Our Life-Work by Lizzie Taylor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 7, 1873

Our Life-Work.

By Lizzie Taylor

It is said that all, both small and great, rich and poor, all have an influence either to advance the right, or to increase the evil already in the world; that, aside from their temporal gains and losses, the manner in which they exert this influence may be said to constitute their life-work. Of the myriads that have peopled this earth, of how many may it be said that they have lived to some purpose, have performed well the work allotted them, and improved the talents given them by their Creator? Were this generation to pass away, and others fill the places which we now occupy, could it be said of us that we had done the best we could?

We may live in such a manner as to deceive our fellow-beings in regard to our real work, for a time; but as our deeds to the eye of God are at all times apparent, even so will they be made unto all men. Our words may be plausible, our works, smooth and fair. A time comes when they are tried. They will not bear an examination, and, at the least pressure, like the apples of Sodom, dissolve into smoke and ashes.

Are we deceiving ourselves and others with the idea that we are doing God’s will in all things, and living to his honor, when we are in reality an injury to his cause, and adding to the punishment that awaits those who thus deceive themselves? If our hearts are right, there need be no fear that our course of life will cause our condemnation. If we pursue an undeviating course of uprightness before God, and thus secure his favor, we have nothing to fear at the hands of men.

We know that Satan is a fallen angel, cast out of Heaven for disobedience to the will of God; and yet we submit to be led by him into sin, and thus draw around ourselves the fetters that will bind us down to destruction.

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” If, then, the human mind is not capable of imagining the glorious things which God has prepared for redeemed man, is it not also incapable of imagining the woe and horror that will fill the souls of the lost as they realize their terrible fate? And are we so ready to risk eternal life as to live in direct disobedience to the requirements of God, by failing to conform to them in our daily life?

Some, when asked why they are not more in earnest in the work of God, plead lack of means, inability, &c. They think they are giving a plausible reason; but, in fact, they are only giving a pitiable excuse for neglect of duty. If the means which we now have to spread the truth had been given to mankind in the earlier days of Christianity, would there not have been a better prospect of the much-talked-of temporal millennium, than we now see?

Let us not strive to look too far into the future to view the result of our labor. With that we have nothing to do. We must be content to work at the present time, being assured that in the sight of God our efforts will not be in vain. In this work, a few failures need not discourage us. As clouds and moisture are necessary to the growth of vegetation, so is it needful that we meet with adversities, that the fruits of the Spirit may be made manifest in us. The love of God ought so to fill our hearts, at all times, that neither prosperity nor adversity should be able to move us from the Rock upon which we have founded our hope of everlasting life in the earth made new.

LIZZIE TAYLOR.

Battle Creek, Dec. 22, 1872.