God’s Purpose in the Publishing Work
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Thus in their business life Christ’s followers are to be light bearers
to the world.—
Testimonies for the Church 7:142, 143
.
My brother [an editor], when will you learn this lesson? It is not
houses, lands, carriages, expensive furniture, outward display, which
make a man stand high in the sight of a holy God and the ministering
angels. God looks at the heart. He reads every purpose of the mind. He
knows the motives which prompt to action. He reads between every
line of writing sent out. He can distinguish between the true and the
false. He places His seal upon the deeds that are done and the books
that are written in humility and contrition of heart. He values sincerity
and purity of principle above everything else.—
Letter 3, 1901
.
Witness for Truth—“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord,” “to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them
that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the
day of vengeance of our God.”
Our publishing work was established by the direction of God and
under His special supervision. It was designed to accomplish a spe-
cific purpose. Seventh-day Adventists have been chosen by God as a
peculiar people, separate from the world. By the great cleaver of truth
He has cut them out from the quarry of the world and brought them
into connection with Himself. He has made them His representatives
[42]
and has called them to be ambassadors for Him in the last work of
salvation. The greatest wealth of truth ever entrusted to mortals, the
most solemn and fearful warnings ever sent by God to man, have been
committed to them to be given to the world; and in the accomplish-
ment of this work our publishing houses are among the most effective
agencies.
These institutions are to stand as witnesses for God, teachers of
righteousness to the people. From them truth is to go forth as a lamp
that burneth. Like a great light in a lighthouse on a dangerous coast,
they are constantly to send forth beams of light into the darkness
of the world, to warn men of the dangers that threaten them with
destruction.—
Testimonies for the Church 7:138, 139
.
Every institution that bears the name of Seventh-day Adventist is
to be to the world as was Joseph in Egypt, and as were Daniel and his
fellows in Babylon. In the providence of God these men were taken
captive, that they might carry to heathen nations the knowledge of the
true God. They were to be representatives of God in our world. They