Great Distress Coming, and God’s People Not Prepared For It
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he appeared in this world it was without riches or splendor. The world
understood not his union with the Father; and the excellency and glory
of his divine character were hid from them. He was therefore “despised
and rejected of men,” and “we did esteem him smitten of God and
afflicted.”
Even so the members of Christ are as he was in this world. They
are the sons of God and joint heirs with Christ; and the kingdom
and the dominion belong to them. The world understand not their
character and holy calling. They perceive not their adoption into the
family of God. Their union and fellowship with the Father and Son are
not manifested to the world, and while they behold their humiliation
and reproach, it does not appear what they are, or what they shall be.
They are strangers. The world knows them not, and appreciate not the
motives which actuate them.
The world is ripening for its destruction. God can bear with sinners
but a little longer. They must drink the dregs of the cup of his wrath
unmixed with mercy. Those who will be heirs of God and joint-heirs
with Jesus Christ to the immortal inheritance, will be peculiar. Yes, so
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peculiar that God places a mark upon them as his, wholly his. Think
ye that God will receive, honor and acknowledge a people so mixed up
with the world that they differ from them only in name? Read again
Titus 2:13-15
. It is soon to be known who is on the Lord’s side, who
will not be ashamed of Jesus. Those who have not moral courage to
take their position conscientiously in the face of unbelievers, and leave
the fashions of the world, and imitate the self-denying life of Christ,
are ashamed of him, and do not love his example.
Consecration
Sabbath-keepers will be tested and proved. A close and searching
work must go on among the people of God. How soon, like ancient
Israel we forget God and his wondrous works, and rebel against him.
Some look to the world, and desire to follow its fashions, and partic-
ipate in its pleasures in the same manner that the children of Israel
looked back into Egypt, and lusted for the good things they had en-
joyed there, which God chose to withhold from them to prove them,
and thereby test their fidelity to him. He wished to see if his people
valued more highly his service, and the freedom he had so miracu-