Waiting
and Working for Christ
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April 12, 1898 Waiting and Working for Christ
Mrs. E. G. White
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto
those things which are before, I press forward to the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect,
be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal
even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk
by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together
of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. For many walk,
of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ." {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 1}
This warning in
regard to the perils of the people of God is given by one who knew. The enemies of
the cross of Christ will put on the garments of light. This they did in Paul's
day. As the apostle saw the power of their influence for wrong, he warned the
people with weeping not to give them encouragement. They were enemies of
Christ, "whose end is destruction, . . . who mind earthly things."
{RH, April 12, 1898 par. 2}
"For our conversation is in heaven," Paul continues,
"from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things
unto himself. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and
crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." "Watch
therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that
if the goodman of the house had known in what watch
the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his
house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye
think not the Son of man cometh." {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 3}
Is
Christ soon to come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory? Is the
end of all things at hand? If so, those who claim to be followers of Christ
must work in proportion to their faith. Our part is not to wait in idle expectancy,
but to act in accordance with our faith in the word of God. Vigilant waiting is
to be combined with earnest watching. In view of the solemn events soon to take
place, every soul who has been privileged to hear the truth is to work
earnestly. {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 4}
No one who is
in Christ's service can rest content with doing nothing. The Christian
life is not alone a life of waiting and meditation, not alone a life of prayer,
but a life also of work. We are to wait, and watch, and work for Christ. Thus only can we
attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ. {RH, April 12,
1898 par. 5}
"We are laborers together with God," is the inspired
declaration. While we search the Scriptures to learn God's plan, we are to
strive to carry out that plan, praying for strength to do the work that God has
given us. Not only are we to seek for strength from God, in order to know
his will, but to do that will. As his earthly agents, we are to co-operate with
divine intelligences in carrying out God's plan for the salvation of those for
whom Christ has died. As we work under the Captain of our salvation, faithfully
obeying his orders, our characters are developed. Through his merits we are
enabled to work in harmony with God's great plan. {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 6}
While we are to guard against all hurry and bustle that would lead us to
neglect to form characters after the divine Pattern, we are also to heed the
admonition, "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the
Lord." We are to guard against the devices which lead to spiritual
declension, that the day of the Lord may not come upon us as a thief. Those who
merely profess to be Christians,--the subjective part of religion,--who do not
do faithful service for Christ, will fail of obtaining that experience that
will make them of value in God's sight. But those who realize the necessity of
working for the Master, communicating to others the light and knowledge that he
has given them, will be growing Christians. Waiting, praying, watching, and
working, they are prepared to witness to the truth.{RH, April 12, 1898 par. 7}
Heart-work reveals itself in actions. Those who appreciate truth and righteousness
will show their zeal by their efforts to give the light to others. Those who
are chosen vessels must reflect the character of Christ. Through these
the grace of Christ from the river of the water of life flows in rich, pure
streams, enabling them to bless all with whom they come in contact. {RH, April 12,
1898 par. 8}
Golden instruction is given us in the fourth chapter of Zechariah.
"The angel that talked with me," the prophet writes, "came
again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto
me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of
gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven
pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: and two olive-trees
by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side
thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What
are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto
me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered
and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,
saith the Lord of hosts. . . . And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two
olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of
themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I
said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by
the Lord of the whole earth." {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 9}
There is a work for all to do for the Master. Every human being who has
a vital connection with Christ will earnestly strive to carry forward the work
committed to him. But no selfishness can enter God's work. The most
splendid service, if it originates with self, is useless. Unless the root is
holy, no fruit can be borne to God's glory. {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 10}
God calls upon
every true worker to be an ambassador of love. The Lord is at the door, and all the manhood
and womanhood of our spiritual being is to be called into activity. We are to be
justified by faith and judged by works. God's law claims obedience from all,
and condemns disobedience. All are tested and proved, to see if they will keep
the law of the heavenly courts. At this time, when universal contempt is
shown by the professed Christian world to the royal law of Jehovah, God's
witnesses are to arise and show their loyalty by keeping his law. Their prayer
will be, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy
law." {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 11}
"Ye are my friends," Christ said, "if ye do whatsoever I
command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not
what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have
heard of my Father I have made known unto you." For what purpose?--That
they might make it known to others. "When the Comforter is come, whom I
will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth
from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness,
because ye have been with me from the beginning." {RH, April 12, 1898 par.
12}
God
has said, Remember, do not forget, that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. If we
are loyal to God's commandments, we shall hold as sacred the day he has
sanctified and blessed as commemorative of his work of creation. He has set the
Sabbath as a sign between us and him throughout all our generations forever,
and we honor him when we reverence his Sabbath. {RH, April 12, 1898par.
13}
"He that
hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that
loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest
myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou
wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said
unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him,
and
we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Precious assurance,
to be realized as true by those who are obedient. {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 14}
"He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which
ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." "As the Father
hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." Shall we not
continue in God's love by obeying implicitly all his commandments? "If ye
keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto
you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
Full and entire obedience brings joy, not mourning, doubt, and uncertainty. {RH, April 12,
1898 par. 15}
All
who stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, working out his
commands as loyal subjects, can claim the words: "Hereby we do know that we know him, if
we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his
word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in
him.
. . . Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment
which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have
heard from the beginning." Here it is definitely stated that it is the law
given in Eden to which John refers, and that this law has binding claims upon
all mankind. {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 16}
We
are not in a dreamland of inaction. We are soldiers of Christ, enlisted in the
work of showing our loyalty to him who has redeemed us. What we are in the
heavenly home, when saved, eternally saved, will be the reflection of what we
now are in character and holy service. Shall we not show our loyalty by keeping God's
commandments here, in this our place of probation? Shall we not raise the
standard of loyalty to the God of heaven, irrespective of consequences,
unheeding the reviling and hatred of the churches that have apostatized from
the service of their Creator? {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 17}
The
Lord has a people on the earth, who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. He has his
thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Such will stand with him on
Mount Zion. But they must stand on this earth, girded with the whole armor,
ready to engage in the work of saving those who are ready to perish. Heavenly
angels conduct this search, and spiritual activity is demanded of all who
believe present truth, that they may join the angels in their work. {RH, April 12,
1898 par. 18}
We
need not wait till we are translated to follow Christ. God's people may do this
here below. We shall follow the Lamb of God in the courts above only if we
follow him here. Following him in heaven depends on our keeping his
commandments now. We are not to follow Christ fitfully or capriciously, only when
it is for our advantage. We must choose to follow him. In daily life
we must follow his example, as a flock trustfully follows its shepherd. We are
to follow him by suffering for his sake, saying, at every step, "Though he
slay me, yet will I trust in him." His life practise must be our life
practise. And as we thus seek to be like him, and to bring our wills into
conformity to his will, we shall reveal him. {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 19}
Are
we following Christ with unswerving loyalty, keeping his life of perfect
obedience, of purity and self-sacrifice, ever before us, that, by
beholding, we may become changed into his image? Do we strive to imitate his fidelity? If we
educate ourselves to say, Be thou my Pattern; if by the eye of faith we see him as a
living Saviour, we shall be strengthened to follow him. Then with the undefiled
we shall follow him in the future life. As eye- and heart-witnesses, we can
bear testimony to his majesty; for by faith we have been with him in the holy
mount. {RH, April 12, 1898 par. 20}