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Selected Messages Book 1
enlightenment that they had, were overcome by the enemy. They
should have reflected the light that God gave to them upon the souls of
others; they should have worked and acted in harmony with the sacred
revealings of the Holy Spirit; and in not doing so, they suffered loss.
Spiritual Victory Lost to the Passions for Games
Among the students the spirit of fun and frolic was indulged. They
became so interested in playing games that the Lord was crowded
out of their minds; and Jesus stood among you in the playground,
saying, O that thou hadst known, “even thou, at least in this thy day,
the things which belong unto thy peace!” (
Luke 19:42
). “Ye also have
seen me, and believe not” (
John 6:36
). Yes; Christ revealed Himself
to you, and deep impressions were made as the Holy Spirit moved
upon your hearts; but you pursued a course by which you lost these
sacred impressions, and failed to maintain the victory. “All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out” (
John 6:37
). You began to come to Christ, but
you did not abide in Christ. You forsook Him, and the realization you
had had of the great favors and blessings He had given you, was lost
from your heart. The question of amusement occupied so large a place
in your minds, that after the solemn visitation of the Spirit of God,
you entered into its discussion with such great zeal that all barriers
were broken down; and through your passion for games, you neglected
to heed the word of Christ: “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into
temptation” (
Mark 14:38
). The place that should have been occupied
by Jesus was usurped by your passion for games. You chose your
amusements instead of the comfort of the Holy Spirit. You did not
follow the example of Jesus, who said, “I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (
John 6:38
).
The minds of many are so bewildered with their own human desires
and inclinations, and they have been so in the habit of indulging them,
that they cannot comprehend the true sense of the Scriptures. Many
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suppose that in following Christ they will be obliged to be gloomy
and disconsolate, because they are required to deny themselves the
pleasures and follies that the world indulge in. The living Christian
will be filled with cheerfulness and peace, because he lives as seeing
Him who is invisible; and those who seek Christ in His true character