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An Enviable Testimony

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 17, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 41.

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An Enviable Testimony

By L. K. DICKSON

L. K. DICKSON
“In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.” 2 Chron. 31: 21.
What a testimonial to be recorded by Holy Writ concerning a human being! What a degree of perfection in character to express concerning a man possessing like passions with us! Think of the undaunted fixedness of purpose, the “patient continuance in well-doing,” expressed in these few lines. Think of the untiring faithfulness amid every conflict and in the face of every discouragement, necessary for the realization of such an experience. This idea of whole-hearted service is again expressed by Paul in his purpose, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
How soon we should be in the kingdom if, from this day, the testimony could be borne concerning every one connected with the giving of the third angel’s message, that in every work that he began to seek his God, “he did it with all his heart, and prospered”! This should be the one purpose of every child of God, and doubly so in these days when the living God would do a speedy work in the world. And we have this purpose and this result only as we turn completely and fully from every sin.
As we look upon our individual needs just now, we find that there is one great obstacle to the rapid advancement of this closing work. This impediment is the neglect on the part of the individual “to seek his God . . . with all his heart” for cleansing from all sin. This is necessary to the reception of the Holy Spirit. Before this work can be completed, before the individual heart can be ready to be transformed into “the image of his Son,” every trace of sin must be removed.
As we look upon the great cities of the world scarcely touched by the fulness of the power of the closing message, our hearts should cry out to God for more power. As we contemplate the great fields beyond, where millions are dying for the lack of the help we might give, through Christ we should break the shackles of sin and hasten forth to do his bidding.
We need faith, working faith; power, living, cleansing power from on high, to heed the message of God to Israel of old, “Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount. . . . Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land.” Deut. 1: 6-8. Now is the time to grasp the power which comes through the forgiveness of sins. Now is the time to go forward, and by faith in Jesus Christ gain possession of that which will swell the loud cry of the third angel and bring us to the heavenly Canaan.
O, let us seek today for the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jer. 24: 7: “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” Shall we not today put away every sin, and seek God as never before, that he may manifest his power in and through us? Then we shall see the complete fulfilment of the promises and prophecies relating to the descent of God’s Holy Spirit in its fulness, and we shall have the same testimonial from heaven spoken of us as did Hezekiah of old.
San Francisco, Cal.