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What Ellen White has Meant to Me

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    Chapter 28—I Am Convinced

    With awe and gratitude I contemplate the amazing love and wisdom of God that gave to the remnant church an inspired messenger. For me the writings of Ellen G. White have enabled me to conquer uncertainty, doubt, and skepticism. They have provided guidance in times of perplexity, stability in times of personal or professional storm, and courage when difficulties seemed overwhelming.WEWMM 213.1

    My contact with these inspired writings began when I was a child in China. As the son of missionaries, I attended Week of Prayer meetings held in one of the homes on the mission compound and listened attentively as readings were presented night by night. The various passages quoted from the writings of Ellen White reached my heart. The Spirit of the Lord impressed me that God was speaking through these writings. Whether the passage was a description of the reality of heaven, a call to repentance, or a challenge to the church, my inner response was, “This is God speaking; this is truth.”WEWMM 213.2

    I have always been grateful that my parents never once said or did anything that would undermine confidence in the prophetic gift. They endeavored to build faith. Likewise, my teachers were positive in their approach to the prophetic gift. Never did they depreciate the value of the inspired writings, nor explain away their pointed counsels.WEWMM 213.3

    The quotations from Mrs. White’s writings that followed the questions in the Sabbath school lesson quarterly also made a deep impression on me. In those days (the early 1920’s) children studied the senior lesson along with their parents. Daily family worship in our home included the study of one or two questions from the Sabbath school lesson. As the notes were read I felt a deep conviction that the authority behind these note-quotations was the same as that behind Scripture.WEWMM 214.1

    In the academy one of my teachers called my attention to this passage in the book Education: “The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.”—Page 57. The exalted concept of integrity challenged me.WEWMM 214.2

    When I was in college I began to read seriously various books such as Early Writings, The Desire of Ages, and the Testimonies. The scenes described in Early Writings made a deep impression on my mind. I was inspired by the views of the future. I was grateful that God had given Mrs. White glimpses of the eternal world. I was stirred by a desire to be ready for the coming of Christ, no matter how great the necessary personal sacrifice or commitment.WEWMM 214.3

    At the same time, I let my imagination dwell on what it would be like to be lost. Mrs. White’s description of the terrible disappointment of the wicked as they look upon the Holy City and realize that they are forever barred from it, was so vivid that I felt as if I were standing with the lost outside the city. I shared their despair, and determined that by the grace of God I would dissociate myself from evil and evil-doers, and would identify thoroughly with Christ and the redeemed.WEWMM 214.4

    Later in life I came across a passage that gave me great confidence in God’s ability to save me. Here it is—perhaps the simplest yet most powerful statement Mrs. White ever made on the subject of justification by faith:WEWMM 214.5

    “When we surrender ourselves wholly to God., and fully believe, the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin. The conscience can be freed from condemnation. Through faith in His blood, all may be made perfect in Christ Jesus. Thank God that we are not dealing with impossibilities. We may claim sanctification. We may enjoy the favor of God. We are not to be anxious about what Christ and God think of us, but about what God thinks of Christ, our Substitute. Ye are accepted in the Beloved.”—Selected Messages 2:32, 33.WEWMM 214.6

    With this passage I have always associated one from page 25 of The Desire of Ages. The two show how entirely dependent we are on Jesus; He is our all:WEWMM 215.1

    “Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. ‘With His stripes we are healed.’”WEWMM 215.2

    For sheer spiritual enchantment I found that perhaps nothing compares to reading and rereading the book Steps to Christ, for it deals with the most profound religious questions in simple, understandable language. It makes the plan of salvation sound so reasonable. By describing so clearly God’s love, and His initiative in reaching out for lost mankind, it seems to make eternal life attainable for even the weakest and most degraded.WEWMM 215.3

    Shortly before the 1936 General Conference session, held in San Francisco, I began reading The Desire of Ages. When, as a student, I had opportunity to attend the session, I took the book with me and read at least one chapter every night after returning to my room from the evening meeting. Never had I had an experience like this. As I read, Christ’s life became real. I found myself confronted with the Saviour as a person. My heart was drawn out to Him in love and sympathy. I identified with His problems as He endeavored to avoid the traps laid for Him by His enemies. And when I reached the chapter describing the crucifixion it seemed as if I were standing at the foot of the cross with the disciples. I could not help saying to myself, “This Man was the Son of God. He is my Saviour.”WEWMM 215.4

    As I continued to read Ellen White’s books, the wide range of topics she dealt with amazed me. She wrote on medicine, nutrition, and health. She wrote on education, administration, and the publishing work. Unconsciously the conviction grew in my heart that this writer was drawing on a supernatural reservoir of wisdom. She was a penman for the Infinite One.WEWMM 215.5

    At a time when the world of medicine was following many procedures that handicapped the sick in their attempt to recover health, Mrs. White set forth a broad, practical program of healthful living. She said that proper diet is closely related to good health. She said that natural elements such as fresh air, sunshine, rest, water, and exercise are important to health. She said that the mind and body are closely related and that a cheerful spirit, hopeful attitude, and trust in God help the body maintain optimum health. She also pointed out the importance of preventive medicine, outlining health habits that would help the body ward off sickness and disease. In all of this she was far ahead of her time.WEWMM 216.1

    Later, as I studied history, I discovered that during the decades of her ministry the world of ideas was in a ferment. Philosophies and theories concerning history, the Bible, medicine, education, the human mind, and many other subjects were being propounded. Yet with amazing skill she had avoided every idea that had in it the seeds of destruction for true religious faith, and had selected the correct theories in a galaxy of fields. I was awed by this discovery and exclaimed almost aloud, “Surely God guided her!”WEWMM 216.2

    During my life I have encountered various objections to Mrs. White. For example, I have heard people say, “You Adventists put the writings of Mrs. White in the place of the Bible.” But having examined this point carefully in my own experience and in the life of others, I can say that the charge is without foundation. Mrs. White herself continually urged the study of the Bible, and said that if people had been diligent in this pursuit her writings would have been unnecessary. They serve as a magnifying glass to enlarge upon and make clear the great truths set forth in Scripture, leaving people without excuse for ignorance of God’s will.WEWMM 216.3

    Critics endeavor to undermine confidence in the inspiration of Ellen White by pointing out that her writings apparently contain historical inaccuracies, or that they use language borrowed from other sources, or that a few of her predictions seem impossible of fulfillment. As a young man these charges disturbed me. Later, with a broader understanding of the subject of inspiration, I discovered that any criticism that could be directed at Ellen White’s writings could also be directed at the Bible. God takes a person with all of his genetic background, his cultural influences, his IQ, and his vocabulary, and seeks through him to impart truth. The prophet uses the best words he can command at the time of writing. As his education and experience increase, he may be able to describe more vividly a scene shown him earlier in vision. In later editions of a book he may rewrite portions, or use words here or there that he feels convey various ideas more accurately.WEWMM 216.4

    Moreover, a prophet gathers information on many subjects just as does an uninspired person. For example, a prophet reads road signs just as does anyone else. Thus if he were describing a vision involving Jerusalem and Jericho, he might from commonly accepted sources indicate the distance between the two places. If later he discovered that his information was inaccurate—perhaps a mile or two off—he would include the more accurate information at the earliest opportunity. This broader understanding of the matter of inspiration has greatly increased my confidence not only in the writings of Ellen G. White, but in the Bible. My faith is no longer narrowly based. It cannot be upset by critics who exclaim triumphantly, “Look, Mrs. White made a mistake!”WEWMM 217.1

    I have discovered also that, like some predictions of Bible writers, a number of Mrs. White’s predictions were conditional. Obviously, because of Israel’s failure to accept Christ as the Messiah, it is impossible for some Old Testament prophecies that were based on geography to be fulfilled except in principle. The promises to a specific nation have been transferred to the church that is located not in a small strip of land in the Middle East but throughout the inhabited world.WEWMM 217.2

    If man does his part in a given situation, God is able to do His. If man fails, God must seek other ways of accomplishing His purposes. Thus God made it plain to Ellen White that it was His intention that His people should carry out His purposes in a much shorter time than has been the case. Obviously, then, a prophecy that was made on condition that the people of God should finish their work in a few decades, could not be fulfilled exactly as outlined when God’s people have taken more than a century to carry out the gospel commission.WEWMM 217.3

    I mention these objections because at one time they seemed large to me; but with a broader understanding of the subject of inspiration they have assumed a proper perspective. They no longer seem of consequence. I now have a relaxed, trusting attitude toward the Bible and the writings of Ellen G. White. The security of my faith is no longer threatened.WEWMM 218.1

    Perhaps the greatest reason I accept and love the writings of Ellen G. White as inspired is that they meet the test of the Bible statement, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). When I spend time with Ellen White’s writings and give careful heed to their counsel, my spiritual experience deepens, my awareness of God’s presence is sharpened, my judgment is improved. In general, Adventists who are deeply committed to the counsel set forth in the writings of Ellen White grow in grace. Those who are indifferent to it, seem to make little growth. Often they lose their vision of the uniqueness of the remnant church and with this erosion of faith they give greater room to the world and less to the Holy Spirit in their lives.WEWMM 218.2

    The final chapters in the two books The Great Controversy and The Ministry of Healing are special favorites of mine. The excitement of the final crisis, depicted in The Great Controversy, together with Christ’s final triumph over evil and the cleansing of the vast universe from every trace of sin, always captures my imagination and increases my confidence in the reality of the conflict between Christ and Satan. The final chapters in The Ministry of Healing spell out the practical aspects of Christianity and are filled with gems of wisdom and inspiration. Here are a few samples:WEWMM 218.3

    “Trials and obstacles are the Lord’s chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success.”—Page 471.WEWMM 218.4

    “Let us remember that while the work we have to do may not be our choice, it is to be accepted as God’s choice for us. Whether pleasing or unpleasing, we are to do the duty that lies nearest.”—Pages 472, 473.WEWMM 218.5

    “In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.”—Page 474.WEWMM 219.1

    “We need to beware of self-pity.”—Page 476.WEWMM 219.2

    “Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor.”—Page 478.WEWMM 219.3

    “God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as coworkers with Him.”—Page 479.WEWMM 219.4

    “Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.”—Page 481.WEWMM 219.5

    “In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, have faith in God. He is working out His will, doing all things well in behalf of His people.”—Page 482.WEWMM 219.6

    “In the life of Christ, everything was made subordinate to His work, the great work of redemption which He came to accomplish. And the same devotion, the same self-denial and sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of the word of God, is to be manifest in His disciples.”—Page 502.WEWMM 219.7

    Truly God has given to His remnant people rich treasures of wisdom through Ellen White and her writings. With many others, I am grateful for this gift. As never before I am convinced of the truth of the statement: “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).WEWMM 219.8

    Takoma Park, Maryland
    October 15, 1972

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