Courage
God’s servants are not to be easily discouraged by difficulties or
opposition. Those who proclaim the third angel’s message must stand
bravely at their post, in the face of detraction and falsehood, fighting
the good fight of faith, and resisting the enemy with the weapon that
Christ used, “It is written.” In the great crisis through which they are
soon to pass, the servants of God will encounter the same hardness
of heart, the same cruel determination, the same unyielding hatred,
encountered by Christ and the apostles.
All who in that evil day would faithfully serve God according to the
dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge
of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted,
their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and
their names cast out as evil.
Satan will work with his deceptive power to influence the heart and
becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil.
The stronger and purer the faith of God’s people, and the firmer their
determination to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir
up against them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous,
trample upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most
heroic purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints.
The messengers of the cross must arm themselves with watch-
fulness and prayer, and move forward in faith and courage, working
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always in the name of Jesus. They must have confidence in their
Leader; for troublous times are before us. The judgments of God are
abroad in the land. Calamities follow one another in rapid succession.
Soon God is to rise out of His place to shake terribly the earth, and to
punish the wicked for their iniquity. Then He will stand up in behalf
of His people, and will give them His protecting care. He will throw
His everlasting arms about them, to shield them from all harm.
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