"The Highest Authority That God Has Upon Earth"

 In order to share with our world working force the spirit and burden our leaders carry for an exemplary life-style on the part of our General Conference family, we requested R. H. Pierson's permission to print a portion of his talk given at a General Conference worship, January 9, 1976.

We feel the principles expressed are applicable to all denominational employees. —EDITORS

WHEN you and I joined the General Conference family something special happened to us. This is not just "another office." What goes on in these three buildings is of unique significance to the God whom we serve. Listen: "When the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth, is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but be surrendered." —Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 492 (italics supplied).

Did you notice those sobering words—"The General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth"? They should cause every one of us to ponder well their import. When we begin work in the General Conference office we become part of what inspiration describes as God's highest authority on earth. This is a tremendous thought, freighted with great responsibility.

In this chapel from time to time workers from all over the world speak to us. They bring us news of what God is doing thousands of miles away. We are frequently told, "The eyes of our people everywhere are focused upon you who serve in this office." Imagine—you and I serve in this office under the scrutiny of two and a half million Seventh-day Adventists living in nearly two hundred countries of the world.

Workers in no other office on earth serve under such circumstances—with five million eyes focused on them. Those of you who are privileged to serve as secretaries in these offices are not secretaries in the normal sense of the word. Officers, departmental directors, accountants, security, and maintenance personnel are not just "run of the mill" workers. All of us are something special in God's sight. Our relationship to our church, to the world field, to one an other, and to the work entrusted to us is unique. We are part of "the highest authority that God has on earth."

This week in our worships we have been studying the words of Paul to the Christian believers in Corinth: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha" (1 Cor. 16:22). Our attention has been focused upon that one word "Maranatha"—"the Lord is coming."

We have sought to emphasize the need of living every hour as though the blessed maranatha hope were to be fulfilled this very day. Such a concept is a challenging one. It should make a tremendous impact upon the way we live, the way we speak, the way we dress, the way we conduct ourselves in these hall ways and in these offices.

"Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). The maranatha hope in your life and mine will do something for us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling Christ it will purify us "even as he is pure." It will produce a Christlikeness of character.

We who are part of "the highest authority that God has upon the earth" must be sure that the purifying work of the Holy Spirit has been felt in our lives. We should experience this even more than any other group of workers! What a challenge! What a responsibility! Surely the maranatha hope must do something for you and for me today and every day!

We should exemplify the highest principles of God's last message to the world. There are some things that you and I can't do that workers serving in other offices might do with impunity. Because our example is more far reaching, because our relationship to the decision-making processes of God's remnant church is different than in any other office group, we are, in a sense, a spectacle to the world of Adventists. God expects more of us than of any group of His workers on earth!

Visitors—several thousands every year—enter our buildings. Tour groups and individual visitors are shown through these three buildings every working day and sometimes on Sunday. To some it is the fulfillment of a life long dream to walk these corridors and to visit these offices. They have heard of the General Conference. They have read of the General Conference. They want to see the General Conference.

Here they expect to find perfection as nearly as it can be found on earth. Their expectations are high. They feel that surely those who are at the head of the world work are paragons of all that is good and holy.

Are these expectant visitors from all continents of earth ever disappointed? What do they see? Do they see in you, in me, living examples of the maranatha hope? Do they see men and women who talk, dress, and apply themselves to the work of God as though we were expecting Jesus to return today?

Or are some of them disappointed to find workers here at the world head quarters acting and conducting them selves very much like workers in offices of the world? Can these visitors to our offices tell by our conduct, by our application to duty, that we truly believe Jesus is coming in our day? Do they see us living the maranatha hope? These are serious questions. We dare not pass over them lightly.

Workers who are a part of the highest authority of God upon earth have a tremendous responsibility and a glorious opportunity to let their light shine out to the ends of the earth.

Are There Any Truly Little Things?

Something significant came to my attention this week. Of itself it was a small incident, yet I appreciated it very much. It illustrates what I am talking about—our example here in the General Conference office.

Recently, along with many others, two new workers joined us here in the General Conference. Elder and Mrs. Newcomer came from a country where it is the custom to wear wedding bands. Now they were coming to America, where the wedding ring does not have the same significance. They were coming to serve in the General Conference office. What about their wedding rings?

"We thought it over and prayed over the matter," Brother Newcomer explained one day. "We decided that since we were coming to America where wearing the wedding ring does not have the same significance, and since we are connecting with the General Conference where it is so important to set the right example, we should not wear our rings. We do not want to be a stumbling block to anyone."

A small matter? Perhaps. Perhaps not. When I read the experience of Uzza in the Scriptures I wonder—or do I?

In His Sight

"The highest authority that God has upon the earth." You and I are a part of such an awesome group of workers. This office is the headquarters of our Commanding Officer—the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Do we think of it this way? All that we do—no matter what our assignment—we are working in His sight. Is the work we do, the way we behave our selves, the way we dress, the things we say, pleasing in His sight?

These three buildings are not ordinary buildings. Oh, they are constructed of the same materials any other building is constructed of. But there is a difference! These buildings constitute a consecrated place where God, through His appointed servants—you, me—directs His worldwide work. It is an awe some thought! One that we dare not pass over lightly.

Unseen Visitors

A few moments ago I referred to the thousands of visitors that pass through our General Conference offices every year. There are other visitors in these buildings too. Our Commanding Officer sends His special representatives among us—every day. Holy angels walk these halls and visit our offices. They see all that transpires within our walls.

Do we fully realize this? Do we think about it frequently? Does their presence have any effect upon us?

What do these unseen visitors see? Do they behold men and women expecting the fruition of the Advent hope in our day—perhaps the present day in which we are serving? Are we living in the existent reality of the maranatha hope?

This is a solemnizing thought. It is a solemnizing reality that we here in the General Conference live and serve as part of "the highest authority that God has upon the earth."

Responsibility of Leaders

Leaders serving any place in God's great worldwide organization have a tremendous responsibility. The influence they have upon the church is tremendous. They lead for weal or woe. It is theirs to draw their followers up on higher spiritual ground. The wrong ex ample of a leader may cause followers to choose wrong courses of action—even to be lost eternally.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the latter kind of leaders. "They which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths" (Isa. 3:12). One of the modern paraphrases describes such leaders in these words: "True leaders? No, misleaders! Leading you down the garden path to destruction."—The Living Bible.* Again the gospel prophet declares: "The leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed" (chap. 9:16).

Accountability of Leaders

On occasions some of you may feel that we speak too frequently about the standards of this headquarters office. Why should we say so much about attendance at worship each morning, about the length of skirts, the wearing of adornment, diligent application to our work, putting in full honest time in our service?

You may reason that most of these items are mere externals and ask, Why do we have to hear so much about some of these items?

Perhaps the Lord's servant has the answer. "If the leaders of the church neglect to diligently search out the sins which bring the displeasure of God upon the body, they become responsible for these sins." —Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 269.

The Lord holds those in charge of this office responsible for the standards of the office and for the work that goes on here. If those who are charged with this responsibility fail the Lord, then such leaders themselves become responsible for the laxity and for the sins of those who have not been reminded or corrected. We have an accountability to the Lord.

I thank God for the workers who serve in this General Conference office. The highest percentage of those who work here are the salt of the earth. You hold high the standards of this church. Those who visit us (seen and unseen) witness true Adventist Christianity at work. It is a real privilege and an inspiration to work with you. God bless you!

In closing this morning, may I share with you a statement from the Lord's messenger? It is meat in due season. It underscores the blessed reality of the maranatha hope in our day:

"The end of all things is at hand. The Lord is soon coming. Already His judgments are abroad in our land. We are not only to talk of Christ's coming, but in every action, we are to reveal the fact that He is soon to be manifested in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Have we the wedding garment on? Have we personal piety? Have we co-operated with divine agencies in a wholehearted, unreserved manner, in weaving into our life's practices the divine principles of God's holy law? It is one thing to talk the law, and it is an other thing entirely to practice it. It is the doers of the law that shall be justified before God; for those who do the law represent the character of God, and lie not against the truth.

"The Lord is coming. Oh, the time is short, and who in the Bible view are laborers together with God? Shall we not be filled with fear and awe lest we are still in our own natural tempers, lest we are unconverted and unholy, and seeking to pass off a counterfeit experience for a genuine one? Awake, brethren, awake, before it shall be forever too late." —Testimonies to Ministers, p. 187.

As those of us here on the General Conference staff continue our unique service for Him let us remember that we are daily, hourly, momentarily a part of a group of leaders that constitute the highest authority of God upon earth. May Adventist workers and members around the world, when they visit this office or when they see us in the field, see a committed group of maranatha leaders who truly believe Jesus will re turn in our day!

God bless you all!