Seek First the Kingdom of God
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
January
24, 1893
"Seek First the Kingdom of God"
By Mrs. E. G. White
"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be." The Lord Jesus will scrutinize every
talent, and expect interest in proportion to the amount of capital intrusted. By his own humiliation and agony, Christ has
paid the purchase money for our salvation, and he has a right to our
services. The very name of servant implies the doing of work, the bearing of
responsibility. All our capabilities, all our opportunities, have been intrusted to us for wise improvement, that Christ may
receive his own with usury. The heavenly Master ascended on high, and led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men,—divine treasures of truth to be
presented to all the world. What use are we
individually making of these gifts, the talents in our hands? Are we like the
unwise and unfaithful servant, burying these talents in the world, where they
will bring no returns to God? It behooves all with
careful fidelity to improve the talents intrusted
to them; for talents will increase as they are used for the good of humanity
and the glory of God.
Every soul should seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We are
not to use up all the strength of brain, bone, and muscle in worldly business
interests; for if we do, we imperil our spiritual interests, and we shall
lose an eternity of bliss. The whole unfallen universe is interested in the
great work which Jesus came to our world to accomplish, even the salvation of
our souls. And shall not man on earth co-operate with our Redeemer, who has
ascended into heaven to make intercession for us? Shall we show no special
zeal, no devoted interest, in the work that was devised in heaven to be
carried forward in the world for the good of men? Shall we who have been
bought with the precious blood of Christ refuse to do the work left in our
hands,—refuse to co-operate with the heavenly agencies in the work of saving
the fallen? Shall we not go even to the ends of the earth to let the light of
truth given to us of heaven shine forth to our fellow-men?
We are to be diligent workers; an idle man is a miserable creature. But what
excuse can be offered for idleness in the great work which Christ gave his
life to accomplish? The spiritual faculties cease to exist if they are not
exercised, and it is Satan's design that they shall perish. All heaven is
actively engaged in the work of preparing a people for the second coming of
Christ to our world, and "we are laborers
together with God." The end of all things is at hand. Now is our
opportunity to work. "The night cometh, in which no man can work."
We should proclaim Christ and him crucified, thus preparing the way for his
second appearing. Lift him up, the Man of Calvary. Place yourselves where you
may receive heavenly inspiration and be able to point the weary, the
heavy-laden, the brokenhearted, the perplexed soul, to Jesus, the source of
all spiritual strength. Be faithful minutemen, to show forth the praises of
Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light. With pen and voice proclaim that Jesus lives to make intercession for
us. Unite with the great Master-worker, follow the
self-denying Redeemer through his pilgrimage of love on earth. The same Jesus
that walked with his disciples, that taught them upon earth, that toiled and
suffered in his human nature, is with us in his divine power. He is at our
right hand to help in every emergency. Let us lift up Jesus, and reveal the
Bible foundation for our faith. We are all to proclaim the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus. Jesus came to magnify the law, and make it honorable. He died to exalt the law of God, testifying of
its changeless character; and as we proclaim God's law, we may look unto
Jesus and be comforted with the assurance, "Lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world."
Satan is now working with all his insinuating, deceiving power, to lead men
away from the work of the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed
with mighty power. When the enemy sees that the Lord is blessing his people,
and preparing them to discern his delusions, he will work with his masterly power
to bring in fanaticism on one hand and cold formalism on the other, that he may gather in a harvest of souls. Now is
the time to watch unceasingly. Watch for the first step of advance that Satan
may make among us.
There are dangers to be guarded against on the right hand and on the left.
Those who are inexperienced, who have newly come to the faith, will need to
be strengthened, and to have a correct example set before them. Some will not
make a right use of the doctrine of justification by faith. They will present
it in a one-sided manner, making everything of faith, and belittling works.
Others will seize the points that have a leaning toward error, and will
ignore works altogether. Now, genuine faith always works by love; it supplies
a motive power. Faith is not an opiate, but a stimulant. Looking to Calvary
will not quiet your soul into nonperformance of
duty, but will create faith that will work, purifying the soul from all
selfishness. In laying hold of Christ by faith, we but just begin our work. Every
man has corrupt and sinful habits, that must be
overcome through vigorous warfare. Every soul must fight the fight of faith. He who is a follower of Christ, cannot deal deceitfully;
he cannot be hard-hearted and devoid of sympathy. He cannot be coarse in
speech. He cannot be a surmiser of evil, an accuser
of the brethren. He cannot be full of pomposity and self-esteem. He cannot be
overbearing, using harsh words, and censuring and condemning those around
him.
The labor of love springs from the work of faith. You are to "let your
light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven." "Work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you
both to will and to do of his good pleasure." We are to "be zealous
of good works;" "be careful to maintain good works." And the
True Witness says, "I know thy works." While it is true that our
busy activities will not in themselves insure salvation, it is also true that
faith which unites us to Christ will stir the soul to activity; and good
fruit, which is good works, will be the result of faith.
Those who have no time to give attention to their own souls, to examine
themselves daily whether they be in the love of God,
and to place themselves in the channel of light, will have time to give to
the suggestions of Satan, and the working out of his plans. Satan will
insinuate himself little by little, until he can have a controlling influence
on the soul, and induce men gradually to adopt worldly policy. The specious
devices of Satan will be brought to make of none effect the special work of
God at this time.
There are men who are careless in regard to the spirit which they carry with
them in their business. They hide their light under a bushel. They say,
Religion is religion, business is business. But all our work in this world,
even in a business line, is God's work, and should be done with a heart full
of his love, and of heavenly enlightenment. But if we need the heavenly
enlightenment in business employments in the world, how much more do we need
his grace and help in the business especially connected with his precious
cause. There must be no coldness, no formality, no
deadness in his work. The hardness of heart that is manifest in business
lines among us as a people, is an offense to God.
Men connected with our institutions in responsible position are intrusted with sacred interests, and they cannot be safe
men unless they make God their trust every moment, unless they are men of
earnest prayer and fervent piety, in their home life, in the work appointed
them, in all their business. There is danger that these men will cheat their
souls by neglecting to receive the ever-present help of the Holy Spirit,
because they have not a true sense of their own weakness. They fail to become
channels of light, and if they will continue to be devoid of light, they will
fail of the eternal blessedness hereafter. No one can stand safely in a
neutral position.
The workers in our institutions need the divine endowment daily. But instead
of drawing nearer to God when they accept positions of trust, many think they
have so much to do, that they cannot attend religious meetings, and their
voices are seldom heard in the congregation of the saints. They act as if
they were now so far advanced that they needed not to engage in fervent
prayer to God. They do not feel their constant need of education and training
in the school of Christ, that they may learn his
meekness and lowliness of heart, and they become lifted up in self. Traits of
character are manifested by them which are unchristlike.
They must be transformed, or they will do harm; for with these unchristlike characteristics they are not qualified for
the place. They need to bring their powers under the control of the Spirit of
God, that they may realize the necessity of seeking spiritual help, of
"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching." Those who desire wisdom from God, who wish to follow Jesus
at every step, will seek for the light, and it will shine in their hearts.
"They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord
hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for
them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name."
Satan is constantly at work to wound and poison the soul. In order to
withstand his efforts, we must breathe the atmosphere of heaven. We must
individually get hold and keep hold of Christ. The truth of God, dwelling in
the heart, and guiding the life, will be our safeguard. With the truth in our
possession, we may humbly and firmly advance from light to a greater light,
and we shall be guided into every good and holy way. Unless the truth of God
transforms the character, it is of no value to the receiver. Those who are in
earnest about the future life, will not neglect the
opportunities within their reach in this life. They will not only place
themselves with the learners of the truth, but will feel that they are under
obligation to God to learn all that is possible for them to know of spiritual
and heavenly things; they will carry every matter in prayer to God.
Coming nigh to God inspires confidence, and stimulates the soul to action.
The body would die if deprived of suitable nourishment, and so with the soul;
in order to have spiritual strength, or even life, it must be nourished by
the word, which is spirit and life. It must be constantly fed by the truth,
which connects the soul with Him in whom we live, and move, and have our
being. Every man in a responsible position needs the sunbeams of Christ's
righteousness constantly to illuminate his soul, or his course will do much
harm. Every person who is in a position to command, needs to come as often as
possible into association with the worshiping assemblies, that he may be
surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere, and have greater depth of experience
in divine things.
To keep your soul in the love of God you must place yourselves in the channel
of light, and breathe in a holy atmosphere; for through neglect of any means
of grace which God has ordained to impart spiritual strength and grace, you
bring blindness upon your souls, and hardness into your hearts, and Satan
will lead you to look at things in a perverted light. If you have no respect
for the messages which God sends you by his chosen servants, what power has
he in reserve that will reach your case and correct your errors, so that you
shall not be led into false paths? The garden of your heart must be
cultivated. The poisonous, Satanic plants must be uprooted, the soil must be
prepared, thoroughly plowed by the word of God, and the precious seeds of
truth must be sown and tended by a wise, skillful
gardener.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh
through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when
he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and
garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with him seven
other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:
and the last state of that man is worse than the first." The parable of
the man from whom an evil spirit had been cast out, who did not fill the soul
with the love of Christ, illustrates the necessity of not only emptying the
heart, but of supplying the vacuum with a divine occupant. The demon desired
to return to the heart from which he had been expelled. He came, and though
it was swept and garnished, he found it still empty,
and entered in with seven other spirits more evil than himself, so that the
last state of the man was worse than the first. The man in this parable
refused to do the work of Satan; but the trouble with him was that after the
heart was swept and garnished, he failed to invite the presence of the
heavenly guests. It is not enough to make the heart empty; we must have the
vacuum filled with the love of God. The soul must be furnished with the
graces of the Spirit of God. We may leave off many bad habits, and yet not be
truly sanctified, because we do not have a connection with God. We must unite
with Christ. There is a reservoir of power at our command, and we are not to
remain in the dark, cold, sunless cave of unbelief; or we shall not catch the
bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.
To be a Christian requires more than a profession of faith. There must be an
earnest effort to conquer through the grace freely given of God. All things
around us must be made to be helps to growth in grace and the knowledge of
Christ. Satan, the great rebel, is ever seeking to entice us to sin against
God. He will introduce false imaginings, and sway the understanding against
the revealed will of God, the lower passions against purity and self-denial,
the independent judgment against God's decisions, the wisdom from beneath
against the wisdom from above. But the Holy Spirit has come into the world to
subdue all things unto himself, and shall God's will be put in the
background, and man's will be held as supreme? Can
man's will be the controlling power in God's great contest for the recovery
of his own?—No, for those who are laborers together
with God must have the mind of Christ, and work with pen and voice in the
Spirit of Christ to meet wrong tendencies, to correct errors, that have been
coming in among us. The truth must no longer be kept in the outer court, but
be brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul. The religion of Christ
requires not only the putting away of pride, malice, covetousness, injustice,
but the cultivation of the precious graces of humility, unselfishness,
kindness, love, generosity, and nobility of soul. The Christian should be
constantly aspiring, pressing on from grace to grace, from faith to a greater
faith, from glory to a greater glory.
(To be continued.)
(Continued.)
We shall have to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the
saints. Because finite men do not comprehend the power and greatness of God,
science, falsely so-called, and religion will be placed in opposition to each
other, and "of your ownselves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." There will
be among us those who will so blind their eyes that they will fail to
perceive the most wonderful and important truths for this time. Truths which
are essential to the safety and salvation of men will be set aside, while
ideas that are in comparison to the truth as the merest atoms, will be dwelt
upon, and magnified by the power of Satan, so that they will appear of the
utmost importance. The moral sight of those who forsake truth has become dim;
and yet they do not feel their need of the heavenly anointing, that they may
discern spiritual things. They think themselves too wise to err. But those
who have not a daily experience in the things of God will not move wisely.
They may have a legal religion, a form of godliness, there may be an
appearance of light in the church; all the machinery—much of it human
invention—may appear to be working well, and yet the church may be as
destitute of the grace of God as were the hills of Gilboa
of dew and rain.
Scores of men have preached the word when they themselves had not faith in
it, and did not obey its teachings. They were unconverted, unsanctified, unholy. But if we would stand the test, piety must be
brought into the life. What we want is inspiration from the cross of Calvary.
Then God will open eyes to see that we are not to expect to do any work for
the Master successfully, unless we connect with Christ. If we are indeed laborers together with God, we shall not have a dead,
scientific religion, but our hearts will be infused with a living power, even
the Spirit of Jesus. All those who are truly converted will be drawn out of,
and away from, themselves. With the blessing of Christ upon them day by day,
they will be channels for communicating light and blessings to others.
Those who are wavering between Christ and the world,
need the converting power of God. When they see what sin is, and what is the righteousness of Christ, they will no longer dwell
in the cave of unbelief. God calls upon them to come out of the cave, and
stand with him. No longer question your need of a personal Saviour. The
heart, as well as the understanding, must be enlarged. It is not enough to
have an intellectual knowledge of the truth; there must be a heart work done.
The soul-temple must be cleansed from the buyers and sellers, and must be
opened for the indwelling of the Spirit of God. Christ drew a decided line of
distinction between his disciples and the world. Listen to these words from
his prayer offered just before his agony in Gethsemane: "They are not of
the world, even as I am not of the world."
We must comply with the terms of salvation, or we are lost. At the hour when
we leave the service of Satan for the service of Christ, when true conversion
takes place, and by faith we turn from transgression to obedience, the
severest of the heart struggles take place. But many accept the theory of
truth, and compromise with the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The soul that
has truly experienced the transforming grace of Christ has chosen Christ for
its portion; it yields to the gracious influence of his Holy Spirit, and thus
the character is formed according to the divine pattern. We are to feel, to
act, as one with Christ.
It is the work of the heavenly angels to unite with human agencies in
shedding light amid the moral darkness that rests upon the earth. Christ says
to his followers, "Ye are the light of the world." Shall we envelop
our light in a thick covering of worldly policy? Shall we seek for scientific
measurement of how much light shall emanate from us to the world? God help us
to live under the direct rays of the Sun of Righteousness, that we may be
channels of light to the world. There are many false beacons established, to
lead unwary souls to make shipwreck of faith; but the true light of the world
must shine, not smothered, not put under a bushel nor under a bed, but set on
a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house—the world.
The true light is to stand in distinction from all other lights. The system
of truth must stand distinct from all other systems, whether of religion or
of morals; for it sheds forth light emanating from Christ. Our great work is
to reveal Christ to the world, and thus reveal the Father.
There are men of the world who will volunteer to be our guides; they regard
their course as wise, but they are of the class who, professing to be wise,
need to become fools in order to become wise in God's wisdom. They lead away
from the path where the voice of Jesus is heard, saying, "This is the
way; walk ye in it." They are false teachers, blind leaders of the
blind. They divert the attention from the very work to be done in this period
of the world's history. But those who follow the Leader step by step, will hear and recognize the voice of the True
Shepherd.
We are to learn from Christ how to work, how to be as he was, self-denying,
self-sacrificing. If we have his Spirit, we shall realize the worth of souls,
and work for their salvation. Our work is to be done wholly through the grace
of Christ. We are to have a continual sense of our weakness and frailty and
be led to Jesus in earnest prayer for his wisdom and efficiency. There will
be times of despondency, as we realize our unlikeness to Christ; we see
ourselves small, weak, and compassed with infirmities; but we are to depend
upon Jesus, and commit our ways unto the Lord; and while we trust to him in
humility, obedient to his word, heavenly wisdom will be imparted to us that we
may do the Master's work. Our life may seem a tangle; but if we commit
ourselves wholly to the wise Master-worker, he will bring out the pattern of
life and character according to his plan, for our good and his own glory.
Do not take your eyes off Jesus. Let the prayer go forth from unfeigned lips
that we may not trust in our finite, human wisdom, but that our thoughts may
be brought into subjection to Christ, our characters be molded
after the mind of Christ. Why should we not walk with God, as did Enoch? Why
should we not have the transforming grace of Christ daily? Has he not
promised to us great and precious things? Who can find words to explain the
rich promises of God? "Behold," said John, "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."
In the last conflict in the great controversy between good and evil, God has
called us to give the final warning to the world. The Christian world are honoring a false
Sabbath, and we are to show them its true character and foundation. We must
make it plain to them that they are honoring a
man-made institution in place of that which God himself has sanctified. Every
rival to God must be made to appear as an idol. Solemn is our responsibility.
The people of the world will try to induce us to soften down our message, to
suppress some of its more distinctive features. They say, "Why do you
make the seventh-day Sabbath so prominent in your teaching? This difference
is always thrust before us. We would harmonize with you if you would not say
so much on this point. Let arguments in the Sentinel be
free from mention of the seventh-day Sabbath, and we will give it our
influence and support." This is their invitation to compromise, and
there has been a disposition on the part of some of our workers to adopt this
policy. But those who favor this action entertain deceptive sentiments, are
bound by false modesty and caution, and manifest a disposition to withhold
the confession of our faith. Seventh-day Adventists have discussed the
feasibility of conceding to these demands; but shall we permit the world to
shape the messages that God has given us to bear to them? Shall we entertain
the proposals of Satan, and thereby entangle our souls, and the souls of
others, for the sake of policy? Shall we betray sacred trusts? If the world are in error and delusion, breaking the law of God,
is it not our duty to show them their sin and danger? We must proclaim the
third angel's message.
What is the Sentinel for?—It is to be as the voice of the watchman on the
walls of Zion, ready to sound the danger signal. We should cry aloud, and
spare not, and show the people their transgressions. We are not to cringe,
and beg pardon of the world for telling them the truth. We should scorn
concealment. Unfurl your true colors to the gaze of men and angels. Let it be
understood that Seventh-day Adventists can make no compromise. In our
opinions and faith there must not be the least appearance of wavering. The
world has a right to expect something of us, and will look upon us as
dishonest, as hiding our real sentiments and principles out of policy, if we
present even the semblance of being uncommitted.
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Christ said he would send into the
world, was to bear an unwavering testimony: "Nevertheless I tell you the
truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin [What is sin?—The
transgression of the law], and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin,
because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father,
and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged." On no account will a real believer of the truth present an
appearance of neutrality in that which concerns the salvation of souls. We
are not to voice the sentiment of the world. Jesus says, "Whosoever
shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which
is in heaven." The Lord calls upon all to consider whom they will serve
and whom they mean to worship,—whether they will be swayed to the right or to
the left by the opinions and position of the world, or stand firm to truth.
Shall we be time-servers? Now, before we advance another step, let us look
carefully to see what are our feelings, our aims, and purposes.
(Concluded next week.)
(Concluded.)
Those who are more desirous of securing promotion and a good name in the
world than of maintaining right principles, will
betray sacred trusts. They will cripple their own influence,
they will darken counsel by their words, and make false reasoning to look
sound and right. All the success and patronage that can be secured by policy
plans will serve only as a snare to those who work on this principle.
Some are flattering themselves that a more auspicious time is coming, when
God will vindicate his honor by lifting up his holy law. Many
who now look upon the cross as too heavy to bear, think they will then obey
the truth, and triumph with it. But in maintaining the right, it is not safe,
because of circumstances, to yield in any degree firm adherence to duty, or
to teach others that they may yield with comparative safety. Such a course is
like that of Judas, who sold his Lord to his enemies, fully believing that
Christ would manifest his miraculous power, and give his enemies another
evidence of his divinity. Judas never recovered the ground lost through his presumption.
To place ourselves in a position where we have an appearance of yielding, is
a new position for this people. It is a new experience, a departure from the
principles to which we have adhered, which have made us what we are today, a
people whom God has prospered, a people who have the
Lord of hosts with them.
Brethren in the office of publication, you who have a connection with sacred
things, God bids you to be careful where you place
your feet. He holds you accountable for the light of truth,
that it shall shine forth in clear and distinct rays to the world. The
world will never help you by its devices to let your light shine. They stand
under their leader, the great deceiver, who works through his human agents to
eclipse the light. God calls upon you to shine. With intense solicitude trim
your lamps, take the oil of grace in your vessels, and keep your lamps
trimmed and burning, that your light may shine bright and clear amid the
moral darkness of this world. All who hold the truth should hold it in
righteousness, and appreciate its value and sacredness. They should ask
wisdom of God, that they may send its rays into all
the highways and byways of life. If we are sanctified by the truth, our souls
will be pervaded by a deep and abiding sense of its importance,
and it will be our meat and drink to obey the truth, and pass along the
precious light to others.
Many who claim to believe the truth have rested in the theory, and have not
felt the necessity of maintaining vital connection with the pure, sacred
springs from which they must derive their life and inspiration. When they
should have been earnestly praying to heaven, humbling their hearts before
God, they have been busy with human calculations, human imaginings, have been
exalting self in place of exalting the Lord. Yet they seemed unaware of their
danger of leaving the precious principles of truth. We need to pray
continually that God will help us to abide in the truth, and not be swayed
from its principles by those who are not sanctified to God, or allow the
opinions of worldlings to mold
our institutions.
But although we are to stand firm as a rock to principle, we should be
courteous and Christ-like in our dealings with all men. In meekness and love
we should tell the people why we cannot accept the papal Sabbath, because it
is a mark of special dishonor to God, whom we love and worship. But while we
sacredly observe the Sabbath of the Lord, it is not our work to compel others
to observe it. God never forces the conscience. That is Satan's work. But God
is the author of the Sabbath, and it must be presented to men in contrast
with the false Sabbath, that they may choose between the truth of God and the
error of the enemy.
An effort is now on foot to enforce the observance of Sunday, and while the
Sunday question is coming to the front, an opportunity is given to present to
the world the true Sabbath in contrast with the false. The Lord is far ahead
of us, he has permitted this Sunday question to be pressed to the front, in
order that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment may be presented before
legislative assemblies. The leading men of the nation are to have their
attention called to the testimony of God's word in favor of the true Sabbath.
If the testimony does not convert them, it is a witness that will condemn
them. The Sabbath question is the great testing question for this time.
No greater contempt could be shown to the Creator than the contempt
manifested for the day which he has sanctified and blessed. And as Satan with
his human agents pushes the warfare against God, by leading men to trample on
the Sabbath, the few who do honor God should be aroused to greater zeal and
earnestness in its defense. The Calebs
must press to the front. The greater the contempt heaped upon the law, the
stronger must be our love for it, and the more earnest our efforts to exalt
it. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you
the whole armor of God, that
ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand."
The prophet Isaiah says concerning those who advocate the truth of God,
"They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt
raise up the foundations of many generations."
What is that?—The Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Raise it up by pen, by
voice, and ring out the truth in every way possible. "And thou shalt be
called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on
my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways,
nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou
delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high
places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy Father: for
the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
This is a work for those who see the Sabbath of the fourth commandment
trodden down. They are to give it the exalted position it deserves. Isaiah
says of Christ and his followers, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon
me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim
the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to
comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for
the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. And they shall build
the old wastes, they shall raise up the former
desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many
generations."
This is the work now to be done on earth. Those who are living in transgression
of the holy law of God will not find the truth palatable. When it is made
plain that Sunday is a spurious Sabbath, founded in the power of the man of
sin, they will say in language too plain to be misunderstood, "We want
not a knowledge of thy ways, O Lord." Others
will say as did Pharaoh, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his
voice?" But in the face of all opposition we must hold aloft the banner
of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It takes both of these to
make up the burden of the message to be given to the world.
We need divine wisdom and skill that we may improve every opportunity that
the providence of God shall prepare for the presentation of truth. While
Satan will make masterly efforts to suppress truth, we must stand firm to our
principles, reflecting light to the world. We should be alarmed at the least
manifestation of a disposition to hush the voices that proclaim the third
angel's message. That angel represents the people of God, who give the last
warning to the world. Let not the fear of man, the desire for patronage, be
allowed to obscure a ray of heaven's light. Should the sentinels of truth now
fail to sound the warning, they would be unworthy of their position as
light-bearers to the world; but should the standard fall from their hands,
the Lord would raise up others who would be faithful
and loyal.
It will require moral courage to do God's work unflinchingly. Those who do
this can give no place to self love, to selfish considerations, ambition,
love of ease, or desire to shun the cross. We are commanded to "cry
aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet. "Shall
we labor to make the name of God a praise in the
earth? Shall we obey his voice, or shall we listen to the soothing voice of
the evil one, and be rocked to a fatal slumber just on the eve of eternal
realities? The truth is everything to us, or it is nothing. Let those who
want to make a name in the world, go with the world; but let those who would
serve God, obey God, and not man. In the great conflict between faith and
unbelief, the whole Christian world will be involved. All will take sides.
Some may not apparently engage in the conflict on either side. They may not
appear to take sides against the truth, but they will not come out boldly for
Christ, through fear of losing property or suffering reproach. All such are
numbered with the enemies of Christ; for Christ says, "He that is not
with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth
abroad."
Conservative traditions received from educated men, and from the writings of
great men of the past, are not safe guides for us in these last days; for the
great struggle before us is such as the world has never seen before. Those
who have not acted a part in this work in the past,
need to move with great caution in regard to accepting or refusing what may
be presented to them as truth. They need to penetrate much deeper than their
limited spiritual knowledge, or their present habits or opinions would lead
them to do. We are not one of us safe unless we live as seeing Him who is
invisible, even with past experience in the work; and we certainly are not
safe, if we have not had that experience. Daily, hourly, we must be actuated
by the principles of Bible truth,—righteousness, mercy, and the love of God.
He who would have moral and intellectual power must draw from the divine
source. At every point of decision inquire, "Is this the way of the
Lord?" With your Bibles open before you, consult sanctified reason and a
good conscience. Your heart must be moved, your soul touched, your reason and
intellect awakened, by the Spirit of God; and then holy principles revealed
in the word of God will give light to the soul. The true source of wisdom and
virtue and power is the cross of Calvary. Christ is the author and finisher
of our faith. He says, "Without me ye can do nothing."
Let no man seek to go about God's work in any one of its branches in his own
strength; for if he does, the fruit will not be such as will abide unto
eternal life. He appears to build on the foundation; but he puts upon it
wood, hay, and stubble,—material that will be consumed. Our ideas must be
elevated. Lift him up, the Man of Calvary; let the language of the soul be,
"He must increase; I must decrease." It is very hard for self to
occupy a subordinate place. It lifts up itself in many ways, runs without
Christ, works without prayer and consecration. Man's wisdom is foolishness;
but many do not yet know this. They form connections with persons no more
pious or consecrated than themselves. They counsel and plan with them, and if
their devising is accepted, it will surely lead away from the right path.
Their self-sufficiency is great, they do not feel
the necessity of prayer at every step. They judge after the sight of the
eyes, and the hearing of the ears, but have not the discernment that God
gives, which would enable them to look beneath the surface. They favor those
who should not be favored, and turn from those who should find help and
comfort and justice at their hands. What government are we under? We shall
have to make a decided choice either to be under Satan's rule, or under the
rule of Him whom John saw while on the isle of Patmos, who hath prepared his
throne in the heavens," and whose "kingdom ruleth
over all."
__._,_.___
|