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Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
hungering for the truth as it is in Jesus. When they hear the gospel
preached with power from on high, they will know that the banquet
is spread for them, and they will respond to the call: “Come; for all
things are now ready.”
Luke 14:17
.
The words “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature” (
Mark 16:15
) are spoken to each one of Christ’s followers.
All who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for
the salvation of their fellow men. The same longing of soul that He
felt for the saving of the lost is to be manifest in them. Not all can fill
the same place, but for all there is a place and a work. All upon whom
God’s blessings have been bestowed are to respond by actual service;
every gift is to be employed for the advancement of His kingdom.
An Unchanging Promise
Christ made full provision for the prosecution of the work entrusted
to the disciples, and took upon Himself the responsibility of its success.
So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him,
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they could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest
part of the habitable globe, but know that My presence will be there.
Labor in faith and confidence, for the time will never come when I
will forsake you.
To us also the promise of Christ’s abiding presence is given. The
lapse of time has wrought no change in His parting promise. He is
with us today as truly as He was with the disciplines, and He will be
with us “even unto the end.”
“Go forth preaching the gospel to all nations,” the Saviour says
to us, “that they may become children of God. I am with you in this
work, teaching, guiding, comforting, strengthening you, giving you
success in your work of self-denial and sacrifice. I will move upon
hearts, convincing them of sin, and turning them from darkness to
light, from disobedience to righteousness. In My light they shall see
light. You will meet the opposition of satanic agencies, but put your
trust in Me. I will never fail you.”
Think you not that Christ values those who live wholly for Him?
Think you not that He visits those who, like the beloved John, are for
His sake in hard and trying places? He finds His faithful ones, and
holds communion with them, encouraging and strengthening them.