Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
The Trial of our Faith
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As gold dust is refined into something of
great value, so our faith is to be tried until
it is more precious than gold.
Illustration —
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In this time of trial we need to be encouraged and comforted
by one another. The temptations of Satan are greater now than ever before, for
he knows that his time is short and that very soon every case will be decided,
either for life or for death. It is no time now to sink down beneath
discouragement and trial; we must bear up under all our afflictions and trust
wholly in the Almighty God of Jacob. The Lord has shown me that His grace is
sufficient for all our trials; and although they are greater than ever before,
yet if we trust wholly in God, we can overcome every temptation and through His
grace come off victorious. {EW
46.1}
If we overcome our trials and get victory over the
temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more
precious than gold, and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next. But
if we sink down and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker
and get no reward for the trial and shall not be so well prepared for the next.
In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan
at his will. We must have on the whole armor of God and be ready at any moment
for a conflict with the powers of darkness. When temptations and trials rush in
upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us
away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the
power of the enemy. Oh, that all could see these things in their true light and
endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus! Then would Israel move forward,
strong in God, and in the power of His might. [47] {EW 46.2}
God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to
drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it
still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. But those who
receive it thus must have another draught, for the first does not have its
designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not effect the work,
then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed
effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. I saw that this bitter
cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have
its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will
be honored and glorified. It is no small thing to be a Christian and to be
owned and approved of God. The Lord has shown me some who profess the present
truth, whose lives do not correspond with their profession. They have the
standard of piety altogether too low, and they come far short of Bible
holiness. Some engage in vain and unbecoming conversation, and others give way
to the risings of self. We must not expect to please ourselves, live and act
like the world, have its pleasures, and enjoy the company of those who are of
the world, and reign with Christ in glory. {EW 47.1}
We must be partakers of Christ's sufferings here if we would
share in His glory hereafter. If we seek our own interest, how we can best
please ourselves, instead of seeking to please God and advance His precious,
suffering cause, we shall dishonor God and the holy cause we profess to love.
We have but a little space of time left in which to work for God. Nothing
should be too dear to sacrifice for the salvation of the scattered and torn
flock of Jesus. Those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice now will soon
be gathered home to share a rich reward and possess the new kingdom forever and
ever. [48]
{EW 47.2}
Oh, let us live wholly for the Lord and show by a
well-ordered life and godly conversation that we have been with Jesus and are
His meek and lowly followers. We must work while the day lasts, for when the
dark night of trouble and anguish comes, it will be too late to work for God.
Jesus is in His holy temple and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers,
and our confessions of faults and sins and will pardon all the transgressions
of Israel, that they may be blotted out before He leaves the sanctuary. When
Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous will be holy
and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will
be sealed with the seal of the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy
will be unjust and filthy still; for then there will be no Priest in the
sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers
before the Father's throne. Therefore what is done to rescue souls from the
coming storm of wrath must be done before Jesus leaves the most holy place of
the heavenly sanctuary. {EW
48.1}
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