Chapter 73—“The Appearance of Evil”
I feel urged to address those who are engaged in giving the last
message of warning to the world. Whether those for whom they
labor see and accept the truth depends very much upon the individual
workers. The command from God is, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels
of the Lord;” and Paul charges Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and
unto the doctrine.” The work must commence with the worker; he must
be united to Christ as the branch is united to the vine. “I am the Vine,”
said Christ; “ye are the branches.” The closest possible connection is
here represented. Engraft the leafless twig upon the flourishing vine
stock, and it becomes a living branch, drawing sap and nourishment
from the vine. Fiber by fiber, vein by vein, the sapling clings, until
it buds and blossoms and bears fruit. The sapless twig represents the
sinner. When united to Christ, soul is joined to soul, the feeble and
finite to the holy and infinite, and man becomes one with Christ.
“Without Me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing.” Are we who claim
to be workers with Christ, united to Him? Do we abide in Christ?
and are we one with Him? The message that we bear is world wide.
It must come before all nations, tongues, and peoples. The Lord
will not require any one of us to go forth with this message without
giving us grace and power to present it to the people in a manner
corresponding to its importance. The great question with us today is:
Are we carrying to the world this solemn message of truth in a way
to show its importance? The Lord will work with the laborers if they
will make Christ their only dependence. He never designed that His
missionaries should work without His grace, destitute of His power.
Christ has chosen us out of the world, that we might be a peculiar
and holy people. He “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us
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from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works.” God’s workers must be men of prayer, diligent students
of the Scriptures, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, that they
may be a light and strength to others. Our God is a jealous God; and
He requires us to worship Him in spirit and in truth, in the beauty of
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