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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
them to come to Him, to leave the ranks of the enemy, and to stand
under the bloodstained banner of the cross of Christ.
This will look to them like a work they cannot perform, for it will
require too much self-denial. They have no experimental knowledge
of the way. Those who have engaged in their country’s warfare, and
been subjected to the hardships, toils, and perils of a soldier’s life,
should be the last to hesitate and manifest cowardice in this great
warfare for everlasting life. In this case they will be fighting for
a crown of life and an immortal inheritance. Their wages will be
sure, and when the war is over their gain will be everlasting life,
happiness unalloyed, and an eternal weight of glory.
Satan will oppose every effort they may make. He will present
the world before them in its most attractive light, as he did to the
Saviour of the world when he tempted Him forty days in the wilder-
ness. Christ overcame all the temptations of Satan, and so may your
children. They are serving a hard master. The wages of sin is death.
They cannot afford to sin. They will find it expensive business. They
will meet with eternal loss in the end. They will lose the mansions
Jesus has gone to prepare for those who love Him, and will lose
that life which measures with the life of God. And this is not all.
They must suffer the wrath of an offended God for having withheld
from Him their service and given all their efforts to His worst enemy.
Your children have not yet had the clear light, and condemnation
only follows the rejection of light.
If professed Christians were all sincere and earnest in their efforts
to promote the glory of God, what a stir would be made in the
enemy’s ranks. Satan is earnest and sincere in his work. He does not
want souls saved. He does not want his power upon them broken.
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Satan does not merely pretend. He is in earnest. He beholds Christ
inviting souls to come to Him that they may have life, and he is
earnest and zealous in his efforts to prevent them from accepting
the invitation. He will leave no means untried to prevent them from
leaving his ranks and standing in the ranks of Christ. Why cannot the
professed followers of Jesus do as much for Him as His enemies do
against Him? Why not do all they can? Satan does all he can to keep
souls from Christ. He was once an honored angel in heaven, and
although he has lost his holiness, he has not lost his power. He exerts
his power with terrible effect. He does not wait for his prey to come