The Bible clearly teaches that the wrath of Satan will reach its greatest intensity against the remnant people. Because of this, we are admonished to humble ourselves, to be trustful in God, and so to order our lives before the Lord that His power may be manifest in us, making us perfect, establishing us, strengthening us, and settling us in every good way and work. Because our "adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," we must "be sober, be vigilant." Frivolity or heedlessness on our part will most certainly give our enemy the advantage.
Speaking of the time when His second coming would be near, Jesus said:
"Take care that your hearts are not loaded down with self-indulgence, and drunkenness, and worldly cares, and that day takes you by surprise, like a trap. For it will come on all who are living anywhere on the face of the earth. But you must be vigilant, and always pray that you may succeed in escaping all this that is going to happen, and in standing in the presence of the Son of man." Luke 21:34-36 (Goodspeed).
To have Christ's second coming take an Adventist "by surprise, like a trap," is the most complete tragedy that can possibly overtake him. Yet it is to cause that very thing to happen that Satan is putting forth his utmost effort. The message for this time has been given to prepare us to meet God. Works in the giving of the message are not to be substituted for the blood of the atonement; but through the blood of the atonement, in response to the call of the message, we are to make preparation to meet God. Without that preparation we shall not meet Him in peace.
In the parable of the virgins, it is clearly revealed that the purpose to be prepared must engage all our attention. Our being in the company of those who are prepared will not be sufficient. Our having the appearance of being prepared, while we have not really made preparation, will mean certain failure and everlasting destruction. Only those who really are ready will go in with the Bridegroom to the marriage. On all others the door will be shut.
Behind a condition of preparedness there is an attitude of expectant watchfulness. Behind a watchful attitude there is a firm belief that the event expected will occur. In the day of Christ's coming, no one will be prepared to meet Him who did not seek that preparation as the supreme thing. It must be to each one as the pearl of great price, and will require all that we have to secure it.
As we draw nearer to the end, the dangers in the way will multiply. It is therefore necessary that we be the more watchful. Especially do the ministers, the watchmen of the movement, need to be on their guard. Now as never before is it necessary for those to be clean who bear the vessels of the Lord. We need as ministers to come up into the mount, and behold anew the glory of the Lord. There have grown upon us practices that are not helpful in our lives and service, and we need to know again the power of God in putting these things away. As a ministry we are alarmed at the worldliness of some of our people, and are conscious that though they are in our charge, they are not prepared to meet their God. Worldly practices and worldly pleasures are undermining the foundations of truth in their lives, and unless they change, denying the world and putting on Christ, they will remain as they are, unprepared to meet their God.
This condition was given very earnest consideration at the Louisville Autumn Council. It demands the most serious attention of our whole ministry. The call of our message is to come out from the world, and to be separate from it. Failure to give heart response to this call will leave us subject to the plagues upon Babylon, and place us outside the kingdom forever.
Do we have this solemn fact sufficiently in mind as we seek to serve this people with our ministry? Do we ourselves adequately sense that the purpose of the message is to make God's people unworldly? Do we fully recognize the absolute necessity for us, as their spiritual leaders, to be ourselves unworldly? Our people sorely need the help that the example of a truly spiritual ministry should at all times provide. Not for a moment should they find excuse for their own wrongdoing in an example of weakness set by their minister.
Never has the gospel minister been more responsible than in the second advent phase of gospel service. Never has it been more necessary for him to be an unworldly man. Brethren, are we just what God has called us to be before His people? Are we watching unto prayer in all things that concern the well-being of His flock? Are we keeping the world out of our own hearts?
The leaders of conferences, missions, and institutions, gathered at the Autumn Council this year, decided unanimously to call our people everywhere away from worldly practices and pleasures, to repentance for sin, and to wholesouled surrender to God. This call is expressed by written appeal sent out through the columns of the Review. It is clearly understood, though, that such a call will but weakly meet the purpose of its being sent unless we, the ministers, first respond to the call ourselves, and then bring it fervently to the people. If the cold and indifferent are to be warned by spiritual fire, and renewed in interest and power, we must ourselves draw near to God, and be pardoned for our own shameful failure to keep the fire of ardent love for our Saviour burning brightly in our own hearts. If in the experience of the needy in our membership, love for God is to rule where now love of the world and of the things of the world is the prevailing force, then we ministers must acknowledge no other rulership in our own hearts than God's love and peace; for it is impossible for a sinful, worldly-minded minister to be an effectual force in fortifying the hearts of our people against soul-destroying love of the world.
"Those who preach the word of the Lord must live that which they teach. If we receive the grace of God in the heart, we must reveal to others this grace in every word and act."—"Medical Ministry," p. 255.
My dear brethren in the ministry, our high calling demands that we be dead indeed to sin, and raised again to life. Having been raised to life with Christ, shall we not keep our hearts set on "the things that are where Christ is, above, seated at God's right hand"? Shall we not heed carefully the admonition:
"Fix your thoughts on the things that are above, not on those that are on earth. For you have died, and your life now lies hidden with Christ in God."
"Let the ruling principle in your hearts be Christ's peace. . . . Let the message of Christ live in your hearts in all its wealth of wisdom. . . . And whatever you have to say or do, do it all as followers of the Lord Jesus." Col. 3:2, 3, 15-17 (Goodspeed).
As a people we greatly need a revival of spiritual power to enable us to live our everyday life victoriously. We need the labors of Christ to reform our homes, to reclaim our children, to call again the backslidden, and to lift up the fallen. We need to feel the movings of His mighty power among us, just where our lives are lived. We need to have our vision cleared, and our senses kept in proper spiritual balance. We need to learn anew the infinite values of eternal things.
We believe that it is God who is stirring up our hearts to seek Him concerning our own need and the need of our people at this time. With humble but thankful hearts we cry to Him to come and revive us, and make us what we ought to be as we work together with Him for His people. May grace, guidance, and the ruler-ship of His peace, be with us each, for Christ's sake.
