EGW
A solemn responsibility rests upon us in regard to gaining a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. How great this responsibility is, is shown by the prayer offered by Christ a few hours before His betrayal. “This is life eternal,” He said, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” ST July 4, 1900, par. 1
Christ came to correct existing evils. He came to adjust God's claims on man. He sees the selfishness of human beings. He sees that the world is engrossed by business and amusement. He sees the intensity of the efforts made to obtain earthly treasure. He sees that God is forgotten. ST July 4, 1900, par. 2
God has committed His goods to men, that they may advance His work in the world. He calls upon them to use their intrusted gifts in the relief of His suffering children, who plead for mercy and relief. But His plainly-stated claims are ignored. Men can not afford to return to the Lord His own. Yet millions and millions of dollars are spent in distilleries, where is made the liquor which ruins the souls and bodies of men. This life-destroying, maddening agency is dealt out by professedly Christian nations. ST July 4, 1900, par. 3
How many in our world recognize God as the owner of the money they handle? They spend it for self-pleasing, for selfish gratification. But before the bar of God they must give an account of the way in which they have spent this money. Here they must settle for their neglect of the fatherless and the widow. What a terrible account liquor sellers will have to meet in the great day of God! In the books of heaven a record is kept of every tempting glass held out by man to his fellow-man, to forge the chains of an appetite which makes him mad. At the judgment the money and influence that might have been used to relieve suffering human beings will be charged against those who might have helped in this work, but did not. God will render to every man according to his work. ST July 4, 1900, par. 4
Many of the officers in charge of steamers and other vessels place themselves under the control of Satan by liquor drinking. A continuance of this indulgence destroys the brain nerve power, and they become incapable of doing their work. We know not how many times God has interposed to save a whole ship's company from destruction because there were some on board who loved and feared Him. For their sake He has wrought wondrously. But there comes a time when the line of forbearance is passed. Mercy steps down from her golden throne, and, folding her wings, departs. Then the enemy is permitted to do that which he longs to do. Many of the terrible calamities which happen by land and sea will one day be seen to have been caused by liquor drinking. ST July 4, 1900, par. 5
He who lives for self-indulgence is unable to distinguish between good and evil. His appetite is his god. He worships his stomach. He lives to eat, instead of eating to live. This means self-destruction. Thus beings made in the image of God sink lower and lower. Their physical, mental, and spiritual strength is destroyed. ST July 4, 1900, par. 6
Satan has the world under his control. Christ came in human flesh to give the race another trial. He came to uplift and ennoble men and women. But the power of the Gospel is counteracted by the course pursued by professing Christians. How little is being done by the religious teachers to lift the standard of temperance! There are many ministers who fear to bear a decided testimony on temperance, because they know that this would affect their salary. The members of their churches indulge in liquor drinking, and do not want anything said about this evil. They are willing to have their names enrolled as church-members, but they are not willing to live a religion which involves a cross. ST July 4, 1900, par. 7
Much of the preaching of the present day is of a character to lull the people into a spiritual sleep. The doctrine of the millennium is a soothing potion to the sinner who does not desire to cease from sin. And Satan is better pleased with the help which the shepherds of the flock give him when they present truth mingled with error, than with the help given by the boldest unbeliever. ST July 4, 1900, par. 8
Human beings are all living on probation, and they are either working out their own eternal good or their eternal ruin. Satan is continually seeking to turn them away from God. He brings before them one scene of excitement after another,—horse-racing, football matches, pugilistic contests. Around these scenes thousands of spectators assemble, greedy for excitement, anxious to see man getting the better of his fellow-man. As it was in the days of Noah, just prior to the destruction of the world by a flood, so will it be before the coming of the Son of God. ST July 4, 1900, par. 9
God sees the sinfulness of this world. He sees that men have dropped eternity out of their reckoning. He sees that excitement is making them mad; that they are goaded on to do violence to one another, while the multitude, among which are professing Christians, stand by and applaud. “Shall I not judge for these things?” He asks. ST July 4, 1900, par. 10
Sin is the transgression of the law, and yet in this age, when God is about to close the records for eternity, men dare to say that His law is abrogated. A strange statement, indeed, when Christ declared that He came not to destroy the law or the prophets, and that heaven and earth should pass away before one jot or tittle should pass from the law. And by His life He showed that it is possible for man to keep the law. There is nothing in the Scriptures to lead man to suppose that He can break the law and be guiltless. The heavens above us remain to testify to the binding claims of God's law. ST July 4, 1900, par. 11
God has chosen men and women as instrumentalities through which to work to counteract the evils in our world. He will hold those accountable who have been given great light, and yet are devoting their time and means to self-service, while thousands are perishing for want of help. He is about to pass by those who refuse to take up the work that must be done. Of those who refuse to take up the cross and deny self, the Lord says: “They shall not taste of My supper. I will take illiterate and obscure men, and by My Spirit move upon them to carry out My purposes in the work of saving souls. The last message of mercy will be given to the world, but not by the counsels of the supposed sages, who received My commission, but did not My work. The work will be done, not by the eloquence of the learned, but by a people who love and fear Me. Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit will I work.” ST July 4, 1900, par. 12
If Jesus were made the sum and substance of every discourse given, sinners would be converted. By the message borne they would know what they must do to be saved. Lift Him up, the Man of Calvary, higher and still higher. He who draws nigh to Christ need not try to shine. As he beholds the Saviour, he catches the divine rays of light from the Sun of Righteousness, and he can not help shining. The light that is in him shines forth in clear, bright rays, in words and works of righteousness. Christ's grace dwells in him richly, and heaven's light shines through him. He honors Christ by complete obedience. He is stimulated to more vigorous action in the cause of God as he imparts that which the Lord gives him. He is a light-bearer in the world, shedding light on those who are in darkness. He walks close by the side of Christ, conversing with Him and gathering divine principles from His Word. He goes about doing good, comforting the downcast, guiding wandering footsteps in the narrow way, sweetening the cup of bitterness which many drink as the result of their own course of action, watching over those who need the guidance of a firm, steady hand to lead them to the feet of the Master, helping all with whom he comes in contact to fight manfully the battles of the Lord. ST July 4, 1900, par. 13