Man’s Duty to His Fellow Men
491
small will the things of this world appear to us in comparison with the
glory of the better world! Christ would never have left the royal courts
and taken humanity, and become sin for the race, had He not seen that
man might, with His help, become infinitely happy and obtain durable
riches and a life that would run parallel with the life of God. He knew
that without His help sinful man could not attain these things.
We should have a spirit of progress. We must guard continually
against being fixed in our views, feelings, and actions. The work of
God is onward. Reforms must be carried on, and we must take hold and
help move on the car of reform. Energy, tempered with patience and
ambition, and balanced by wisdom, is now needed by every Christian.
The work of saving souls is yet left to us, the disciples of Christ. Not
one of us is excused. Many have become dwarfed and stunted in
their Christian life because of inaction. We should employ our time
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diligently while in this world. How earnestly should we improve every
opportunity of doing good, of bringing others to a knowledge of the
truth! Our motto should ever be, “Onward, higher,” surely, steadily
onward to duty and to victory.
I have been shown in regard to the individuals mentioned that
God loves them and would save them if they would be saved in His
appointed way. “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and
He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then
shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord,
as in the days of old, and as in former years.” This is the process,
the refining, purifying process, which is to be carried on by the Lord
of hosts. The work is most trying to the soul, but it is only through
this process that the rubbish and defiling impurities can be removed.
Our trials are all necessary to bring us close to our heavenly Father,
in obedience to His will, that we may offer to the Lord an offering
in righteousness. To each whose name is here mentioned, God has
given capabilities, talents to improve. You each need a new and living
experience in the divine life in order to do the will of God. No amount
of past experience will suffice for the present nor strengthen us to
overcome the difficulties in our path. We must have new grace and
fresh strength daily in order to be victorious.
We are seldom, in all respects, placed in the same circumstances
twice. Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and many others were all