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A Foretaste of Heaven, November 20
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5
.
In this morning’s meeting [a conference held in Battle Creek, Michigan],
we were listening to the testimonies borne here, and as the last hymn was
sung—“When shall we meet again, meet ne’er to sever?”—I almost forgot
myself. My mind reached over to the other shore, to the time when there
will be a grand meeting in the city of God around the great white throne, and
the redeemed will be singing there of triumph, and of victory, and of praise
to God and to the Lamb. Well now, it brought such a solemn, sweet feeling
upon me; it softened my heart, and I could not prevent the tears from flowing.
Oh, what happiness we shall enjoy, gathered round about the throne, clothed
in the white robes of the righteousness of Christ. No more sorrow, no more
separation, but to dwell in peace, to dwell in happiness, to dwell in glory
through the ceaseless ages of eternity. What a happy, happy company we may
be!
Now let us consider the same privileges here. When we consider the
infinite sacrifice of our Saviour that we might become children of God and
members of the royal family, when we consider this exaltation, when we
consider that all these privileges will be ours and may be ours every day, that
we may have the privileges which belong to the sons and daughters of God,
how can any one of us have any word of complaint? How can anyone utter
one word of murmuring? How can it dwell in our hearts?
We ought to be the most grateful people on the face of the earth. Our
happiness is dependent on our faith in God—our confidence in Him. And
then when we think of what a hope we have, of what a faith we have, that it
reaches right into the other world; when we know that it will continue unto
the ceaseless ages of eternity—I want to know how you feel in regard to these
pleas that have been presented to you tonight? ...
If there is anything I can put into this work, that shall go. But there are
many who are willing to give of their means, but they withhold themselves.
Why is it we do not find more who give themselves to this work?—
Manuscript
5, November 20, 1883
, Sermon by Mrs. White at the closing morning meeting
of the General Conference session, Battle Creek, Michigan.
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