General Articles by Ellen G. White

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 38.

General Articles.

By Ellen G. White

The Church the Light of the World.

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

The Lord called out his people Israel and separated them from the world, that he might commit to them a sacred trust. He made them the depositaries of his law, and he designed, through them, to preserve among men the knowledge of himself. Through them the light of Heaven was to shine out to the dark places of the earth, and a voice was to be heard appealing to all peoples to turn from their idolatry to serve the living and true God. Had the Hebrews been true to their trust, they would have been a power in the world. God would have been their defense, and he would have exalted them above all other nations. His light and truth would have been revealed through them, and they would have stood forth under his wise and holy rule as an example of the superiority of his government over every form of idolatry.

But they did not keep their covenant with God. They followed after the idolatrous practices of other nations, and instead of making their Creator's name a praise in the earth, their course held it up to the contempt of the heathen. Yet the purpose of God must be accomplished. The knowledge of his will must be spread abroad in the earth. God brought the hand of the oppressor upon his people, and scattered them as captives among the nations. In affliction many of them repented of their transgressions, and sought the Lord. Scattered throughout the countries of the heathen, they spread abroad the knowledge of the true God. The principles of the divine law came in conflict with the customs and practices of the nations. Idolaters endeavored to crush out the true faith. The Lord in his providence brought his servants, Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra, face to face with kings and rulers, that these idolaters might have an opportunity to receive the light. Thus the work which God had given his people to do in prosperity, in their own borders, but which had been neglected through their unfaithfulness, was done by them in captivity, under great trial and embarrassment.

God has called his church in this day, as he called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, he has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to himself. He has made them the depositaries of his law, and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time. Like the holy oracles committed to ancient Israel, these are a sacred trust to be communicated to the world. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God's messages, and go forth as his agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth. Christ declares to his followers: “Ye are the light of the world.” To every soul that accepts Jesus, the cross of Calvary speaks: “Behold the worth of the soul. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Nothing is to be permitted to hinder this work. It is the all-important work for time; it is to be far-reaching as eternity. The love that Jesus manifested for the souls of men in the sacrifice which he made for their redemption will actuate all his followers.

But very few of those who have received the light are doing the work intrusted to their hands. There are a few men of unswerving fidelity who do not study ease, convenience, or life itself, who push their way wherever they can find an opening to press the light of truth and vindicate the holy law of God. But the sins that control the world have come into the churches, and into the hearts of those who claim to be God's peculiar people. Many who have received the light exert an influence to quiet the fears of worldlings and formal professors. There are lovers of the world, even among those who profess to be waiting for the Lord. There is ambition for riches and honor. Christ describes this class when he declares that the day of God is to come as a snare upon all that dwell upon the earth. This world is their home. They make it their business to secure earthly treasures. They erect costly dwellings, and furnish them with every good thing; they find pleasure in dress and the indulgence of appetite. The things of the world are their idols. These interpose between the soul and Christ, and the solemn and awful realities that are crowding upon us are but dimly seen and faintly realized. The same disobedience and failure which were seen in the Jewish church have characterized in a greater degree the people who have had this great light from Heaven in the last messages of warning. Shall we let the history of Israel be repeated in our experience?

There is a terrible amount of guilt for which the church is responsible. They see multitudes daily transgressing God's law; and they know that these souls cannot be saved in transgression. Yet they have more interest in their trades, their farms, their houses, their merchandise, their dress, their tables, than in the souls of men and women whom they must meet face to face in the Judgment. The people who claim to obey the truth are asleep. They could not be at ease as they are if they were awake. The love of the truth is dying out of their hearts. Their example is not such as to convince the world that they have truth in advance of every other people upon the earth. At the very time when they should be strong in God, having a daily, living experience, they are feeble, hesitating, relying upon the preachers for support, when they should be ministering to others with mind, and soul, and voice, and pen, and time, and money.

Many excuse themselves from labor on the plea of inability to work for others. But did God make them so incapable? Was not this inability produced by their own inactivity, and perpetuated by their own deliberate choice? Did not God give them at least one talent to improve, not for their own convenience and gratification, but for him? Have they realized their obligation, as his hired servant, to bring a revenue to him by the wise and skillful use of this intrusted capital? Have they not neglected opportunities to improve their powers to this end? It is too true that few have felt any real sense of their responsibility to God. Love, judgment, memory, foresight, tact, energy, and every other faculty have been devoted to self. They have perverted, disabled, nay, even besotted their powers by their intense activity in worldly pursuits to the neglect of God's work.

Still they soothe their consciences by saying that they cannot undo the past, and gain the vigor, the strength, and the skill which they might have had they employed their powers as God required. But he holds them responsible for the work negligently done or left undone through their unfaithfulness. The more they exercise their powers for the Master, the more apt and skillful they will become. The more closely they connect with the Source of light and power, the greater light will be shed upon them, and the greater power will be theirs to use for God. And for all that they might have had, but failed to obtain through their devotion to the world, they are responsible. Those who become followers of Christ pledge themselves to serve him, and him alone, and he promises to be with them and bless them, to grant them his peace, and to make them joyful in his work. If any have failed to experience these blessings, they may be sure it is the result of their own course.

In order to escape the draft during the war, there were men who induced disease; others maimed themselves that they might be rendered unfit for service. Here is an illustration of the course which many have been pursuing in relation to the cause of God. They have crippled their powers, both physical and mental, so that they are unable to do the work which is so greatly needed.

Suppose that a sum of money were placed in your hands to invest for a certain purpose; would you throw it away, and declare that you were not now responsible for its use? Would you feel that you had saved yourself a great care? Yet this is what you have been doing with the gifts of God. To excuse yourself from work for others on the plea of inability, while you are all absorbed in worldly pursuits, is mockery of God. Multitudes are going down to ruin; the people who have received light and truth are but as a handful, to withstand all the host of evil; and yet this little company are

devoting their energies to anything and everything but learning how they may rescue souls from death. Is it any marvel that the church is weak and inefficient, that God can do but little for his professed people? They place themselves where it is impossible for him to work with them and for them. Dare you continue thus to disregard his claims? Will you still trifle with Heaven's most sacred trusts? Will you say with Cain, “Am I my brother's keeper?”

Remember that your responsibility is measured, not by your present resources and capacities, but by the powers originally bestowed, and the possibilities for improvement. The question which each one should ask himself is not whether he is now inexperienced and unfit to labor in God's cause, but how and why he is in this condition, and how it can be remedied. God will not supernaturally endow us with the qualifications which we lack; but while we exert the ability we have, he will work with us to increase and strengthen every faculty; our dormant energies will be aroused, and powers which have long been palsied will receive new life.

So long as we are in the world, we must have to do with the things of the world. There will ever be a necessity for the transaction of temporal, secular business; but this should never become all-absorbing. The apostle Paul has given a safe rule: “Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” The humble, common duties of life are all to be performed with fidelity; “heartily,” says the apostle, “as unto the Lord.” Whatever our department of labor, be it housework, or fieldwork, or intellectual pursuits, we may perform it to the glory of God so long as we make Christ first and last and best in everything. But aside from these worldly employments, there is given to every follower of Christ a special work for the upbuilding of his kingdom,—a work which requires personal effort for the salvation of men. It is not a work to be performed once a week merely, at the place of worship, but at all times, and in all places.

Every one who connects himself with the church makes in that act a solemn vow to work for the interest of the church, and to hold that interest above every worldly consideration. It is his work to preserve a living connection with God, to engage with heart and soul in the great scheme of redemption, and to show, in his life and character, the excellency of God's commandments in contrast with the customs and precepts of the world. Every soul that has made a profession of Christ has pledged himself to be all that it is possible for him to be as a spiritual worker, to be active, zealous, and efficient in his Master's service.

Vigilance and fidelity have been required of Christ's followers in every age; but now that we are standing upon the very verge of the eternal world, holding the truths we do, having so great light, so important a work, we must double our diligence. Every one is to do to the very utmost of his ability. Christ expects every man to do his duty; let this be the watchword throughout the ranks of his followers.