Only those who practice holiness in this life will see the King in His beauty. Put away all vain, trifling talk, and everything of a frivolous and sensational nature. Do not engross your mind with thoughts of worldly entertainments and pleasures. Engage in the work of saving your soul. If you should lose your soul, it would have been better for you never to have been born. But you need not lose your soul. You may use every moment of this God-given life to His name’s glory. Strengthen yourself to resist the powers of darkness, that they shall not obtain a victory over you.—Manuscript 110, 1901 (Sermons and Talks, 2:174-176). CTr 199.6

The substitution of the laws of men for the law of God, the exaltation, by merely human authority, of Sunday in place of the Bible Sabbath, is the last act in the drama. When this substitution becomes universal, God will reveal Himself. He will arise in His majesty to shake terribly the earth. He will come out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.—Testimonies for the Church 7:141 CHS.160.2

Among the most successful agencies of the great deceiver are the delusive teachings and lying wonders of spiritualism. Disguised as an angel of light, he spreads his nets where least suspected. If men would but study the Book of God with earnest prayer that they might understand it, they would not be left in darkness to receive false doctrines. But as they reject the truth they fall a prey to deception. – {GC 524.1} – GC 524.1

By the decree of enforcing the institution of the Papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and Republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is near.—Testimonies for the Church 5:451. Chs 160.4

A Deeper Experience

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.
MATTHEW 25:40
“That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The spirit of Christ’s self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christ’s followers will possess, the work that they will do ” (Steps to Christ, p. 77).

“When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. COL 69.1

The wheat develops “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” The object of the husbandman in the sowing of the seed and the culture of the growing plant is the production of grain. He desires bread for the hungry, and seed for future harvests. So the divine Husbandman looks for a harvest as the reward of His labor and sacrifice. Christ is seeking to reproduce Himself in the hearts of men; and He does this through those who believe in Him. The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing—the reproduction of Christ’s character in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others. COL 67.1

The religion of Jesus Christ. . . is the immediate, voluntary, trustful surrender of the heart to God

– a coming into union with Christ in confidence, affectionate obedience to do all His commandments

through the merits of Jesus Christ. It is a decisive act of the individual, committing to the Lord the

keeping of the soul. It is the climbing up by Christ, clinging to Christ, accepting the righteousness of

Christ as a free gift. The will is to be surrendered to Christ. Through faith in the righteousness of

Christ is salvation. 1888 281

The government of God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission,

an unreasoning control. It appeals to the intellect and the conscience. “Come now, and let us

reason together” is the Creator’s invitation to the beings He has made. Isaiah 1:18. God does

not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently

given. A mere forced submission would prevent all real development of mind SC.44

There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl. But they do

not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. They do not die to self that Christ

may live in them. Therefore they do not find the precious pearl. They have not overcome

unholy ambition and their love for worldly attractions. They do not take up the cross and

follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice. Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians,

they seem near the kingdom of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly

saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost. (COL 118.1)