Seite 476 - Testimonies for the Church Volume 5 (1889)

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472
Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
He grandly stood alone. The mountain was covered with people full
of eager expectation. The king came in great pomp, and the idolaters,
confident of triumph, shouted his welcome. But God had been greatly
dishonored. One man, and only one man, appeared to vindicate the
honor of God. With clear, trumpetlike tones Elijah addressed the vast
multitude: “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be
God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him.” The result was that
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the Lord God, who ruleth in the heavens, was vindicated, and the Baal
worshipers were slain. Where are the Elijahs of today?
Daniel’s history is a remarkable one. He carried out his faith and
principles against great opposition. He was condemned to death be-
cause he would not abate one jot of his allegiance to God even in the
face of the king’s decree. It might, at this day, be called overrighteous-
ness to go, as was his wont, three times a day and kneel before the open
window for prayer while he knew that prying eyes were observing him
and that his enemies were ready to accuse him of disloyalty to the king;
but Daniel would allow no earthly power to come in between him and
his God, even with the prospect of death in the den of lions. Although
God did not prevent Daniel from being cast into a den of lions, an
angel went in with him and closed their mouths, so that no harm befell
him; and in the morning, when the king called him, he responded:
“My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that
they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found
in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” He was a
noble, steadfast servant of God.
Nothing is gained by cowardice or by fearing to let it be known
that we are God’s commandment-keeping people. Hiding our light,
as if ashamed of our faith, will result only in disaster. God will leave
us to our own weakness. May the Lord forbid that we should refuse
to let our light shine forth in any place to which He may call us. If
we venture to go forth of ourselves, following our own ideas, our own
plans, and leave Jesus behind, we need not expect to gain fortitude,
courage, or spiritual strength. God has had moral heroes, and He has
them now,—those who are not ashamed of being His peculiar people.
Their wills and plans are all subordinate to the law of God. The love
of Jesus has led them not to count their lives dear unto themselves.
Their work has been to catch the light from the word of God and to let
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