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The Sanctified Life
of darkness into His marvelous light. In their wonderful deliverance
were displayed, before that vast assembly, the power and majesty of
God. Jesus placed Himself by their side in the fiery furnace, and
by the glory of His presence convinced the proud king of Babylon
that it could be no other than the Son of God. The light of Heaven
had been shining forth from Daniel and his companions, until all
their associates understood the faith which ennobled their lives and
beautified their characters. By the deliverance of His faithful servants,
the Lord declares that He will take His stand with the oppressed and
overthrow all earthly powers that would trample upon the authority of
the God of heaven.
A Lesson to the Fainthearted
What a lesson is here given to the fainthearted, the vacillating,
the cowardly in the cause of God! What encouragement to those
who will not be turned aside from duty by threats or peril! These
faithful, steadfast characters exemplify sanctification, while they have
no thought of claiming the high honor. The amount of good which
may be accomplished by comparatively obscure but devoted Christians
cannot be estimated until the life records shall be made known, when
the judgment shall sit and the books be opened.
Christ identifies His interest with this class; He is not ashamed to
call them brethren. There should be hundreds where there is now one
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among us, so closely allied to God, their lives in such close conformity
to His will, that they would be bright and shining lights, sanctified
wholly, in soul, body, and spirit.
The conflict still goes on between the children of light and the
children of darkness. Those who name the name of Christ should
shake off the lethargy that enfeebles their efforts, and should meet the
momentous responsibilities that devolve upon them. All who do this
may expect the power of God to be revealed in them. The Son of God,
the world’s Redeemer, will be represented in their words and in their
works, and God’s name will be glorified.......
As in the days of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so in the
closing period of earth’s history the Lord will work mightily in behalf
of those who stand steadfastly for the right. He who walked with
the Hebrew worthies in the fiery furnace will be with His followers