192
Christian Service
Serious Loss in Remaining Away
Our camp-meetings are arranged and held at great expense. God’s
ministers who advocate unpopular truth, labor excessively at these
large gatherings to bear the message of mercy from a crucified Re-
deemer to poor fallen sinners. To neglect or treat these messages with
indifference, is to slight the mercy of God and His voice of warning
and entreaty. Your absence from these meetings has been very detri-
mental to your spiritual welfare. You have missed the strength that you
might have gained there by listening to the preached word of God, and
mingling with the believers of the truth.—
Testimonies for the Church
4:115
.
It is no small matter for a family to stand as representatives of
Jesus, keeping God’s law in an unbelieving community. We are re-
quired to be living epistles, known and read of all men. This position
involves fearful responsibilities. In order to live in the light, you must
come where the light shines. Brother K, at any sacrifice, should feel
under solemn obligation to attend, with his family, at least the yearly
gatherings of those who love the truth. It would strengthen him and
them, and fit them for trial and duty. It is not well for them to lose
the privilege of associating with those of like faith; for the truth loses
its importance in their minds, their hearts cease to be enlightened and
vivified by its sanctifying influence, and they lose spirituality. They are
not strengthened by the words of the living preacher. Worldly thoughts
and worldly enterprises are continually exercising their minds to the
exclusion of spiritual subjects.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:106
.
Let all who possibly can, attend these yearly gatherings. All should
feel that God requires this of them. If they do not avail themselves of
the privileges which He has provided that they may become strong in
Him and in the power of His grace, they will grow weaker and weaker,
and have less and less desire to consecrate all to God.
[198]
Come, brethren and sisters, to these sacred convocation meetings,
to find Jesus. He will come up to the feast. He will be present, and He
will do for you that which you most need to have done. Your farms
should not be considered of greater value than the higher interests of
the soul. All the treasures which you possess, be they ever so valuable,
would not be rich enough to buy you peace and hope, which would be
infinite gain, if it cost you all you have and the toils and sufferings of