The Word of God by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 26, 1872

The Word of God.

By R. F. Cottrell

There is a vast difference between the word of God and the word of men. The word of God should be revered, and honored by implicit obedience. When God speaks, there is no danger of thinking too highly of what he says, or of being too particular in heeding it. We may well tremble at the word of the Lord. “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” Amos 3:8.

The word of God should be received as the Thessalonians received it. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thess. 2:13. The present truth, the third angel’s message, is the word of the Lord to this generation, as much as the gospel preached by Paul was to that. If God has sent a message, as he promised, and as he is now fulfilling it, it is the word of God to us, and not the word of men.

Some receive it as the word of God. Such make faithful soldiers. They are found every time at their post. They can be relied upon in the time of conflict. They are not hesitating, fluctuating, halting between two opinions. They are firm and steadfast, because they have received the truth as inspired and sent of God. To them it is the word of God. They believe that God lives and is fulfilling his word—that the message comes by divine inspiration. And when God instructs and warns, they think it of importance to heed his word; feeling assured that every word is for their benefit.

There is another class who profess to receive the truth; but they treat it as the word of men. The evidence is too clear for them to reject it entirely; therefore they receive it in part. They dare not reject it entirely; but they discriminate and judge for themselves how much it is necessary for them to heed. For example: They admit the principles of that branch of the work of God pertaining to health reform. But they judge for themselves what constitutes the reform—what is healthful for them as individuals to use—and so deciding, they continue the use of those things which are decidedly proscribed. With self-complacency, and often with pride of their opinions and their skepticism, they walk right over the word of the Lord, and make it of none effect.

God does not instruct us in regard to wholesome and unwholesome articles of diet, and then leave us to judge for ourselves what is wholesome. Such instructions would be of no use. For one would say, “Tobacco perfectly agrees with me;” another, “Tea agrees with me.” Now this is false. These things are against the health of every one that uses them. And so of every one of the articles proscribed. To walk in the light of health reform is to make progress in the abandonment of every one of these articles till they are all abandoned, not to be indulged in occasionally.

Which of the two ways is the best in which to receive the word of God? All must answer, “As the word of God and not the word of men.” Those that receive it so are stronger in the truth in one year—rather from the very beginning—than the other class are in ten, fifteen, or twenty years. I have witnessed it. I testify of what I have seen and know. A sifting time is yet before us. Who will heed the word of God and be found on the side of the Lord? Let all heed it.

R. F. COTTRELL.