Maranatha, page 113:
"Seventh-day Adventists, above all people, should be patterns of piety, holy in heart and in conversation. To them have been entrusted the most solemn truths ever committed to mortals. Every endowment of grace and power and efficiency has been liberally provided. They look for the near return of Christ in the clouds of heaven. For them to give to the world the impression that their faith is not a dominating power in their lives is greatly to dishonor God.
Because of the increasing power of Satan's temptations, the times in which we live are full of peril for the children of God, and we need to learn constantly of the Great Teacher, that we may take every step in surety and righteousness. Wonderful scenes are opening before us, and at this time a living testimony is to be borne in the lives of God's professed people, so that the world may see that in this age , when evil reigns on every side, there is yet a people who are laying aside their will and seeking to do God's will--a people in whose hearts and lives God's law is written."
Over the years I have read many words written by Ellen G. White as inspiration for us all, but this one tops them all. If any words tells us where we are right now and what is happening and what needs to be done, this is it.
So what do we have here? Key words to think about:
1. Patters of piety
2. Holy in heart
3. Entrust most solemn truths
4. Endowment of grace
5. Endowment of power
6. Endowment of efficiency
7. Looking for near return of Christ
8. Impressions of our faith to world
9. Liberally provided for us
What is going on as we reflect these attributes in our lives:
1. Increasing power of Satan temptations
2. Full of peril for God's children
3. This age, when evil reigns on every side
4. Wonderful scenes are opening
What are we suppose to be doing:
1. Learn constantly of Great Teacher
2. A living testimony is to be borne
3. Laying aside our will
4. Seeking God's will
5. Hearts of lives of God's law is written
With this knowledge listed above we should be a people that the world will recognize as God's people. We will stand, so to speak, apart from this world full of sin.
Witnessing in our lives, the character imprinted in us, the world will see a different God from the god they have come to know.
Every lesson of witnessing that we do today will give us courage and power to be able to stand before judges, go through the time of trouble. The words that we speak and the lives we live today will be the learning tools given to us by the Great Teacher that prepares us for His coming.
Indeed we will have a character the World will recognize, it will be that character, the very image of Jesus reflected in our lives that will shine forth without any question or doubt of who the source is.
As written in Isaiah, chapter 60, verses 1 through 3:
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light.."
Along with the above verse, another one in Isaiah comes to mind in Chapter 58:12.
"And they that shall be of thee, shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
We are truly the depositors of great light and truth in a generation that knows nothing of the will of God in their lives. They go about living their lives in darkness and know it not.
We stand at the threshold of time in which more than likely we will see the end of things as we know it. Jesus is coming! We are not to worry are we ready to witness, but we must witness. If we have allowed the Great Teacher to work in our lives, we will be ready, even if we see it not.
Do not worry or let doubts hold you back. That you lack worthiness or your ability to witness of your Saviour and friend. Satan loves more than anything for us to do nothing, that is half the battle won.
Witnessing is not just giving Bible studies or passing out religious materials, or the church giving Daniel and Revelations seminars, but it is also the everyday events that transpires in your life. It is how you speak each day in your intercourse with others during the week while you do the things of life. It is during the daily grind of life and how we live it that will show people who is our God.
If we are to be that picture the world is to see of Jesus, that light will need to shine each day we have breath. Every minutes we are out in the world, that the world will recognize our God.
Liane
[This message has been edited by liane (edited 07-07-2001).]