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Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
“Repent, and Do the First Works”
Solemn admonitions of warning, manifest in the destruction of
dearly cherished facilities for service, say to us: “Remember there-
fore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.”
Revelation 2:5
. Why is there so dim a perception of the true spiritual
condition of the church? Has not blindness fallen upon the watchmen
standing on the walls of Zion? Are not many of God’s servants un-
concerned and well satisfied, as if the pillar of cloud by day and the
pillar of fire by night rested upon the sanctuary? Are there not those in
positions of responsibility, professing to know God, who in life and
character deny Him? Are not many of those who count themselves as
His chosen, peculiar people satisfied to live without the evidence that
of a truth God is among them to save them from Satan’s snares and
attacks?
Would we not now have much greater light if, in the past, we had
received the Lord’s admonitions, acknowledged His presence, and
turned away from all practices contrary to His will? Had we done this,
the light of heaven would have shone into the soul-temple, enabling us
to comprehend the truth and to love God supremely and our neighbors
as ourselves. Oh, how greatly Christ is dishonored by those who,
professing to be Christians, disgrace the name they bear by failing to
make their lives correspond to their profession, by failing to treat one
another with the love and respect that God expects them to reveal in
kind words and courteous acts!
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The powers from beneath are stirred with deep intensity. War and
bloodshed are the result. The moral atmosphere is poisoned with cruel,
horrible doings. The spirit of strife is spreading; it abounds in every
place. Many souls are being taken possession of by the spirit of fraud,
or underhand dealing. Many will depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They do not discern what
spirit has taken possession of them.
A Failure To Honor God
One who sees beneath the surface, who reads the hearts of all
men, says of those who have had great light: “They are not afflicted
and astonished because of their moral and spiritual condition.” Yea,