Words of Caution

God is love. In His love He made each human being capable of receiving, evaluating, and accepting or rejecting the instruction sent from heaven to guide our lives. He has appointed us to carry on a work of ministry to bring blessing to others, to appeal to them, and seek to lead them to the Master. All of our responsibilities lie on the positive side, to contribute to the upbuilding and strengthening of the church of God.EGWMR 91.5

“There are many whose religion consists in criticising habits of dress and manners. They want to bring every one to their own measure. They desire to lengthen out those who seem too short for their standard, and to cut down others who seem too long. They have lost the love of God out of their own hearts; but they think they have a spirit of discernment. They think it is their prerogative to criticise, and pronounce judgment; but they should repent of their error, and turn away from their sins.... Let us love one another. Let us have harmony and union throughout our ranks. Let us have our hearts sanctified to God. Let us look upon the light that abides for us in Jesus. Let us remember how forbearing and patient He was with the erring children of men. We should be in a wretched state if the God of heaven were like one of us, and treated us as we are inclined to treat one another.”—Ellen G. White, The Review and Herald, August 27, 1889.EGWMR 91.6

Serious attacks are being made and will continue to be made on the special messages God has given to guide us in these last days.EGWMR 91.7

“There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them for this reason. Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.”—Letter 40, 1890.EGWMR 91.8

“The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.”—Letter 12, 1890.EGWMR 91.9

We must not only study, but study in the right way, all the light that God has sent us. The Bible is our sure guide. The testimonies have been given to lead us to “the Book,” to help us to understand its principles and apply them to our own lives. Without the particular help that they afford, we shall fall short of overcoming through the power of the Word. Earnest, prayerful study will lead us in the upward way, and open before us the path of righteousness and continual victory.EGWMR 91.10

The testimonies were never given to take the place of study, initiative, faith, hard work, or God-guided sanctified judgment. But in all these areas the messages encourage and enlighten us, and lead us on to a more efficient and effective use of the talents with which God has entrusted us and the opportunities He has opened to us.EGWMR 91.11