Doing the Work Over and Over Again

Another matter that concerned Ellen White was the necessity of doing much the same work over and over again. She would write letters or lead out in meetings in a church, presenting earnest messages and sometimes direct testimonies to individuals to which there was an earnest heartfelt response. But the work did not always last. In writing to S. N. Haskell of her experience in the Parramatta church she pinpointed the problem as the lack of daily conversion:4BIO 259.2

Last Sabbath I spoke in Parramatta. The Lord has been giving me His Holy Spirit in rich measures, and I had a message for the church. I called for those who desired to give themselves wholly to the Lord to come forward, and quite a number responded. Our labor continued from eleven o'clock; but there was good accomplished.4BIO 259.3

But oh, what a task it is to try to lift a church whose individual members do not experience daily conversion. It nearly takes every particle of strength that is in me. The same work has to be done again and again, because the church members do not live in Christ, do not meditate on His Word, and walk apart from Him. I have far greater influence and much better success in working for unbelievers however ignorant they may be, than I have in working for those who know the truth, and are not being sanctified through the truth.4BIO 259.4

But we are not to fail nor be discouraged. That which I grieve over is the fact that the Lord Jesus is dishonored and that many will lose eternal life, because they do not seek heaven with earnestness, and Satan finds their hearts ready to respond to temptation.—Letter 28, 1895.4BIO 259.5

To stand as the messenger of the Lord to the remnant church was not an easy assignment.4BIO 259.6