True Religion by Ellen G. White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 9, 1876

True Religion.

By Ellen G. White

TRUE religion is ever distinctly seen in our words and deportment and in every act of life. Religion should never be divorced from business with the followers of Christ. They should go hand in hand, and God's commandments should be strictly regarded in all the details of worldly matters. The knowledge that we are children of God should give a high tone of character even to the every-day duties of life, making us not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit. Such a religion as this bears the scrutiny of a critical world with a grand consciousness of integrity.

Every worker in the cause should consider himself as God's steward, and should do his work with exactness and faithful vigilance. The constant inquiry should be, "Is this in accordance with the will of God? Will this please my Redeemer?" Bible religion elevates the reason until Christ is blended with all the thoughts. Every action, every word and every moment of our lives should bear the impress of our holy faith. The end of all things is at hand and we have no time to be idle or to live in pleasure, at cross-purposes with God.

The Lord will not be trifled with. Those who neglect his mercies and blessings in this day of opportunities will bring impenetrable darkness upon themselves, and be candidates for the wrath of God. Sodom and Gomorrah were visited with the curse of the Almighty, for their sins and iniquities. There are those in our day who have equally abused the mercies of God and slighted his warnings. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment, than for those who bear the name of Christ yet dishonor him by living unconsecrated lives. This class are laying up for themselves a fearful retribution, when God in his wrath shall visit them with his judgments.

Sinners who have not had the light and privileges of the glorious gospel will be in a more favorable position before God, in their ignorance, than those who have been unfaithful while in close connection with his work, professing to love and serve him. The tears of Christ upon the mount came from an anguished, breaking heart because of his unrequited love and the ingratitude of his chosen people. He had labored untiringly to save them from the fate that they seemed determined to bring upon themselves. But they refused his mercy, and knew not the time of their visitation. Their day of privilege was ending, yet they were so blinded by sin that they knew it not.

Jesus looked down, through the centuries, even to the close of time, and, taking in the cases of all who had and would repay his love and admonitions with selfishness and neglect, addressed to them those solemn words declaring that they knew not the time of their visitation. The Jews were gathering over them the dark clouds of retribution, and many to-day, in like manner, are drawing upon themselves the wrath of God, because of opportunities unheeded, the counsels and love of Jesus scorned, and his servants despised and hated for speaking the truth.

Religion has no saving power if the characters of those professing it do not correspond with their profession. God has graciously given great light to his people in these last days, but Satan has his work to accomplish and he brings his power to bear strongest where God is especially at work. He seizes men who are selfish and unconsecrated, and makes of them sentinels to watch the faithful servants of God, and question their words, their actions and their motives, to find fault and murmur at their reproofs and warnings. Through them he creates suspicion and jealousy and seeks to weaken the courage of the faithful, to please the unsanctified and turn to naught the labors of God's servants. E. G. W.