ccc“Christ says: `Follow Me;' `I
am the way, the truth, and the life.' `He that followeth Me shall
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'
cccThe Word of God should be your
study, and if your heart is susceptible to the influence of the
truth, you will find in the Bible, instruction that will be a
sure guide to your soul from darkness to light, from unbelief to
faith. `Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ
with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are
the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will
receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My
sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
cccThe more our faith fastens and holds
to Christ, the more peace we shall have. Faith grows by exercise,
and God's rule is one day at a time. Day by day we are to go on,
doing the work for each day, conscious that we are working in the
sight of angels, cherubim, and seraphim, in the sight of God and
of Jesus Christ. Ye are a spectacle unto the world, to angels,
and to men. We should pray, `Give us this day our daily bread.'
As our day is, so our strength will be. We are to be constantly
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and if
we live thus in dependence upon Him, the Holy Spirit will bring
to our remembrance all things whatsoever He has spoken unto us,
and will sanctify every faculty, and keep us reminded of our
daily and hourly dependence upon our Heavenly Father's care,
wisdom, love and guardianship. When we are thus minded, we have
the spirit of a little child, the spirit that Jesus said His
followers must possess in order to enter His Kingdom. As a little
child we are to trust in our Heavenly Father. When this is our
spirit, we can more easily discern the temptations of Satan; for
we are constantly drawing nigh to God. The feeling of
self-sufficiency, that works the ruin of so many souls, has no
atmosphere in which to flourish.
ccc`Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto
you.' This precious promise is from One who means every Word He
speaks. Then why are we fearful, distrustful, unbelieving? Let us
go on, doing our duty with an eye single to His glory, filling up
our time, working out God's plan as in the sight of an invisible
world.” — ST September 25, 1893.
ccc
ccc“`Giving all diligence, add to
your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge
temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they
make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.' 2 Peter 1:5-8.
ccccThese Words are full of instruction,
and strike the keynote of victory. The apostle presents before
the believers the ladder of Christian progress, every step of
which represents advancement in the knowledge of God, and in the
climbing of which there is to be no standstill. Faith, virtue,
knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness,
and charity are the rounds of the ladder. We are saved by
climbing round after round, mounting step after step, to the
height of Christ's ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
cccAll these successive steps are not
to be kept before the mind's eye, and counted as you start; but
fixing the eye upon Jesus, with an eye single to the glory of
God, you will make advancement. . . .
cccBy taking one step after another,
the highest ascent may be climbed, and the summit of the mount
may be reached at last. Do not become overwhelmed with the great
amount of work you must do in your lifetime, for you are not
required to do it all at once. Let every power of your being go
to each day's work, improve each precious opportunity, appreciate
the helps that God gives you, and make advancement up the ladder
of progress step by step. Remember that you are to live but one
day at a time, that God has given you one day, and Heavenly
records will show how you have valued its privileges and
opportunities. May you so improve every day given you of God that
at last you may hear the Master say, `Well done, thou good and
faithful servant.'” — ML 95.
ccc
ccc“We are to live on the plan of
addition, and as we do this, God will work for us on the plan of
multiplication. Grace and peace will be multiplied unto us.
ccc`If these things be in you, and
abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that
lacketh these things is blind, and can not see afar off, and hath
forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the
rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into
the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'
cccThis is your life insurance policy.
Act well your part, and you will be given entrance into the
Kingdom of glory. God has chosen you to have eternal life if you
will do His will.
cccWe shall pass through this world
only once. Let us, then, be careful how we speak and act. Let us
be careful where we place our feet, lest the lame be turned out
of the way. Let us so live that God can make us partakers of the
divine nature, enabling us to obtain victories, and to overcome
as Christ overcame.
cccGod asks us to live only one day at
a time. You need not look a week or a month ahead. To-day do your
best. To-day speak and act in a way that will honor God. The
promise is, `As thy days, so shall thy strength be.
cccTroublous times are before us. The
Judgments of God are abroad in the land. Calamities follow one
another in rapid succession. Soon God is to rise out of His place
to shake terribly the earth, and to punish the inhabitants for
their iniquity. Then He will stand up in behalf of His people,
and will give them His protecting care. He will throw His
everlasting arms around them to shield them from all harm.”
— RH April 4, 1904.
ccc
ccc“`There hath no temptation
taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may
be able to bear it.' 1 Cor. 10:13.
cccChrist will never abandon the soul
for whom He has died. The soul may leave Him, and be overwhelmed
with temptation; but Christ can never turn from one for whom He
has paid the ransom of His own life. Could our spiritual vision
be quickened, we should see souls bowed under oppression and
burdened with grief, pressed as a cart beneath sheaves, and ready
to die in discouragement. We should see angels flying swiftly to
aid these tempted ones, who are standing as on the brink of a
precipice. The angels from Heaven force back the hosts of evil
that encompass these souls, and guide them to plant their feet on
the sure foundation. The battles waging between the two armies
are as real as those fought by the armies of this world, and on
the issue of the spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend.
cccTo us, as to Peter, the Word is
spoken, `Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as
wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.'
Thank God, we are not left alone.
cccWe are coming to the crisis. Let us
stand the test manfully, grasping the hand of Infinite Power. God
will work for us. We have only to live one day at a time, and if
we get acquainted with God, He will give us strength for what is
coming tomorrow, grace sufficient for each day, and every day
will find its own victories, just as it finds its trials. We
shall have the power of the Highest with us, for we shall be clad
with the armor of Christ's righteousness. We have the same God
that has worked for His people in ages past. Jesus stands by our
side, and shall we falter?--No, as the trials come, the power of
God will come with them. God will help us to stand in faith on
His Word, and when we are united, He will work with special power
[i.e., thus, see the concept of `power' and more discussed in the
next eight quotes] in our behalf.” — ML 94.
ccc
ccc“Before the final visitation of
God's Judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of
the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been
witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will
be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate
themselves from those churches in which the love of this world
[i.e., see `the world' and more in next two quotes below] has
supplanted love for God and His Word. Many, both of ministers and
people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has
caused to be proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the
Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this
work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will
endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit [i.e., see
this counterfeit revival described in PP 684-686]. In those
churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will
make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there
will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest.
Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them,
when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise,
Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.
cccIn many of the revivals [i.e.,
modern, counterfeit revivals, as described in PP 684-686] which
have occurred during the last half century, the same influences
have been at work, to a greater or less degree, that will be
manifest in the more extensive movements of the future. There is
an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false,
that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In
the light of God's word it is not difficult to determine the
nature of these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of
the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths
which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we
may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed. . . .
ccc. . . . It is only as the law of God
is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival
of primitive faith and godliness among His professed
people.” — GC 464, 478.
ccc
ccc“Let the Spirit of God search
through mind and heart, and cleanse away all that hinders the
needed reformation. Until this is done, God can not bestow on us
His power and grace. And while we are without His power and
grace, men will stumble and fall, and will not know at what they
stumble. . . .
cccThe powers from beneath are working
with intensity of effort. Soon will come the time when God will
discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him
not. . . .
cccThe message to the church of the
Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today. It is a
message to professing Christians who have become so much like the
world [i.e., thus, also, please remember what God has said about
`the world,' about `power of God,' and about much more, as
discussed in the last inspired quote; and see `the world' and
God's `power' discussed, just below] that no difference can be
seen.” — RH August 20, 1903.
ccc
ccc“Those who come out from the
world, to stand distinct from worldlings in words and works,
those who realize that it is an honor to bear God's sign, will
receive power to become His sons. . . .
cccThose who would have the seal of God
in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment. This is what distinguishes them from the disloyal,
who have accepted a man-made institution in the place of the true
Sabbath. The observance of God's rest day is the mark of
distinction between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him
not. . . .
cccThe great mass of professing
Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of
God. They have not upon their foreheads the seal of the living
God. Lukewarm and halfhearted, they dishonor God far more than
the avowed unbeliever.” — 7BC 969, 970.
ccc
ccc“God can be no power to
lukewarm Laodiceans.” — ST August 2, 1899.
ccc
ccc“Christ will stand by the side
of all who receive Him as their Saviour. To them He will give
power to become the sons of God.” — MS 161, July 1,
1903.
ccc
ccc“The only way to gain peace and
joy is to have a living connection with Him who gave His life for
us, who died that we might live, and who lives to unite His power
with the efforts of those who in this life are striving to
overcome.” — MS 61, July 2, 1903.
ccc
ccc“Those who claim to be the
children of God, and yet do not obey His commands, who are
hearers but not doers of the Word, are regarded by the Lord as
bankers regard fraudulent bank-notes. They are not genuine. They
claim the name of Christian, but in reality they are heathen. To
those who do not practise it, the Word of God is a dead letter.
Christ says of such, `I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew
thee out of My mouth.' If they realized that they were sinners,
He could plead in their behalf, and the Lord would arouse them by
His Holy Spirit. But He can not present them to the Father; for
they are worse than dead in trespasses and sins. They hear the
Word, but make no application of it to themselves. Instead, they
apply the Word to their neighbors. God can be no power to
lukewarm Laodiceans.” — ST August 2, 1899.
ccc
ccc“If it seemed evil to them to
serve the Lord, if His requirements seemed a grievous exaction,
He bade them that day choose whom they would serve,--the idols
worshiped by their fathers . . . or the gods . . .
cccIn these last Words was a keen
rebuke to . . . idolatry . . . The gods of the heathen [i.e., to
include: the gods of the heathen, worse than dead, lukewarm
Laodiceans and/or the heathen, worse than dead church of the
Laodiceans--who do not keep the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment, because they pollute the Sabbath with heathen
idolatry, as seen in Matthew 24:37-39; PP 95-96, 305-306,
336--who have become so much like the world that no difference
can be seen, especially as one sees their open idolatry, or their
visible gods / idols that are passed off as so-called true images
of God--who are thus part of Satan's openly idolatrous or
heathen, counterfeit revival or movement just before the final
visitation of God's Judgments upon the earth--who are also thus
without God's power--who thus exult that God is working
marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit,
and/or when the work is that of the heathen power / spirit of
Satan--as seen in this present quote together with the last eight
quotes, just above] had no power to bestow peace or
prosperity.” — ST May 19, 1881.
ccc
ccc“The sins that destroyed the
antediluvians and the cities of the plain exist to-day--not
merely in heathen lands, or with the avowed unbeliever, but among
professors of Christianity.” — ST January 11, 1883.
ccc
ccc“But in vain they do worship
Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” —
Matthew 15:9.
ccc
ccc“In the first chapter of the
epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul gives a startling picture
of the debasing influence of creature worship. Of those who
`changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served
the creature more than the Creator,' he writes:--
ccc`When they knew God, they glorified
Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory
of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible
man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping
things.” — RH January 29, 1914.
ccc
ccc“The second commandment forbids
the worship [i.e., the vain worship; the creature worship] of the
true God by images or similitudes. Many heathen nations [i.e., to
include: heathen, worse than dead, lukewarm Laodiceans and/or the
heathen church of the Laodiceans--who are tragically in vain
worship and in creature worship with the visible gods of the
heathen and/or with the visible idols of ancient and modern
heathenism, which are idolatrously passed off as so-called true
images of God--and who have thus become so much like the world
that no difference can be seen; and, therefore, God can be no
power or Spirit to openly idolatrous or heathen, worse than dead,
lukewarm Laodiceans and/or to the openly heathen church of the
Laodiceans, who by God's definition operate under the openly
idolatrous power or openly heathen spirit of Satan--right
now--and even still in the day of God, as plainly seen in this
present quote together with the last twelve quotes just above]
claimed that their images were mere figures or symbols by which
the Deity was worshiped, but God has declared such worship [i.e.,
such vain worship; such creature worship] to be sin. The attempt
to represent the Eternal One by material objects [i.e., by gold,
or by silver, or by wood, or by stone, or by brass, or by iron,
or by marble, or by felt, or by some other material objects]
would lower man's conception of God. The mind, turned away from
the infinite perfection of Jehovah, would be attracted to the
creature rather than to the Creator. And as his conceptions of
God were lowered, so would man become degraded. . . .
cccBy causing men to violate the second
commandment, Satan aimed to degrade their conceptions of the
Divine Being. By setting aside the fourth, he would cause them to
forget God altogether. God's claim to reverence and worship,
above the gods of the heathen, is based upon the fact that He is
the Creator, and that to Him all other beings owe their
existence. . . . Had the Sabbath always been sacredly observed,
there could never have been an atheist or an idolater.”
— PP 306, 336.
ccc
ccc“Like attracts like. Like
appreciates like.” — 5T 705.
ccc
ccc“It was by associating with
idolaters and joining in their festivities that the Hebrews were
led to transgress God's law and bring His Judgments upon the
nation. So now it is by leading the followers of Christ to
associate with the ungodly and unite in their amusements that
Satan is most successful in alluring them into sin. `Come out
from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean.' 2 Corinthians 6:17. God requires of His people
now as great a distinction from the world, in customs, habits,
and principles, as He required of Israel anciently. If they
faithfully follow the teachings of His Word, this distinction
will exist; it cannot be otherwise. The warnings given to the
Hebrews against assimilating with the heathen were not more
direct or explicit than are those forbidding Christians to
conform to the spirit and customs of the ungodly. Christ speaks
to us, `Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not
in him.' 1 John 2:15. `The friendship of the world is enmity with
God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the
enemy of God.' James 4:4. The followers of Christ are to separate
themselves from sinners, choosing their society only when there
is opportunity to do them good. We cannot be too decided in
shunning the company of those who exert an influence to draw us
away from God. While we pray, `Lead us not into temptation,' we
are to shun temptation, so far as possible.
cccIt was when the Israelites were in a
condition of outward ease and security that they were led into
sin. They failed to keep God ever before them, they neglected
prayer and cherished a spirit of self-confidence. Ease and
self-indulgence left the citadel of the soul unguarded, and
debasing thoughts found entrance. It was the traitors within the
walls that overthrew the strongholds of principle and betrayed
Israel into the power of Satan. It is thus that Satan still seeks
to compass the ruin of the soul. A long preparatory process,
unknown to the world, goes on in the heart before the Christian
commits open sin. The mind does not come down at once from purity
and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime. It takes time
to degrade those formed in the image of God to the brutal or the
satanic. By beholding we become changed. By the indulgence of
impure thoughts man can so educate his mind that sin which he
once loathed will become pleasant to him.” — PP
458-459.
ccc
ccc“During the meetings at Orebro
I was urged by the Spirit of the Lord to present His law as the
great standard of righteousness and to warn our people against
the modern, counterfeit sanctification which has its origin in
will-worship rather than in submission to the will of God. This
error is fast flooding the world, and as God's witnesses we shall
be called to bear a decided testimony against it. It is one of
the veriest delusions of the last days and will prove a
temptation to all who believe present truth. Those who have not
their faith firmly established upon the Word of God will be
misled. And the saddest part of it all is that so few who are
deceived by this error ever find their way to the light
again.” — FW 51.
ccc
ccc“The sanctification now gaining
prominence in the religious world carries with it a spirit of
self-exaltation and a disregard for the law of God that mark it
as foreign to the religion of the Bible. Its advocates teach that
sanctification is an instantaneous work, by which, through faith
alone, they attain to perfect holiness. `Only believe,' say they,
`and the blessing is yours.' No further effort on the part of the
receiver is supposed to be required. At the same time they deny
the authority of the law of God, urging that they are released
from obligation to keep the commandments. But is it possible for
men to be holy, in accord with the will and character of God,
without coming into harmony with the principles which are an
expression of His nature and will, and which show what is well
pleasing to Him?
cccThe desire for an easy religion that
requires no striving, no self-denial, no divorce from the follies
of the world, has made the doctrine of faith, and faith only, a
popular doctrine; but what saith the Word of God? Says the
apostle James: `What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man
say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? . . .
Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was
not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered
Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with
his works, and by works was faith made perfect? . . . Ye see then
how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.'
James 2:14-24.
cccThe testimony of the Word of God is
against this ensnaring doctrine of faith without works. It is not
faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the
conditions upon which mercy is to be granted, it is presumption;
for genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and
provisions of the Scriptures.
cccLet none deceive themselves with the
belief that they can become holy while willfully violating one of
God's requirements. The commission of a known sin silences the
witnessing Voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God.
`Sin is the transgression of the law.' And `whosoever sinneth
[transgresseth the law] hath not seen Him, neither known Him.' 1
John 3:6. Though John in his epistles dwells so fully upon love,
yet he does not hesitate to reveal the true character of that
class who claim to be sanctified while living in transgression of
the law of God. `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.' 1
John 2:4, 5. Here is the test of every man's profession. We
cannot accord holiness to any man without bringing him to the
measurement of God's only standard of holiness in Heaven and in
earth. If men feel no weight of the moral law, if they belittle
and make light of God's precepts, if they break one of the least
of these commandments, and teach men so, they shall be of no
esteem in the sight of Heaven, and we may know that their claims
are without foundation.
cccAnd the claim to be without sin is,
in itself, evidence that he who makes this claim is far from
holy. It is because he has no true conception of the infinite
purity and holiness of God or of what they must become who shall
be in harmony with His character; because he has no true
conception of the purity and exalted loveliness of Jesus, and the
malignity and evil of sin, that man can regard himself as holy.
The greater the distance between himself and Christ, and the more
inadequate his conceptions of the divine character and
requirements, the more righteous he appears in his own
eyes.” — GC 471-473.
ccc
ccc“Before the final visitation of
God's Judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of
the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been
witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will
be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate
themselves from those churches in which the love of this world
has supplanted love for God and His Word. . . .
ccc. . . . Wherever men neglect the
testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain,
soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of
the world, there we may be sure that God's blessing is not
bestowed. . . .
ccc. . . . It is only as the law of God
is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival
of primitive faith and godliness among His professed
people.” — GC 464, 478.
ccc
ccc“The message to the church of
the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today. It
is a message to professing Christians who have become so much
like the world [i.e., thus, also, please remember what God has
said about the world, and/or about the heathen, and/or about the
worldly, heathen, worse than dead, lukewarm, Laodicean
church--right now--and even still in the day of God, as discussed
thus far in this study] that no difference can be seen. . . .
cccOnly those who receive the seal of
the living God will have the passport through the gates of the
Holy City. . . .
cccThose who would have the seal of God
in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment. . . .
cccMany will not receive the seal of
God because they do not keep His commandments or bear the fruits
of righteousness.
cccThe great mass of professing
Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of
God. They have not upon their foreheads the seal of the living
God. Lukewarm and halfhearted [i.e., thus, in the next seven
quotes below, please see the `lukewarm' and `halfhearted'
discussed more to see that God also classifies them as `worse
than infidels;' or, in other words, `worse' that the mere
`infidel' Babylonians of the church of Rome--who are also in
spiritualism, and/or in heathenism, and/or in visible
gods-serving, and/or in visible idols-serving in that they too
idolatrously pass off these visible images as so-called true
images of God; and, therefore, please do not be overwhelmed, but
remind yourself and always remember `we are to live only one day
at a time'], they dishonor God far more than the avowed
unbeliever.” — 7BC 959; and 7BC 970.
ccc
ccc"Halfhearted Christians are
worse than infidels . . . .” — 7BC 963:2:4; or Letter
44, 1903.
ccc
ccc"The clear, sharp testimony of
living truth will separate the wheat from the chaff, the
half-hearted [i.e., also, remember the halfhearted or worse than
infidel, lukewarm Laodiceans even in the day of God, as seen in
the last two quotes just above, and as seen in the next four
quotes just below] from the humble and devoted.” — ST
June 26, 1884.
ccc
ccc“There is no place in the work
of God for half-hearted workers, for those who are neither cold
nor hot. Jesus says, `I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue
thee out of My mouth.' Among those who are half-hearted are the
class who pride themselves on their great caution in receiving
`new light,' as they term it. But their failure to receive the
light is caused by their spiritual blindness; for they cannot
discern the ways and works of God.” — RH December 6,
1892.
ccc
ccc“Halfhearted, sinful,
professing Christians would spoil Heaven, were they permitted to
enter.” — UL 197.
ccc
ccc“Halfhearted Christians are
worse than infidels . . . .” — 7BC 963:2:4; or Letter
44, 1903.
ccc
ccc“But if any provide not for his
own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an infidel.” — 1 Timothy 5:8.
ccc
ccc“By working upon the jealousy
of the kings and the ruling classes, Rome had influenced them to
keep the people in bondage, well knowing that the state would
thus be weakened, and purposing by this means to fasten both
rulers and people in her thrall. . . .
cccBut the outworking of all this was
widely different from what Rome had purposed. Instead of holding
the masses in a blind submission to her dogmas, her work resulted
in making them infidels . . . The only god they knew was the god
of Rome; her teaching was their only religion. . . .
ccc`I saw another angel come down from
Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his
glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon
the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of
devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird.' `And I heard another voice from
Heaven, saying, come out of her, My people, that ye be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.'
Revelation 18:1, 2, 4.
cccThis Scripture points forward to a
time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the
second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is to be repeated, with
the additional mention of the corruptions which have been
entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since
that message was first given, in the summer of 1844. A terrible
condition of the religious world is here described. With every
rejection of truth the minds of the people will become darker,
their hearts more stubborn, until they are entrenched in an
infidel hardihood. In defiance of the warnings which God has
given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of
the Decalogue, until they are led to persecute those who hold it
sacred. Christ is set at nought in the contempt placed upon His
Word and His people. As the teachings of spiritualism [i.e.,
and/or as the teachings of spiritualism, or heathenism, or open
idolatry--of the deceptive, gods-serving or heathen, infidel
Babylonians--and also of the more deceptive and worse,
gods-serving or heathen, worse than dead, halfhearted or worse
than infidel, lukewarm Laodiceans] are accepted by the churches,
the restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed, and the
profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest
iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to
seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence
of evil angels will be felt in the churches.
cccOf Babylon, at the time brought to
view in this prophecy, it is declared: `Her sins have reached
unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.' Revelation
18:5. She has filled up the measure of her guilt, and destruction
is about to fall upon her. But God still has a people in Babylon;
and before the visitation of His Judgments these faithful ones
must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and
`receive not of her plagues.' Hence the movement symbolized by
the angel coming down from Heaven, lightening the earth with his
glory and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the
sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is
heard: `Come out of her, My people.' These announcements, uniting
with the third angel's message, constitute the final warning to
be given to the inhabitants of the earth.” — GC 281;
603-604.
ccc
ccc“We are to live only one day at
a time. We do not have to do the work of a lifetime in a few
hours. We need not look into the future with anxiety; for God has
made it possible for us to be overcomers every day.
cccBy the exercise of living faith
today, we are to conquer the enemy. We must today seek God, and
be determined that we will not rest satisfied without His
presence. We should watch and work and pray as though this were
the last day that would be granted us.
cccIf you are right with God today, you
are ready if Christ should come today.” — FLB 249.
ccc
ccc“Only one day at a time is
given us in which to work. We must exercise living faith in God
to-day; we must believe that God accepts us this day if we come
to Him in sincerity.” — RH August 5, 1890.
ccc
ccc“Day by day we are all to be
trained, disciplined, and educated for usefulness in this life.
Only one day at a time--think of this. One day is mine. I will in
this one day do my best. I will use my talent of speech to be a
blessing to some other one, a helper, a comforter, an example
which the Lord my Saviour shall approve. I will exercise myself
in patience, kindness, forbearance, that the Christian virtues
may be developed in me today.” — 1MCP 15.
ccc
ccc“Do not be overanxious about
anything. Go quietly about your duty which the day brings you. Do
the best you can; ask God to be your helper. Do what you can, and
do not neglect to pray and watch thereunto and in no case neglect
your religious duties. . . Go on from day to day doing what you
well can, and be content with that. You may say, I do the best I
can today and leave what I cannot do without worriment or care.
And when tomorrow comes I will, in the fear of the Lord, do what
I can on the morrow. Thus from day to day pursue your course of
duty, trusting in God to be your helper and to give you quick
perception and Heavenly wisdom that you may be fitted to honor
Him with your talents.” — 11MR 358.
ccc
ccc“If each volunteer in the army
of the Lord will do his best, God will do the rest. They are to
call nothing their own. When striving for the victory they are to
strive lawfully.” — KC 67.
ccc
ccc“The faithful discharge of
today's duties is the best preparation for tomorrow's trials. Do
not gather together all tomorrow's liabilities and cares and add
them to the burden of today. `Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof' (Matthew 6:34).
cccOne day alone is ours, and during
this day we are to live for God. For this one day we are to place
in the hand of Christ, in solemn service, all our purposes and
plans, casting all our care upon Him, for He careth for us. `I
know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.'
`In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in
confidence shall be your strength' (Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah
30:15).
cccLet us not make ourselves miserable
over tomorrow's burdens. Bravely and cheerfully carry the burdens
of today. Today's trust and faith we must have. But we are not
asked to live more than a day at a time. He who gives strength
for today will give strength for tomorrow.
cccOur Heavenly Father measures and
weighs every trial before He permits it to come upon the
believer. He considers the circumstances and the strength of the
one who is to stand under the proving and test of God, and He
never permits the temptations to be greater than the capacity of
resistance. If the soul is overborne, the person overpowered,
this can never be charged to God, as failing to give strength in
grace, but the one tempted was not vigilant and prayerful and did
not appropriate by faith the provisions God had abundantly in
store for him. Christ never failed a believer in his hour of
combat. The believer must claim the promise and meet the foe in
the name of the Lord, and he will not know anything like
failure.” — 2MCP 472-473.
ccc
ccc“We can sympathize with you
[i.e., meaning: we can sympathize with a husband and his wife,
because she is facing death, at the time this inspired counsel
was given], although at a distance from you. I would say, Do not
give up hope, but cling to the promise, `Ask, and it shall be
given you' (Luke 11:9). Yet do not feel discouraged if He who can
do the work of healing, He who knows the end from the beginning,
permits His child to die, to rise in the morning of the
resurrection. Say, `Not my will, but Thine, O God, be done.'. . .
If your wife falls under the affliction, remember that there is a
future life. The last trump will call forth all who have received
Christ, believed in Him, and trusted in Him for salvation.
cccMy dear sister, we will pray for
you. You have our sympathy. We shall present your case to the
Great Physician. I understand that this has already been done.
Hold fast to the hand of Him who can bless and heal if He sees
that it is for your present and eternal good. And now, my brother
and sister, while you are both alive, take this precious time to
appropriate by faith to yourselves the precious promises of the
Word of God. I am thankful that you are both presenting
yourselves as humble seekers for the pardon of all sin. This is
your privilege. Do not disbelieve.
cccOur precious Saviour has given His
life for the sins of the world, and has pledged His Word that He
will save all who come to Him. `God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). These
are the conditions of gaining eternal life. Comply with them, and
your hope is secured, whether you live or die. Trust in the
soul-saving Redeemer. Cast your helpless soul upon Him, and He
will accept and bless and save you. Only believe. Receive Him
with all your heart, and know that He wants you to win the crown
of life. Let this be your greatest and most earnest request. Make
an entire surrender, and He will cleanse you from every
pollution, and make you vessels unto honor. You may be washed and
made white in the blood of the Lamb. Thus you gain the
victory....In faith hold fast.” — 2SM 255; or Letter
45, 1905.
ccc
ccc“`Trust in him at all times; ye
people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.'
Ps. 62:8.
cccWhat a privilege that we sinful
mortals have the privilege of speaking with God. In the closet,
when walking the streets, when engaged in labor, our hearts can
be ascending to God for counsel, our souls drawn out after God, a
breath from Heaven. All these soul longings, God will hear. All
our troubles we may take to God. His hand of infinite love is
moved to supply our needs. How thankful I am that we have only
one day to live at a time. One day to keep our souls stayed upon,
one day to watch, one day to progress in the spiritual life and
thus our days may be fruitful, precious days to us.” —
TDG 27.
ccc
ccc“Today you are not to have the
faith of tomorrow. You have only faith for today; tomorrow you
will find faith when that comes; so don't worry about tomorrow.
It is today, Am I the Lord's? Today have I the witness of His
Spirit? Today does my name come upon the lips of the great
Advocate of Heaven? Today am I walking in harmony with Jesus
Christ and Heavenly angels? The Heavenly intelligences are at
work to bring the light of the knowledge of the truth as it
shineth in the face of Jesus Christ, to humanity.” —
1SAT 190.
ccc
cccI pray to our Father in Heaven that
He help those dear friends and brethren reached by this ministry
to keep in mind that only “one day at a time with its
burdens and responsibilities is presented to us,” and that
tomorrow is not ours. ST January 31, 1878. In these troublesome
times: there are startling disappointments, persecutions, and
betrayals from the great mass of heathen, infidel Babylonians and
from the great mass of heathen, worse than dead, worse than
infidel, lukewarm Laodiceans! Help people prepare now for the
end; because, then, as you have warned, it will finally be
realized by all that both of these great masses of professing
Christians are finally impenitent, vain worshiping, or creature
worshiping, or will-worshiping, or
forbidden-alleged-true-images-of-God-keeping, or
sun-gods-keeping, or sun-day-keeping, or Sabbath-polluting, or
openly idolatrous, or spiritualistic, or heathen! Thus, we humbly
pray to our Father in Heaven to give us the strength to live and
to persevere as Christian witnesses in this gods-serving, or
heathen, or atheistic world; but, yet, graciously protect and
correct us, so that we be not found at last to be of this world.
If we should fail or sin for reason of neglect of prayer or
careful adherence to your Word, give us the measure of your
Spirit needed for genuine repentance of these weaknesses, for
complete overcoming of these weaknesses, for increasing courage
to persevere, for the steadfastness needed every day, and for
total restoration in Christ - - one day at a time. Thus, please
give each of us your much needed power to get back up, to try
again, and to cling to you in penitent prayer - - until we get
matters right - - one day at a time! Please, because of the shed
blood of your dear Son, hear this prayer. Thank you for the many
blessings from you, and help us to be ready to receive more
uplifting blessings - - one day at a time. Thus, we humbly
request your infinite power to bless the personal events of this
day for each of the dear friends and brethren reached by this
ministry. Above all else, not our wills, O God, “but Thine,
be done” - - in each of our lives - - one day at a time.
Luke 22:42. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Michael O. Hodges
FORERUNNER ministries
Home church (since
1983)
Permission is hereby given to reprint any of these studies and articles provided that they are duplicated in their entirety without any change or comment.
Copyright 2003.
one day at a time