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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
They could not rest till the beams of light which had illumined their
minds were shining upon others. Multitudes of unbelievers were made
acquainted with the reason of the Christian’s hope. Warm, inspired,
personal appeals were made to the sinful and erring, to the outcast,
and to those who, while professing to know the truth, were lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God.
But after a time the zeal of the believers, their love for God and for
one another, began to wane. Coldness crept into the church. Differ-
ences sprang up, and the eyes of many were turned from beholding
Jesus as the Author and Finisher of their faith. The masses that might
have been convicted and converted by a faithful practice of the truth,
were left unwarned. Then it was that the message was addressed to
the Ephesian church by the True Witness. Their lack of interest in the
salvation of souls showed that they had lost their first love; for none
can love God with the whole heart, mind, soul, and strength without
loving those for whom Christ died. God called upon them to repent
and do the first works, else the candlestick would be removed out of
its place.
Is not this experience of the Ephesian church repeated in the expe-
rience of the church of this generation? How is the church of today,
that has received a knowledge of the truth of God, using this knowl-
edge? When its members first saw God’s unspeakable mercy for the
fallen race, they could not keep silent. They were filled with longing to
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co-operate with God in giving to others the blessings they had received.
As they imparted, they were continually receiving. They grew in grace
and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. How is it today?
Brethren and sisters who have long claimed to believe the truth, I
ask you individually, Have your practices been in harmony with the
light, the privileges, and the opportunities granted you of heaven? This
is a serious question. The Sun of Righteousness has risen upon the
church, and it is the duty of the church to shine. It is the privilege of
every soul to make advancement. Those who are connected with Christ
will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Son of God, to the full
stature of men and women. If all who claim to believe the truth had
made the most of their ability and opportunities to learn and to do, they
would have become strong in Christ. Whatever their occupation,—
whether they were farmers, mechanics, teachers, or pastors,—if they