A Living Prophecy by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1903

A Living Prophecy

By L. A. S.

Of the forerunner of his first advent the Saviour said: “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” Yet John had nothing in common with the great men of worldly renown. He was distinguished neither for wealth nor learning, nor for worldly power or station. Yet the Jews recognized his greatness, and questioned among themselves whether he might not be the Christ, or Elias, or one of the prophets. Finally they sent messengers to John to ask him who he was.

To the messengers John replied, after giving a negative to all their questions: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” John 1:22, 23. He was simply a voice, but the voice was the voice of God. He was the living embodiment of the Messianic prophecy, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isa. 40:3.

There can be no greater word than the word of the Lord; no greater work in the earth than his work. And there can be no greatness that can exceed or that can equal the greatness that is directly from him. There can be no greater life than that which perfectly harmonizes with the purposes of God, and thus becomes a perfect revelation of the greatness of God.

God calls men to-day to be living embodiments of the word of prophecy. He calls them to be living messages to the world, to prepare the way of the Lord. A greater work than John's is to be done in our day; and a greater coming is to follow its accomplishment. We need not be deceived by the greater claims and display of those who can point to their numbers, their wealth, or their influence among the nations. The greatest thing in the world is God's message to the world, to prepare the way of his coming in judgment. And the truly great men of this day are those from whose lives has been eliminated all save the voice crying this last message to the world, those to whom the world listening hears nothing but the words of God, and in whose lives only the glory of God is revealed.

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come; and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. . . . And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” L. A. S.