Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Obedience to the Truth 503ing, a ministering angel is commissioned to bear you the succor youneed and put to shame the language of your unbelieving mind. Youdistrust God; you disbelieve in His power to save to the uttermost. Youdishonor God by this cruel unbelief and cause yourself much needlesssuffering. I saw heavenly angels surrounding you, driving back theevil angels, and looking with pity and sorrow upon you, and pointingyou to heaven, the crown of immortality, saying: “He that would winmust fight.”Although you have been in doubt and perplexity, you have notdared to entirely sever the connecting link between yourself and God’scommandment-keeping people. Yet you have not yielded all for thetruth’s sake; you have not yielded yourself, your own will. You fear tolay yourself and all that you have upon the altar of God, lest you maybe required to yield back to Him some portion of that which He haslent you. Heavenly angels are acquainted with our words and actions,and even with the thoughts and intents of the heart. You, dear brother,fear that the truth will cost you too much, but this is one of Satan’ssuggestions. Let it take all that you possess, and it does not cost toomuch; the value received, if rightly estimated, is an eternal weight ofglory. How little is required of us! How small the sacrifice that wecan make in comparison with that which our divine Lord made for us!And yet a spirit of murmuring comes over you because of the cost ofeverlasting life. You, as well as others of your brethren at-----, havehad severe conflicts with the great adversary of souls. You have severaltimes nearly yielded the conflict, but the influence of your wife andeldest daughter has prevailed. These members of your family would [545]obey the truth with the whole heart could they have your influence tosustain them.Your daughters look to you for an example, for they think theirfather must be right. Their salvation depends much upon the coursewhich you pursue. If you cease striving for everlasting life, you willexert a powerful influence to carry your children with you, you willbow down the spirit of your faithful wife, crush her hopes, and lessenher hold on life. How can you in the judgment meet these to testifythat your unfaithfulness proved their ruin?I saw that you had several times yielded to the suggestions of Satanto cease striving to live out the truth, for the tempter told you that youwould fail with the best endeavors you might make, that with all your