(Concluded.)
EGW
If families would locate in the dark places of the earth, places where the people are enshrouded in spiritual gloom, and let the light of Christ's life shine through them, a great work might be accomplished. Let them begin their work in a quiet, unobtrusive way, not drawing on the funds of the Conference until the interest becomes so extensive that they cannot manage it without ministerial help. Christ's manner of working is the best in all cases. He sent out his disciples two and two, with a definite message. His instruction to them was, “As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Our message is no less definite. We may declare just as positively that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We should extend the invitation, “Come; for all things are now ready,” to every nation, tongue, and people. The message declaring that the Lord of glory is soon coming in the clouds of heaven is to go “to every creature.” RH June 18, 1895, par. 1
The life of Christ is to be revealed in humanity. Man was the crowning act of the creation of God, made in the image of God, and designed to be a counterpart of God; but Satan has labored to obliterate the image of God in man, and to imprint upon him his own image. Man is very dear to God, because he was formed in his own image. This fact should impress us with the importance of teaching by precept and example the sin of defiling, by the indulgence of appetite, or by any other sinful practice, the body which is designed to represent God to the world. The medical missionary can do a great amount of good by educating the people how to live. RH June 18, 1895, par. 2
In order to understand the value which God places upon man, we need to comprehend the plan of redemption, the costly sacrifice which our Saviour made to save the human race from eternal ruin. Jesus died to regain possession of the one pearl of great price. When we see those who profess to be Christians, living for self, doing nothing for the Master, can we believe that they are yoked up with Christ? There are no lazy or slothful people in the ranks of the true followers of Christ. The life of God's children is a life of self-denial, of self-sacrifice, a life of humility. Those who are not partakers of his sufferings cannot hope to share in his glory. Those who are not co-laborers with him, cannot receive the approval bestowed upon the faithful servant. It is to those who have received a knowledge of the truth, and have let their light shine upon others, that Christ says, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” We are to be judged according to the manner in which we use the knowledge of the truth which has been presented to us. The Lord gave his only begotten Son to ransom us from sin. We are his workmanship, we are his representatives in the world, and he expects that we shall reveal the true value of man by our purity of life, and by the earnest efforts put forth to recover the pearl of great price. Our character is to be modeled after the divine similitude, and to be reformed by that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The grace of God will beautify, ennoble, and sanctify the character. The servant of the Lord who works intelligently will be successful. Our Saviour said, “Greater works than these shall ye do; because I go unto my Father.” What are these “greater works”? If our lips are touched with the living coal from off the altar, we shall reveal to the world the wonderful love manifested by God in giving Jesus, his only begotten Son, to the world, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” RH June 18, 1895, par. 3
The mystery of the incarnation of Christ, the account of his sufferings his crucifixion, his resurrection, and his ascension, open to all humanity the marvelous love of God. This imparts a power to the truth. The attributes of God were made known through the life and works of Christ. He was the representative of the divine character. The agony of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, his betrayal, his rejection by the Jewish nation, his trial, the suffering inflicted by scourging and by obliging him to bear his cross,—every incident should be indelibly imprinted upon the minds of men. Each separate event was an important chapter in the working out of the redemption of the world. RH June 18, 1895, par. 4
In his ministry on earth, Jesus revealed the love of God for fallen man. After his crucifixion and resurrection, he appeared unto his disciples and again talked with then, opening to them the Scriptures concerning himself. He showed them that every specification of the prophecies had been fulfilled in his life, his suffering, and his death. This was to be an evidence to them of the great love of God for man, an assurance to them of the power which should attend them in their future labors. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” RH June 18, 1895, par. 5
When Christ permitted himself to be put to death, his disciples were greatly disappointed, “for as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” On the day of his resurrection, two of his disciples, as they walked toward Emmaus, were reasoning on these things. When we honestly seek to understand the revelation of God, Christ is ready to come to our help. As these two “communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.... And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Later on he appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem, and opened “their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” RH June 18, 1895, par. 6
They now saw that the prophecies had been literally fulfilled. They could search the Scriptures and accept their teachings with a faith and assurance which they had never known before. The divine Teacher was indeed all that he claimed to be. The prophecies relating to Christ and his mission were no longer a mystery to his disciples, but a living reality; and as they told their experience to the world, as they exalted the love of God, the divine assurance which they manifested was an evidence to men that they had received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Men's hearts were melted and subdued. The promise, “Greater works than these shall ye do; because I go unto my Father,” was fulfilled. Christ, the Messiah, had come. The Saviour of the world had died, that all might have life, eternal life. It was no more a matter of faith with them that he was a Teacher sent of God. They realized that although he was clothed with humanity, he was of divine origin. With what burning language they clothed their ideas as they addressed the multitude on the day of Pentecost. They declared: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this the baptism of the Holy Ghost which ye now see and hear....Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.... And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” RH June 18, 1895, par. 7
This assuring testimony could not have been given before the crucifixion of Christ, but he had promised, “Greater works than these shall ye do; because I go unto my Father.” Christ had ascended to his Father. “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.” The scenes of the rejection and crucifixion, the resurrection and ascension of Christ, were a living reality to them. They laid hold on the promise of Christ to some purpose. He had said, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The record says: “When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” RH June 18, 1895, par. 8