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An Open Door, July 22
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall
come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
.
Frequently the very best evidence that we can have that we are in the right
way is that the least advance costs us effort and that darkness shrouds our
pathway. It has been my experience that the loftiest heights of faith we can
only reach through darkness and clouds....
It is not safe for us to cherish doubts and fears, for these grow by looking
upon and talking them. I feel to reach up my hand and grasp the hand of
Christ as did the sinking disciple on the stormy sea. I want to do my work
with fidelity that when I shall stand before the great white throne and am
called to answer for the things done in the body, which are all written in the
book, that I may see souls standing there to testify I warned them, I entreated
them to behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
Oh, will there be souls then, saved through my instrumentality? Through
Christ, I would set before the people an open door. “Behold, I have set before
thee an open door, and no man can shut it” (
Revelation 3:8
).
The city of God with all its attractions is saying, “Come.” If we can by a
holy life, by entreaties, by prayers, by warnings, point the sinner to the way of
escape and fasten their attention to the heavenly gates open to receive them;
if by faith they can see that the entrance into life is an open door, everything
is gained. The earthly attractions will fade away, the heavenly will win and
charm the soul....
The hindrances that hold us back from perfecting Christian characters are
in ourselves. Jesus can remove them. The cross He requires us to bear will
create strength in us more than it consumes, and remove our heaviest burdens
to take the burden of Christ, which is light. Conflicts and trials we must meet
in the discharge of duty. Christ has called us to glory and to virtue. The life
He has through His own suffering and death prepared for us to lead, would
never have cost us a pain or grief if we had never left it. Every self-denial
and every sacrifice we make in following Christ are so many steps of the lost
sheep returning to the fold.—
Letter 7, July 22, 1877
, to Edson and Emma
White.
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