Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Address to the Young 471musical instrument which call the mind from God and heaven to lightand trifling things.The young are required in whatsoever they do, in word or deed,to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and theFather by Him. I saw that but few of the youth understand what it is tobe Christians, to be Christlike. They will have to learn the truths ofGod’s word before they can conform their lives to the pattern. Thereis not one young person in twenty who has experienced in his lifethat separation from the world which the Lord requires of all whowould become members of His family, children of the heavenly King.“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith theLord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and willbe a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith theLord Almighty.”What a promise is here made upon condition of obedience! Doyou have to cut loose from friends and relatives in deciding to obey theelevated truths of God’s word? Take courage, God has made provisionfor you, His arms are open to receive you. Come out from among themand be separate, and touch not the unclean, and He will receive you. Hepromises to be a Father unto you. Oh, what a relationship is this! higherand holier than any earthly tie. If you make the sacrifice, if you have toforsake father, mother, sisters, brothers, wife, and children for Christ’ssake, you will not be friendless. God adopts you into His family; youbecome members of the royal household, sons and daughters of theKing who rules in the heaven of heavens. Can you desire a moreexalted position than is here promised? Is not this enough? Said theangel: “What could God do for the children of men more than He hasalready done? If such love, such exalted promises are not appreciated, [511]could He devise anything higher, anything richer and more lofty? Allthat God could do has been done for the salvation of man, and yetthe hearts of the children of men have become hardened. Becauseof the multiplicity of the blessings with which God has surroundedthem, they receive them as common things and forget their graciousBenefactor.”I saw that Satan is a vigilant foe intent upon his purpose of leadingthe youth to a course of action entirely contrary to that which Godwould approve. He well knows that there is no other class that can doas much good as young men and young women who are consecrated to