1896

January 1, 1896

Cooperate with Christ in Saving Fallen Humanity

EGW 

Those who take hold of Christian help work, who consecrate themselves to God, will find that he will be a present help to them in every hour of need. I know that the Lord will use those who will submit themselves to him, and through the power of the Holy Spirit they will be enabled to do the work that needs to be done. SSW January 1, 1896, par. 1

Visiting the sick, comforting the poor and the sorrowful for Christ's sake, will bring to the workers the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and even the countenance will express the peace that dwells in the soul. The faces of men and women who talk with God, to whom the invisible world is a reality, express the peace of God. They carry with them the soft and genial atmosphere of heaven, and diffuse it in deeds of kindness and works of love. Their influence is of a character to win souls to Christ. If all could see and understand, and be doers of the words of God, what peace, what happiness, what health of body and peace of soul would be the result! A warm, kindly atmosphere of love, the pitying tenderness of Christ in the soul, can not be estimated. The price of love is above gold and silver and precious stones, and makes human agents like Him who lived not to please Himself. SSW January 1, 1896, par. 2

I am sorry that there are those who very sparingly cultivate the sympathy and tenderness of Christ. Many do not even manifest love toward their brethren and sisters who are in the faith. They do not exercise the precious tact that should bind and heal those who go astray, but instead they exhibit cruelty of spirit, that drives the wanderer still farther into the dark, and makes angels weep. Some seem to find a sort of pleasure in bruising and wounding souls who are ready to die. As I look upon men who handle sacred truth, who bear sacred responsibilities, and who are failing to cultivate a spirit of love and tenderness, I feel like crying out, “Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?” When I consider the fact that as probationers we are now forming characters that will either fit us for the society of heavenly angels, or relegate us to a place with those who are outside the city of God, I tremble for these men. O, if there were no rousing up of evil passions in the hearts of those who claim to be God's agents, how much more reasonable consideration would be given to questions of serious importance! How does Heaven look upon human agents who are void of the milk of human kindness? “Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.... Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Could a more powerful appeal be made? SSW January 1, 1896, par. 3

We are counseled to let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth; but a corrupt communication is not simply something that is vile and vulgar. It is any communication that will shut from the mind the view of Christ, that will blot from the soul true sympathy and love. It is a communication in which the love of Christ is not expressed, but rather sentiments of an unchristlike character. It is that which brings oppression upon men, women, youth, and children, for whom Christ has given his life. It is in the decisions that are formulated against those who need help, and who will perish if they are left to die. SSW January 1, 1896, par. 4

There is but one power that can bring us into conformity to the likeness of Christ, that can make us steadfast, and keep us constant. It is the grace of God which leads us to obey the law of God, the transcript of the divine character. It is a knowledge of Christ Jesus which we should cultivate to the uttermost of our power in order that we may be doers of his word. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Is not this a work that pays? Will we make Jesus glad? Will we cause rejoicing among the angels of God? We can do so by cooperating with God in seeking and saving that which was lost. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth than over the ninety and nine who need no repentance. Shall we not cooperate with heavenly angels in the work of saving fallen humanity? SSW January 1, 1896, par. 5

We are not our own; we are the property of Christ. We are to be laborers together with God. We are to do the work that Christ has laid out in the following verses: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you. That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which has gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more over that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” We are to follow the example of Jesus, who says, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” We are to be wide-awake, so that we may know what we can do to bless and save those around us. The moral image of God has been lost, but those who are laborers together with God are to restore in men the likeness of Christ. They are to impart ideas that will work their salvation, and prepare them to be temples of the Holy Ghost. SSW January 1, 1896, par. 6