God's Witnesses by M. Wood

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 29, 1875

God's Witnesses.

By M. Wood

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." Isa. 43 : 10. Every true believer in God, is a living witness of Jesus Christ. He is, and should be, a representative of the church of God. He is led to prove the truth, power, and blessedness, of pure religion, and then he is required to bear witness of it to others. For ye (Christians) are my witnesses, saith the Lord. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; that the man of God might be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3 : 16, 17. The Scripture here mentioned, is the Bible, written for the church, but the church herself is the Bible of the world. Christians are regarded by the world as the Thermometer of the church. Paul, in his second epistle to the Corinthians, says, "Ye are our epistles written in our hearts, known and read of all men." All Christians (and especially those professing to be employed in giving the last message of mercy to a world lying in wickedness) should have their lives so in conformity with the law of God, that the world might see the transforming power, elevating purity, and true dignity of pure religion, as taught and practiced by Jesus and his apostles. Therefore, we are exhorted, as the elect of God, to put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long-suffering, and to be continually working upon the plan of addition as recommended in 2 Peter 1 : 5-7.

Our lives should be a living witness for Jesus. Not only in the prayer-meeting should we be Christians, but in the world, in our families, and in our business relations with our fellow-creatures. We should strive to follow the voice of the Great Shepherd, walking as did Zacharias and Elizabeth, in all the commandments, and ordinances of the Lord blameless, thus witnessing for God and his precious truths in our daily walks of life. But not only in our lives, but with our tongues we should bear witness for our divine Lord. Our tongues should be employed in singing his praise, testifying of his loving kindness and tender mercies toward us. We should speak of the glorious honor of his majesty, and talk of his power to make his will known to those who earnestly desire to do it.

Every believer should feel his acceptance with God, through Christ, and should therefore witness to the freeness, and greatness, and power of God's love, manifested to the children of men. This witness should be plain, clear, and distinct, so that no one may mistake it, or be misled by it. To be a fellow-laborer and co-worker with Jesus, is to be crowned with the height of honors. Oh! it is a glorious thing to witness for God, and uphold his precious law which the psalmist informs us "is perfect, converting the soul, rejoicing the heart, and enlightening the eyes." Bless God for his commandments, for more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold : sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Oh! that we might so witness as to impress all around with the importance of Bible religion.

Alas, that any one should profess Christ and yet not witness for him, or so walk as to leave a false impression respecting the church of Christ. Be it our concern, dear reader, to bear a faithful witness for Jesus, wherever we are, and so to walk, and speak, and pray, as to have a beneficial influence on the side of the truth. "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the heart." 2 Cor. 3 : 3.

M. Wood. Boston, Mass., July 12, 1875.