The Laodicean Message Revives the Church
By J. T. Orton
Bro. Smith: The Lord has been at work for us in a powerful manner, in the little church in this place of late. He, as I believe, sent his servants, brother and sister White, and brethren Everts and Hart, richly laden with light and truth found in the message to the Laodicean church, the last church that is to be on earth. Rev. iii, 14. "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth; because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." This is the awful backslidden state this message found us in, not being sensible of our condition. We gave heed to the counsel of the blessed Jesus, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me." O what counsel this is, brethren and sisters! What condescension! Do we realize it? Shall we accept this counsel, and buy gold tried in the fire, and white raiment, and eye-salve that we may see, and get out of this blind and naked state? I feel grateful to God for such thoughts of mercy towards us in sending his servants to us with this light and truth to help us out of our backslidings, and help us into favor with God. And he sent down his Spirit upon us to witness with the truth, as powerful as we ever felt it. I got very much blessed in confessing this truth. Truly I felt that with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. I would say to my brethren and sisters, Confess the truth, take the counsel, buy the gold, white raiment and eye-salve, get ready to work for God, and cast an influence for his truth and cause. I believe the time has come that God's children must do their duty. "The willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land." Yes, in a little while, if we are zealous and repent of all our backslidings, and are willing to obey God in all his requirements, we shall not only enjoy much of the blessing of the Lord as we go along the journey, but we shall soon see Jesus, and be made like him. Do we realize that we are in the last church? Does not this bring the coming of the Lord very near? This truth is to prepare God's children for the work of the loud cry of the Third Angel's Message. Glory to God in the highest, for his goodness to us! Brethren, he does let us see our way out of the dark place that we have been in. I would say, The Lord is still to work for us in Wawkon in power, and I believe will bring us all up together to his truth and work. He blessed us powerfully on the last Sabbath. Praise his holy name! O let us live so that we can say, This is our God, we have waited for him.
J. T. ORTON.