p. 221 | SHALL WE REFORM? by Mary E. Guilford

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1867

SHALL WE REFORM?

By Mary E. Guilford

Let this question come home to the heart of every individual who desires an inheritance in the kingdom of God; and especially should it be heeded by those who profess to be looking for the speedy coming of Jesus, and would be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless. For, it is evident from the teachings of the Inspired Word, that health is an essential requisite of the Christian; and that if we neglect the means for restoring and preserving our health, we sin against the Author of our being, and incur the penalty of his just displeasure.

We are commanded to glorify God in our bodies and spirits which are his. Can God be glorified in that body which is a vile mass of impurities and disease? He cannot. It is also enjoined upon us to present our bodies to the Lord, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, which is our reasonable service. Do we then render to God his just due, when we proffer to him a sacrifice which is impure and unholy? and will he accept it? No, never. His requirements are all reasonable and just. He requires nothing of us but that which will conduce to our greatest happiness here, and insure us a life of immortality in the world to come. We cannot with impunity trample upon the laws of our being and defile our bodies, for they are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and he that defileth the temple of God, him shall God destroy.

St. John in the Revelation describing those who should be redeemed from among men, says, “And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Here we have brought to view the state of perfection to which the remnant people of God will attain, before translation. Reader, it is your privilege and mine to be of that happy number, if we will; for God is no respecter of persons, but whosoever will, may take the water of life freely. The invitation is given to all. But oh! how few seem willing to comply with the conditions, but seek to climb up some other way!

The Lord is now calling after his people in a special manner, to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and to perfect themselves in holiness. The work of reform is moving steadily forward. God's hand is in the work. He is fitting up a people for translation. And all who engage heartily in the work, yielding implicit obedience to him in all things, will be prepared to meet Jesus when he comes, and with all the redeemed host, receive from him the welcome invitation, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.” But, woe! woe! to that soul who fails to make the necessary preparations. To such it will be said in that day, “Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.” “Depart from me, I never knew you.” Oh! let us not deceive ourselves, nor be mocked with false hopes. Nothing that is impure or unholy can ever enter that blissful abode of righteousness. Excuses will avail us nothing in that day. In vain will we plead old age, infirmities, and the numerous maladies with which we so readily excuse ourselves at the present time. Nay, “Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.”

Then shall we not reform? Shall we not cut loose from those pernicious habits which wreck our whole vital system, which impair both mind and body, thus rendering our life but a miserable existence and disqualifying us for the service of God? And all this for the mere sake of gratifying a perverted appetite. Oh! is it well to disobey God? Will the hollow pleasures which sin may yield for a little season even repay for all the aches and pains which inevitably follow in its track? much less for the loss of eternal life.

Then let us make haste to lay aside everything which is offensive to God, and obey the divine injunction, to purify ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, that we may be able to preserve our whole soul, body, and spirit, blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. MARY E. GUILFORD.