony is not to be
less decided now than formerly; our real position is not to be cloaked in order
to please the world's great men. They may desire us to unite with them and
accept their plans, and may make propositions in regard to our course of action
which may give the enemy an advantage over us. "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A
confederacy."
While we should not seek for controversy, and should not needlessly offend, we
must present the truth clearly and decidedly, and stand firm to what God has
taught us in his word. You are not to look to the world in order to learn what
you shall write and publish or what you shall speak. Let all your words and
works testify, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables."
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye
take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark
place."
The apostle Paul tells us, "After that in the wisdom of
God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God
by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." This was the
carrying out of God's plan for the conviction and conversion of men, who are
constantly tempted to magnify their own powers. The Lord would make it manifest
whether men by their own finite wisdom could acquire a knowledge of the truth,
whether they could know God, their Creator. When Christ came to our world, the
experiment had been fully made, and it proved the boasted wisdom of men to be
but foolishness. Finite wisdom was utterly unable to come to right conclusions
in regard to God, and therefore man was wholly incompetent to judge in regard
to his law. The Lord has allowed matters in our day to come to a crisis, in the
exaltation of error above truth, that he, the God of Israel, might work
mightily for the greater elevation of his truth in proportion as error is
exalted.
With his eye upon the church, the Lord has again and again
allowed matters to come to a crisis, that in their extremity his people should
look alone for his help. Their prayers, their faith, together with their
steadfast purpose to be true, have called for the interference of God, and then
he has fulfilled his promise, "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall
answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I
am." His mighty arm has been stretched out for the deliverance of his
people. God reserves his gracious interposition in their behalf till the time
of their extremity; thus he makes their deliverance more marked, and their
victories more glorious. When all human wisdom fails, the Lord's interference
will be more clearly recognized, and he will receive the glory that is his due.
Even the enemies of our faith, persecutors, will perceive that God is working
for his people in turning their captivity.
What is needed in this, our time of danger, is fervent prayer,
mingled with earnest faith, a reliance upon God when
Satan casts his shadow over God's people. Let every one bear in mind that God delights to listen to the
supplications of his people; for the prevailing iniquity calls for more earnest
prayer, and God has promised that he will avenge his own elect, who cry day and
night unto him, though he bear long with them.
Men are prone to abuse the long-suffering of God, and to presume
on his forbearance. But
there is a point in human iniquity when it is time for God to interfere; and
terrible are the issues. "The Lord is slow to anger, and
great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked." The long-suffering of God is wonderful,
because he puts constraint on his own attributes; but punishment is none the
less certain. Every century of profligacy has treasured up wrath against the
day of wrath; and when the time comes, and the iniquity is full, then God will
do his strange work. It
will be found a terrible thing to have worn out the divine patience; for the
wrath of God will fall so signally and strongly that it is represented as being
unmixed with mercy; the very earth will be desolated. It is at the time of
the national apostasy, when, acting on the policy of Satan, the rulers of the
land will rank themselves on the side of the man of sin - it is then the
measure of guilt is full; the national apostasy is the signal for national
ruin.
God has thrust his people into the gap, to make up the hedge, to
raise up the foundation of many generations. The
heavenly intelligences, angels that excel in strength, are waiting, obedient to
his command, to unite with human agencies; and the Lord will interpose when
matters have come to such a pass that none but a divine power
can counteract the satanic agencies at work. When
his people shall be in the greatest danger, seemingly unable to stand against
the power of Satan, God will work in their behalf. Man's extremity is God's
opportunity.
Now is the time when the loyal and true are to arise and shine;
for the glory of the Lord is risen upon them. It is no
time now to hide our colors, no time to turn traitors when the battle presses
sore, no time to lay aside our weapons of warfare. Watchmen on the walls of Zion must be
wide awake.
I am so thankful at this time that we can have our minds taken
off from the difficulties that surround us, and the oppression that is to come
upon the people of God, and can look up to the heaven of light and power. If we
place ourselves on the side of God, of Christ and the heavenly intelligences,
the broad shield of Omnipotence is over us, the mighty God of Israel is our
helper, and we need not fear. Those who touch the people of God,
touch the apple of his eye.
Now the great question is, Are we Bible Christians, - doers
of the word? I have
been astonished beyond measure as light has been presented to me again and
again concerning the difficulties and dissensions that exist in
our churches. What does it mean? With the teachings
of the Bible before them, how dare they be in such disunion, apparently not caring
to answer the prayer of Christ that his disciples might be one, as he is one
with the Father. How dare they set up their will, and
imperil the cause of God in order to carry things on in their own way?
The spirit of self-sufficiency and selfish independence that has
for years been coming into the hearts of our people is the work of the enemy,
that he may cause our feet to slide; and we cannot afford to indulge it. May
God help us to put it away! Begin right in your own homes; begin there to be
truly courteous, as Christ was; be kind; live not to please yourselves. Then if
you are Christians at home, you will carry the same spirit into the church. You
will carry it into your councils, and will have evidence that Jesus is indeed
your helper, your stronghold, your front guard and your rear-ward. The
righteousness of Christ will go before you, and the glory of God
will be your rear-ward.
Brethren, will you carry the spirit of Christ with you as you
return to your homes and churches? Will you put away unbelief and criticism? We
are coming to a time when, more than ever before, we shall need to press
together, to labor unitedly. In union there is
strength. In discord and disunion there is only weakness. God never designed that one man, or
four, or twenty, should take an important work into their own hands, and carry
it forward independently of other workers in the cause. God wants his people to counsel
together, to be a united church, in Christ a perfect whole. The only safety for
us is to enter into the counsels of Heaven, ever seeking to do the will of God,
to become laborers together with him. No one company is to form a confederacy,
and say, "We are going to take this work, and carry it on in our own way;
and if it does not go as we want it to, we will not give our influence to have
it go at all." This is Satan's voice, not God's. Do not obey such
suggestions.
Note by Ron: God never designed that a few apostate leaders of
the professing SDA organization would bring in a new movement that has removed
God:
"The enemy of
souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to
take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would
consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and
engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this
reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth
that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church,
would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles
that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as
error. A NEW ORGANIZATION would be established. Books of a NEW ORDER would be
written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders
of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath
of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing
would be allowed to stand in the way of the NEW MOVEMENT. The leaders would
teach that virtue is better than vice, but GOD
BEING REMOVED, they would place their dependence on human
power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the
sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.
Who has authority to begin such a [NEW] movement?
We have our Bibles, we have our experience, attested
to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. We have a truth that admits of
no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with
this truth? E.G. White, Selected Messages, Bk. 1, 204, 205. End note.
What we want is the spirit of Jesus. When we have this, we shall
love one another. Here are the credentials that we are to bear: "By this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another." We need to pray more; and when we have Christ abiding in
the soul, his spirit in me will harmonize with his spirit in you; and he who controls our minds, controls also the heavenly
intelligences, and they co-operate with us. Then in every council you will have
the presence of One mighty in counsel. Jesus will be
there. There will be no contention, no strife, no stirring up of the worst
passions of the heart. What we want is to find refuge in Jesus. What we want is
to be converted; and O, how I have longed for the converting power of God to go
through our assemblies!
I fear that some will never be converted. Not because God is not
willing to convert them; but because they have eyes, and yet see not; ears have
they, but they hear not; they have understanding, and yet understand not. They are too proud to acknowledge their
errors, and in contrition of heart seek God in repentance. Now shall we put away this impenitent
spirit? Shall we fall on the Rock and be broken? Jesus is soon coming in the
clouds of heaven. What is he doing now? - He is testing a people here upon the
earth, to see if they can live in harmony, without revolt, in heaven.
Do you think he will take those who are indulging skepticism and
infidelity, who, when he sends a message, stand back and refuse to accept it? Yet many have done this. When we speak
of the grace of God, of Jesus and his love, speak of the Saviour as one who is
able to keep us from sin, and to save to the uttermost all who
come unto him, many will say, "O, I am afraid you are going where the
holiness people go. I am afraid you are going after the Salvation Army."
Brethren, you need not be afraid of the plain teachings of the Bible. Do not
fear to go where the voice of Jesus is heard saying, "Follow me;" for
this will lead you right. Do not let any man or woman, or any council or party,
lead you to suppress the precious light that God has permitted to shine from
heaven in regard to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. You
need more, much more, of the Spirit of Christ, to take the coldness and iron
out of your hearts. Jesus humbled himself. His whole life was one of
humiliation and suffering. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
And all this he bore, that sinners might be redeemed. This is the spirit that
must dwell in our hearts.
The object of our faith, hope, and love, should be Jesus, -
Jesus always, Jesus only. A mere profession of faith
will not save us; we must have real faith in Christ. Then the heart will be
renewed; we shall be born again. Christ takes our sins upon himself,
and imparts to us his righteousness.
In the revival work that has been going forward here during the
past winter we have seen no fanaticism. But I will tell you what I have seen. I
have seen men who were so lifted up in themselves, and so stubborn, that their
hearts were enshrouded in darkness. All the light that Heaven graciously sent
them was interpreted to be darkness. When the enemy presents a device of his
own, some are ready to accept that; but they have been so very cautious that they would not receive
the light which would have made them wise unto salvation. The mission of God's
servants was to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. The bright beams
of the Sun of Righteousness, if received, would have illuminated the
soul-temple, and driven out the buyers and sellers, the pride of opinion and
the lust of the flesh. But there are some who have criticised and depreciated,
and even stooped to ridicule, the messengers through whom the Lord has wrought
in power.
But, thank God, there are many who have been listening to his
word and feasting upon it. What does Christ say? - "Except ye eat the
flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."
Then let us feast upon Christ. Let us enjoy his love, and praise God for this
great salvation. Then we shall come together, heart to heart. When we shall
subdue our pride, when we shall pluck from the garden of the soul every fiber
of the root of bitterness, our hearts will flow together as the heart of one. And
the Saviour's promise is, "If any two of you shall agree on earth as
touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father
which is in heaven." Then, I ask, Where is our
power? - It is in the sincere prayers going up to heaven continually that
Christ will reveal himself to us. And he will do it. The light and glory of God
will rest upon his people. And then the world will see, and will say,
"Behold, how these brethren love one another." Then all this
heart-burning and distrust will cease, and in place of it, there will be love
and union, courtesy, kindness, and tenderness. The very countenances will shine
with the glory of God. We shall all see eye to eye. We shall speak the same
things, and be of the same judgment.
Suppose we labor to this end the coming year. Suppose we try
daily to have our hearts united in the bonds of Christian love. "I have
somewhat against thee," says the True Witness, "because thou hast
left thy first love." And he says, "Except thou repent," "I
will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his
place." Why? - Because in our separation from one another we are separated
from Christ. We want to press together. O, how many times, when I have seemed
to be in the presence of God and holy angels, I have heard the angel voice
saying, "Press
together, press together, press together. Do not let Satan cast his hellish
shadow between brethren. Press together; in unity there is strength."
Note by Ron: We have a testing message
to give, and I am instructed to say to our people, "Unify, unify." But we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. With our hearts sweet and kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim
the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from the truth.--Manuscript
31, 1906. {3SM 412.2} Chap. 57 - The Last Great Struggle
I repeat the message to you. As you go to your homes, be
determined that you will press together; seek God with all the heart, and you
will find him, and the love of Christ, that passeth
understanding, will come into your hearts and lives.
I tell you, we have enough to do. There is no time to lose in
doubt and darkness and inactivity. Your attention has been called to the need
of missionary work in almost all parts of the world. To-day I would present
before you the Southern field. How many missionaries are now ready to take hold
of the work to be done among the colored people in our own country? Where are the
men and women who will go in among the thousands upon thousands of these people
in the South, and in a patient, humble way, seek to educate and train them? O,
there is so much to do! We cannot afford to spend our time in manufacturing
yokes to put upon our own necks or the necks of others. We want to go out as
missionaries for God. We want to awake from the dead, and Christ will give us
life. There are souls to be saved for whom Christ has paid the purchase money
of his own blood, and I want you to feel that if souls of the colored race
shall go down, unwarned, to destruction, there are those who have the light and
have feasted upon it from week to week and from year to year, who will have to
give an account to God; for the blood of souls will be upon their garments.
Brethren, we cannot afford this.
May God help us to awake to our duty! If you have hold of the
work of God, I beseech you, for Christ's sake, do not let go. If God sees that
your souls are in danger, he will send reproof to you. Do not rise up against
it. Say, "I will seek God, I will find him, and will be converted."
The True Witness says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent." Yes, repent. It is not for you to be jealous of the
reprover. It is not for you to dissect or discount the message that God may
send you. It is for you to receive it, and reform, and be thankful that the
Lord has not left you to blindness of mind and hardness of heart. May God help
you to be converted.
I beseech you to take Christ with you as you go to your
churches. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." Many are unwilling to
have their way crossed. Now, it is not by following your own way that you will
enter heaven; it is by choosing God's way. Will you take it? It is not your
spirit that is going into heaven; it is Christ's spirit. Will you have it?
Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me." Then I ask, How is it that so many
of you are saying you do not know whether you are accepted of God or not; that
you want to find Jesus? Don't you know whether you have opened the door? Don't
you know whether you have invited him in? If you have not, invite him now.
Don't wait a moment. Open the door, and let Jesus in.
There are important interests at stake in Battle Creek, where so
many of our institutions have been planted. As we were planning for the
establishment of these institutions, how we prayed, and sought God day and
night. Before the College was established here, my husband would say to me in
the night season, "What shall we do about establishing a school here? Let
us get up and pray." Long before this, we used to pray about establishing
the printing-office. Then it was the Sanitarium. Prayer was interwoven with our
very life experience. Day by day our petitions ascended to heaven, and God
heard us. Now let us continue to pray. If we needed to pray about the
establishment of these institutions, how much more do we need to pray for God
to keep them as guardians of the truth. They are not
to lift up any false standard. They are not to be false signposts for the
people. Wherever you are, pray that God will keep these institutions. If your
united prayers ascend to heaven in their behalf, God will hear; and if the men
who are there prove unfaithful, he will remove them, and will put others there
who will be true to him. God is not at a loss for means. If men will only
respond to his call, all will be well.
Now let us take Christ's yoke upon us, and learn of him. He says
his yoke is easy, and I believe it. He says the burden is light, and I believe
that, too. When you are wearing Christ's yoke, all your
complaining and dissension will cease. When Christ's disciples fell into
controversy by the way, he asked them, "What was it that ye disputed among
yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had
disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest... .
And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him
in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall
receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall
receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me." Now let us be like
children before God. Let us be teachable, willing to learn, and then the Spirit
of God will cement our hearts together, and we shall be one in Christ Jesus.
Then the Father will love us, even as he loves his Son. Let this thought fill
the soul with thankfulness, and go on your way to Zion, making melody in your hearts
to God. You are called out of darkness to show forth his marvelous light. Go forward, rejoicing in the righteousness of Christ.
At the morning meetings I have enjoyed hearing the testimonies
of those who came here to learn, - testimonies of how they have learned to
believe that Christ has forgiven their sins. It is very late - the eleventh
hour - to learn that. But, thank God, it is not too late, even at the eleventh
hour, for wrongs to be made right. If we learn what is to be the joy of our
calling, we shall praise God with heart and soul and voice. And at last we
shall have a glorious triumph when our captivity shall be turned, and our
mourning and tears shall be forever past. What a shout of praise will then go
forth from human lips! Shall we begin it here? God grant that we may! God help
you to put away every fiber of the root of bitterness that has been planted in
so many hearts. May you put it away, so that it shall never bud nor blossom
from this time. Let Christ kill it by his Holy Spirit in every heart. God grant
that the root of bitterness may die!
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