22
The Retirement Years
The Lord has not laid the burden upon men to revive the mistakes
and errors of the living or the dead. He would have His laborers present
the truth for this time. Speak not of the errors of your brethren who are
living, and be silent as to the mistakes of the dead. Let their mistakes
and errors remain where God has put them—cast into the depths of the
sea. The less that is said by those who profess to believe present truth
in regard to the past mistakes and errors of the servants of God, the
better it will be for their own souls, and for the souls of those whom
Christ has purchased with His own blood.—
The Review and Herald,
November 30, 1897
.
Let Us Encourage One Another
[
Drawn from Ellen White’s second message to the General Con-
ference session of 1913.
]
I greatly desire that the old soldiers of the cross, those grown gray
in the Master’s service, shall continue to bear their testimony right to
the point, in order that those younger in the faith may understand that
the messages which the Lord gave us in the past are very important at
this stage of the earth’s history. Our past experience has not lost one
jot of its force.
[28]
Let all be careful not to discourage the pioneers, or cause them to
feel that there is little they can do. Their influence may still be mightily
exerted in the work of the Lord. The testimony of the aged ministers
will ever be a help and a blessing to the church. God will watch over
His tried and faithful standard-bearers, night and day, until the time
comes for them to lay off their armor. Let them be assured that they
are under the protecting care of Him who never slumbers or sleeps;
that they are watched over by unwearied sentinels. Knowing this, and
realizing that they are abiding in Christ, they may rest trustfully in the
providences of God.
I pray earnestly that the work we do at this time shall impress itself
deeply on heart and mind and soul. Perplexities will increase; but let
us, as believers in God, encourage one another. Let us not lower the
standard, but keep it lifted high, looking to Him who is the Author and
Finisher of our faith. When in the night season I am unable to sleep, I
lift my heart in prayer to God, and He strengthens me and gives me the
assurance that He is with His ministering servants in the home field