A Warning for Our Time by Ellen G. White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 27, 1879

A Warning for Our Time.

By Ellen G. White

An honest man, according to Christ's measurement, is one who will manifest unbending integrity. Deceitful weights and false balances, with which many seek to advance their interests in the world, are abominations in the sight of God. Yet many who are professing to keep the commandments of God are dealing with false weights and false balances. When a man is indeed connected with God, and is keeping his law in truth, his life will reveal the fact, for all his actions will be in harmony with the teachings of Christ. He will not sell his honor for gain. His principles are built upon the sure foundation, and his conduct in worldly matters is a transcript of his principles. Firm integrity shines forth as gold amid the dross and rubbish of the world. Deceit, falsehood, and unfaithfulness may be glossed over and hidden from the eyes of man, but not from the eyes of God. The angels of God, who watch the developement of character, and weigh moral worth, record in the books of heaven these minor transactions which reveal character. If a workman in the daily vocations of life is unfaithful, and slights his work, the world will not judge incorrectly if they estimate his standard in religion according to his standard in business.

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." It is not the magnitude of the matter that makes it fair or unfair. As a man deals with his fellow-men, so will he deal with God. He that is unfaithful in the mammon of unrighteousness, will never be intrusted with the true riches. The children of God should not fail to remember that in all their business transactions they are being proved, weighed in the balances of the sanctuary.

Christ has said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." "Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." The deeds of a man's life are the fruit he bears. If he is unfaithful and dishonest in temporal matters, he is bringing forth briars and thorns; he will be unfaithful in the religious life, and will rob God in tithes and offerings.

The Bible condemns in the strongest terms all falsehood, false dealing and dishonesty. Right and wrong are plainly stated. But alas, God's people have placed themselves on the enemy's ground, yielded to his temptations, and followed his devices, until their sensibilities have become fearfully blunted. A slight deviation from truth, a little variation from the requirements of God, is thought to be, after all, not so very sinful, when pecuniary gain or loss is involved. But sin is sin whether committed by the possessor of millions, or by the beggar in the streets. Those who secure property by false representation are bringing condemnation on their souls. All that is obtained by deceit and fraud will be only a curse to the receiver.

Adam and Eve suffered the terrible consequence of disobeying the express command of God. They might have reasoned, This is a very small sin, and will never be taken into account. But God treated the matter as a fearful evil; and the woe of their transgression will be felt through all time. In the times in which we live sins of far greater magnitude are often committed by those who profess to be God's children. In the transaction of business, falsehoods are uttered and acted by God's professed people, that bring his frown upon them and a reproach upon his cause. The least departure from truthfulness and rectitude is a transgression of the law of God. A continual indulgence in sin accustoms the person to a habit of wrong doing, but does not lessen the aggravating character of the sin. God has established immutable principles which he cannot change without a revision of his whole nature. If the word of God was faithfully studied by all who profess to believe the truth, they would not be dwarfs in spiritual things. Those who disregard the requirements of God in this life, would not respect his authority were they in Heaven.

Every species of immorality is plainly delineated in the word of God, and its results spread before us. The indulgence of the lower passions is presented before us in its most revolting character. No one, however dark may be his understanding, need to err. But this sin is cherished by many who profess to be walking in all the commandments of God. God will judge every man by his word.

Said Christ, "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me. The Bible is an unerring guide. It demands perfect purity in word, in thought, and in action. Only virtuous and spotless characters will be permitted to enter the presence of a pure and holy God. The word of God, if studied and obeyed, would lead the children of men as the Israelites were led by a pillar of fire by night, and a pillar of cloud by day. The Bible is God's will expressed to man. It is the only perfect standard of character, and marks out the duty of man in every circumstance of life. There are many responsibilities resting upon us in this life, a neglect of which will not only cause suffering to ourselves, but others will sustain loss in consequence.

Men and women professing to revere the Bible and follow its teachings, fail in many respects to perform its requirements. In the training of children they follow their own perverse nature rather than the revealed will of God. This neglect of duty involves the loss of thousands of souls. The Bible lays down rules for the correct discipline of children. Were these requirements of God heeded by parents we should to-day see a different class of youth coming upon the stage of action. But parents who profess to be Bible readers and Bible followers are going directly contrary to its teachings. We hear the cry of sorrow and anguish from fathers and mothers who bewail the conduct of their children, little realizing that they were bringing this sorrow and anguish upon themselves, and ruining their children, by their mistaken affections. They do not realize their God-given responsibilities to train their children to right habits from their babyhood.

Parents, you are in a great degree responsible for the souls of your children. Many neglect their duty during the first years of their children's lives, thinking that when they get older they will then be very careful to repress wrong and educate them in the right. But the very time for them to do this work is when the children are babes in their arms. It is not right for parents to pet and humor their children, neither is it right for them to abuse them. A firm, decided, straightforward course of action will be productive of the best results.

E. G. White.