In the judgment many secret things will be revealed. Then we shall see what a belief in God's Word has done for men and women. It will be seen how small companies, sometimes not more than three or four, have gathered together in secret places to seek the Lord, and how they received light and grace, and rich gems of thought. The Holy Spirit was their teacher, and their lives revealed the blessings that come from a possession of the oracles of God. When Christ shall separate the tares from the wheat, it will be seen that God recognizes and honors these lowly followers. In the world they may not have been thought worthy of recognition, but in the heavenly courts they are registered as true and faithful. Through trial and opposition they kept their faith untainted. They gathered strength from the Word of God, which told them of the hope of immortal life in the kingdom of God. Of “them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name,” it is written, “They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 1)
Obedience the Condition of Salvation
EGW
Thus saith the Lord: Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then there shall enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by Myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.”
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 2)
These words show plainly that obedience to God's commands is the condition upon which His promises are fulfilled. These commands are not grievous. God has given them for the good of His people. His law is the hedge which He has built around His vineyard for its protection. The Lord has plainly declared that He will abundantly bless His people if they will obey the laws of His kingdom. It is their life to obey. In keeping God's commandments there is great reward.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 3)
God desires men and women to awake to a sense of His great mercy and loving-kindness. Every blessing we receive comes from Him. The Governor of the universe, He takes cognizance of the words and actions of human beings. He knows whether His children are deserving of praise or of condemnation. Each human being will be rewarded or punished according to his works. Retribution must come upon those who disregard the laws which God has made. Those who are loyal and obedient will be rewarded with the richest blessings. Those who are disloyal and presumptuous, who dishonor the laws of God's kingdom, refusing to repent, will surely be punished with death.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 4)
It is Satan's studied plan to keep God out of men's thoughts, and in carrying out this plan, he has great success. He is constantly bringing forward plans that keep their minds absorbed in pleasure and money-making. The minds of the great majority of men are so taken up with the things of time, with worldly interests, that the things of eternity find no place in their lives. Irrespective of the warnings in the Word of God, they show a most surprising indifference to the laws of His kingdom.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 5)
Selfishness, covetousness, and fraud bear sway in the world. There are thousands and millions of people who know nothing of their true relations to God, nothing of the laws that He has made, nothing of the consequence of disobedience. Many are not ignorant of the facts, but they do not apply these facts to their own case. All know that they must die, but they do not ask themselves the question, “What shall be the future of my soul?” They know that there is a judgment to come, but their minds are so darkened that they are utterly unconcerned regarding what this judgment will bring to them. They have no realization of the sinfulness of sin. They follow a course which the Lord of heaven has declared must end in eternal death.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 6)
God's character is revealed in the precepts of His law. This is the reason why Satan wishes this law to be made of none effect. But notwithstanding all his efforts, the law stands forth holy and unchanged. It is a transcript of God's character. It can not be impeached or altered.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 7)
Wonderful inducements are held out to us to lead us to strive to attain to the standard held up before us in God's Word. Every encouragement is offered. Every provision has been made that we may be so conformed to the divine character that Christ can take us to live with Him in heaven. Exceeding great and precious promises have been made to us, but they are fulfilled to us only as we gain a knowledge of God. This knowledge is given to those who become partakers of the divine nature. Those who are saved must in this life gain a fitness to dwell with the royal family in the courts of heaven.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 8)
If we have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul, we shall gain an experience more valuable than gold or silver or precious stones. The Holy Spirit works in the children of obedience. He who is a partaker of the divine nature will think the thoughts of God. His perceptions will be sanctified by the grace of Christ. He will work in Christ's lines, manifesting His kindness, thoughtfulness, mercy, and love, helping and encouraging those around him.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 9)
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Wonderful are the possibilities placed before us, and to these possibilities we may attain by studying and practising the truths of the Word of God. But if we do not lay hold of Christ, if we do not daily gain an experimental knowledge of Him as our sufficiency, we are on losing ground.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 10)
There are many professing Christians who have not yet reached the height and breadth of Christlikeness. We are to behold Christ by faith as the One whose perfection of character we are to gain. With an intense, prayerful desire to be like Him, we are to behold Him, full of tenderness and love. Then, as we behold, we shall be changed into His likeness. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
(ST November 30, 1904, Art. A, 11)
An Opportunity to Help a Needy Cause
EGW
For years I have been deeply interested in Gospel work among the colored people in the South. It has been my privilege to visit this field a few times, and to become personally acquainted with its needs. During the nine years I spent in Australia, I kept pace with the advance of the work among the colored people in America. I knew of the struggles and makeshifts, the self-denial and self-sacrifice, of the laborers in the South, and I helped as much as I could.
(ST November 30, 1904, 1)
Early this past summer I visited the South, and spent several weeks there. As I traveled from place to place, I saw anew the poverty-stricken condition of the field, and was reminded vividly of scenes that have often been presented to me in the night season.
(ST November 30, 1904, 2)
The condition of the industrial school established for the training of Christian workers at Huntsville, Ala., appealed strongly to my sympathies. The large farm of three hundred and sixty acres, purchased by the General Conference as a home for this institution, will, with intelligent cultivation, meet a considerable portion of the running expenses of the school. But the buildings have been inadequate for the work that should be done. The teachers and students have very few schoolroom appliances. In the student's home and on the farm there have been very few suitable facilities. Some new buildings must be erected and furnished. Good bath-rooms are greatly needed. In connection with this school, students are to be trained for the medical missionary work.
(ST November 30, 1904, 3)
Brother F. R. Rogers has been chosen to act as business manager and principal of the Huntsville School. For years he has labored in school work for the colored people in Mississippi, under the direction of the Southern Missionary Society. Associated with him will be a faculty competent to carry forward all branches of instruction, both in school lines and in industrial training. The efficiency of the school will be much improved this year. We desire to do a strong work in preparing the colored people of the South to accomplish that which must be done for their own race. Among the most promising youth are those who must be trained to labor as canvassers, missionary nurses, hygienic cooks, teachers, Bible workers, and ministers.
(ST November 30, 1904, 4)
The mission schools that have been established in Mississippi and in other states, are doing a good work; and these should receive our continued support. Hundreds of these schools must be established. This line of effort has been especially presented before me as one of the most effectual and economical methods of giving the truth to the colored people. But the work is almost at a stand-still for the lack of money to provide facilities and pay the wages of the teachers.
(ST November 30, 1904, 5)
In Nashville I found a little sanitarium, fully equipped, and patronized by the better class of colored people. This is the only sanitarium we have for the colored people in the South. And it is sadly in need of assistance. Liberal gifts to this enterprise would be pleasing to the Lord. The establishment of this institution on a permanent basis will be but the beginning of a great work that must be done in the cities of the South. We have delayed long enough in the establishment of sanitariums and treatment-rooms in which colored men and women can minister to the physical as well as the spiritual necessities of their fellow-men.
(ST November 30, 1904, 6)
My soul longs to see carried on in the South the work that has so long been in need of our assistance. The great necessity for schools in the cities and out of the cities, for sanitariums and treatment-rooms, and for evangelical work, demands that we do everything we possibly can. This barren field is sending up to Heaven its pitiful appeal for help. Where can we find another field in which the need is greater?
(ST November 30, 1904, 7)
As I have been made acquainted with the poverty of the Southern field, I have earnestly desired that some method might be devised by which the work for the colored people could be sustained. One night, as I was praying for this needy field, a scene was presented to me, which I will describe.
(ST November 30, 1904, 8)
I saw a company of men working, and asked what they were doing. One of them replied: “We are making little boxes to be placed in the home of every family that is willing to practise in order that they may send of their means to help the work among the colored people of the South. Such boxes will be a constant reminder of the needs of this destitute race; and the giving of money that is saved by economy and self-denial will be an excellent education to all the members of the family.”
(ST November 30, 1904, 9)
Without delay I wrote to our brethren in the South to make little self-denial boxes, and circulate them extensively, to be used as silent messengers in the homes of our people,—to remind parents and children of their duty toward a neglected race. The Southern Missionary Society, of Edgefield Junction, Tenn., took up this matter at once, and are now prepared to send the boxes to all who desire to help in this way.
(ST November 30, 1904, 10)
Fathers, mothers, teach your children lessons of self-denial, by encouraging them to unite with you in dispensing with the things we really do not need, and in giving to the colored work the money thus saved. Tell your children of the poor colored people and their necessities. Implant in each tender heart a desire to deny self in order to help others. Lead the children early to realize the close relationship existing between money and missions.
(ST November 30, 1904, 11)
The fields are white for the harvest. Shall not the laborers have means for gathering in the precious grain? Will not those who know the truth see what they can do to help, just now? Will not every one cut off all needless expenditures? See what you can do in self-denial. Dispense with all that is not positively necessary. Come up to the measure of your God-given responsibility. Fulfil your duty toward the colored race.
(ST November 30, 1904, 12)
Some may say: “We are being drawn upon continually for means. Will there be no end to these calls?” We hope not, so long as there are in our world souls perishing for the bread of life. Until all has been done that you can do to save the lost, we ask you not to become weary of our repeated calls. Many have not yet done that which they might do, that which God will enable them to do, if they will consecrate themselves unreservedly to Him.
(ST November 30, 1904, 13)
The Lord's servants are to feel a noble, generous sympathy for every line of work carried on in the great harvest field. We are to be interested in everything that concerns the human brotherhood. By our baptismal vows we are bound in covenant relation with God to make persevering, self-denying, self-sacrificing efforts to promote, in the hardest parts of the field, the work of soul-saving. God has placed upon every believer the responsibility of helping to rescue the most needy, the most helpless, the most oppressed. Christians are to enlighten the ignorance of their less-favored brothers. They are to break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free from the power of vicious habits and sinful practises. By imparting the knowledge sent from heaven, they are to enlarge the capabilities, and increase the usefulness, of those most in need of a helping hand.
(ST November 30, 1904, 14)