SACREDNESS OF THE WORK OF GOD.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE work which God has intrusted to his servants is of the most sacred character. It is so to preach his truth that men shall be savingly benefited by it. God designs by human instrumentality to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Those who lead others to Christ, must first be acquainted with him themselves. We cannot teach others to keep the commandments of God, unless we ourselves truly keep them. We must teach others to die to self; and we cannot do this without setting them the example. We must teach the lessons of temperance, self-denial, and patience; and to do this, we must exemplify these heavenly principles in our own lives. Unless we are thoroughly converted to God, we shall mar his work whenever we touch it. If we do not rule our own spirits, we shall dishonor God. If our tongues are not bridled, we shall show that our religion is vain. If we have not the spirit of sacrifice, we show plainly that we do not participate in the Spirit of Christ, for his was a spirit of infinite sacrifice. The Son of God came down to our earth to die for man. When he comes the second time, it will be to gather to himself the people who are his true disciples. These523are the persons who are like him in heart and life. It is the truth faithfully preached, and actually exemplified in the life of those who preach it, that is to thus sanctify men. The Son of God kept his Father's commandments. This it was which rendered his life the perfect model for our imitation. We wish to raise up a commandment-keeping people. To do this, we must show from the life of Christ what true commandment-keeping is, and, so far as feeble man can imitate the life of God's dear Son, we must exemplify that life in ourselves. We are looking for the advent of Christ, and we are teaching the people to look for him. And the apostle says that “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3. Our work is to lead our fellow-men to keep the commandments of God, and to look for his Son from Heaven. There can be no more sacred work than this. And we cannot fulfill the trust committed to us without setting ourselves apart for God, both in heart and life. So sacred a work demands that those who engage in it should, be indeed men of God. Unless we are such in reality, the truths we preach to others will rise up in the Judgment to condemn ourselves. J. N. A.