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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
of their faith by exemplifying in their lives the purity and power of
the truth. Their influence would convict and convert, or condemn.
Every follower of Jesus has a work to do as a missionary for
Christ in the family, in the neighborhood, in the town or city where
he lives. All who are consecrated to God are channels of light. God
makes them instruments of righteousness to communicate to others
the light of truth, the riches of His grace. Unbelievers may appear
indifferent and careless; yet God is impressing and convicting their
hearts that there is a reality in the truth. But when our brethren leave
the field, give up the contest, and allow the cause of God to languish,
before God says, “Let them alone,” they will be only a burden to any
church where they may move. Those whom they leave, who were
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convicted, frequently quiet their consciences with thinking that, after
all, they were needlessly anxious; they decide that there is no reality
in the profession made by Seventh-day Adventists. Satan triumphs
to see the vine of God’s planting either entirely uprooted or left to
languish. It is not the purpose of God that His people should cluster
together and concentrate their influence in a special locality.
The efforts of the Brethren D to encourage brethren to move to
their place were made in good faith, yet not according to the mind
of God. God’s ways are not as our ways. He seeth not as man seeth.
Their object was good; but, in so doing, the purposes of God in
regard to the salvation of souls could not be carried out.
God designs that His people shall be the light of the world, the
salt of the earth. The plan of gathering together in large numbers, to
compose a large church, has contracted their influence, and narrowed
down their sphere of usefulness, and is literally putting their light
under a bushel. It is God’s design that the knowledge of the truth
should come to all, that none may remain in darkness, ignorant of
its principles; but that all should be tested upon it and decide for or
against it, that all may be warned and left without excuse. The plan
of colonizing, or moving from different localities where there is but
little strength or influence, and concentrating the influence of many
in one locality, is removing the light from places where God would
have it shine.
The followers of Christ scattered throughout the world do not
have a high sense of their responsibility and the obligation resting
upon them to let their light shine forth to others. If there are but