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God’s Call to Reform, April 20
He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the
wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:17
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John the Baptist went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare
the way of the Lord and to turn the people to the wisdom of the just. He
was a representative of those living in these last days to whom God has
entrusted sacred truths to present before the people to prepare the way for
the second appearing of Christ....
Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ
are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to
prepare the way for Christ’s first advent. The great subject of reform is to
be agitated, and the public mind is to be stirred. Temperance in all things
is to be connected with the message, to turn the people of God from their
idolatry, their gluttony, and their extravagance in dress and other things.
The self-denial, humility, and temperance required of the righteous,
whom God especially leads and blesses, is to be presented to the people in
contrast to the extravagant, health-destroying habits of those who live in this
degenerate age. God has shown that health reform is as closely connected
with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body. There is
nowhere to be found so great a cause of physical and moral degeneracy as a
neglect of this important subject. Those who indulge appetite and passion,
and close their eyes to the light for fear they will see sinful indulgences
which they are unwilling to forsake, are guilty before God....
Providence has been leading the people of God out from the extravagant
habits of the world, away from the indulgence of appetite and passion,
to take their stand upon the platform of self-denial and temperance in all
things. The people whom God is leading will be peculiar. They will not be
like the world. But if they follow the leadings of God they will accomplish
His purposes, and will yield their will to His will. Christ will dwell in the
heart.... Your body, says the apostle, is the temple of the Holy Ghost.
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