Who Will Endure the Sifting? by R. C. Porter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 31, 1914

Who Will Endure the Sifting?

By R. C. Porter

“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of the opposition.”—“Great Controversy,” page 608.

Those who are too independent to work with the organized body will be sifted out. When the sifting time is past, it is said, “They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers.”—“Early Writings,” page 132. But, like Peter, while the sifting process is going on, some will complain and leave the platform, and afterwards with humble look again step back upon it. See page 121. But the places of those shaken out will immediately be filled by others. Thousands will then accept the truth, the message will finish its mission speedily, victorious through faith, and the work will close triumphantly.

Who Will Endure the Sifting?

It is the praying, believing ones who surrender themselves and their all to God, who alone will stand the test of the last-day sifting time. “When the testing time shall come, those who have made God’s Word their rule of life will be revealed. In summer there is no noticeable difference between evergreens and other trees; but when the blasts of winter come, the evergreens remain unchanged, while the other trees are stripped of their foliage. So the false-hearted professor may not now be distinguished from the real Christian, but the time is just upon us when the difference will be apparent. Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the half-hearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, than in days of prosperity.”—“Great Controversy,” page 602. “I saw a covering that God was drawing over his people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth, and was pure in heart, was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty.”—“Early Writings,” part I, page 35.

While from one viewpoint the sifting time may be looked upon as a time of loss, it is in fact a time of the greatest gain to the cause of God. The unbelieving, the half-hearted, and the hypocritical add numbers to the ranks, but they are always a source of great weakness. Their counsels, their proposals, their cautions, are a hindrance instead of a help. When this class was shaken out in the days of Joshua and in the days of the early church, and the counsels of men of faith prevailed, the cause moved forward by leaps and bounds, in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. So now “if pride and selfishness were laid aside, five minutes would remove most difficulties.” “One who has this great work done for him will not feel that he is rich and increased in goods and has need of nothing.” Righteousness by faith is the foundation that will stand secure during the sifting time. It is the covering that is now being drawn over the people of God to prepare them for the hour of trial that is just before us. To be indifferent now, and to continue in self-indulgences of any kind is to fail in the hour of crisis during the sifting time.

“If the enemy can get the desponding to take their eyes off from Jesus, and look to themselves, and dwell upon their own unworthiness, instead of dwelling upon the worthiness of Jesus, his love, his merits, and his great mercy, he will get away their shield of faith, and gain his object, and they will be exposed to his fiery temptations. The weak should therefore look to Jesus, and believing in him, they can then exercise faith.”—Id., page 63. R. C. PORTER.