Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

pleasure, just as the children of Israel looked back to Egypt and lusted for the goodthings which they had enjoyed there, and which God chose to withhold from them toprove them and thereby test their fidelity to Him. He wished to see if His people valuedHis service, and the freedom He had so miraculously given them, more highly than theindulgences they enjoyed in Egypt while in servitude to a tyrannical, idolatrous people.All true followers of Jesus will have sacrifices to make. God will prove them andtest the genuineness of their faith. I have been shown that the true followers of Jesuswill discard picnics, donations, shows, and other gatherings for pleasure. They can findno Jesus there, and no influence which will make them heavenly minded and increasetheir growth in grace. The word of God obeyed leads us to come out from all thesethings and be separate. The things of the world are sought for, and considered worthyto be admired and enjoyed, by all those who are not devoted lovers of the cross andspiritual worshipers of a crucified Jesus.There is chaff among us, and this is why we are so weak. Some are constantlyleaning to the world. Their views and feelings harmonize much better with the spiritof the world than with that of Christ’s self-denying followers. It is perfectly naturalfor them to prefer the company of those whose spirit will best agree with their own.And such have quite too much influence among God’s people. They take part withthem, and have a name among them, and are a text for unbelievers and the weakand unconsecrated ones in the church. These persons of two minds will ever haveobjections to the plain, pointed testimony which reproves individual wrongs. In thisrefining time these persons will either be wholly converted, and sanctified by obeyingthe truth, or they will be left with the world, where they belong, to receive their rewardwith them.288