Editorial

Editorial – The Most Dangerous Religion

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When the disciples came to Jesus as recorded in Matthew 24 and asked Him about the sign of His coming and of the end of the world, the very first thing that is recorded in Jesus’ answer is a warning that they be not deceived. This warning is given in different language three times in Matthew 24. When our Lord gives us a warning three times, would you think that there is something there that we would need to pay close attention to?

Not only are we warned against false Christs, false prophets, and wonder workers, but we are given the plain warning that these deceptions will arise among God’s people. (See Matthew 24:24; 2 Peter 3:17.) “Do not forget that the most dangerous snares which Satan has prepared for the church will come through its own members who do not love God supremely or their neighbor as themselves.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 477

So the most dangerous deceptions will come from professed Seventh-day Adventists. “The gospel of Christ has little to fear from its open opponents. Its most dangerous foes are the pretended friends of Christ, who say, ‘I go,’ but do not go. They profess to love the Lord Jesus, but through the deceptions of Satan, they work against Christ, because they are not doers of the word.” Youth’s Instructor, August 14, 1894

Of these various infiltrators or pretenders, the most dangerous teachers or preachers are not those who preach a radically different theology, although some have been taken in by these. The most dangerous are those who preach mostly the truth with some sly errors built in which negate the power of the gospel. If the truth is received in the love of it, it will sanctify the life and prepare a person for heaven. But if a vital ingredient is missing, the soul will be left bankrupt for eternity. Ellen White had much to say on this subject:

“The most dangerous falsehoods are those that are mingled with truth. It is thus that errors are received that captivate and ruin the soul.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 338

“Many are in reality fighting his [Satan’s] battles while they profess to serve under the banner of Christ. These traitors in the camp may not be suspected, but they are doing their work to create unbelief, discord, and strife. Such are the most dangerous of foes. While they insinuate themselves into our favor, and gain our confidence and sympathy, they are busy suggesting doubts and creating suspicion.” Review and Herald, August 28, 1883

“Those temptations are the most dangerous which come from the professed servants of God, and from our friends.” Signs of the Times, January 3, 1884

“In every age false prophets have been the most dangerous enemies Christianity has had. Men have appeared who claimed to be champions of truth, professing to have a great burden for the souls of their fellowmen. But they taught false doctrines, and perverted the truth. The spirit they manifested, the work they wrought, testified to the character of their religion. Such men have arisen and do arise, and will continue to arise, in our own day. They will criticize, judge others, will be always ready for controversy, and will resist the truth. They will put false interpretations upon the Scriptures. They will misstate the words of those who advocate truth and some who listen to them, who do not have spiritual discernment, will be misled by these false teachers, and be found fighting under the black banner of the adversary of God and man.” Ibid., July 1892

So what is the most dangerous religion or religious teacher? The most dangerous religion or religious teacher is that which claims to be Seventh-day Adventist but which does not include all of the vital truth or is interwoven with subtle error. The closer it is to the truth, the more dangerous it is.

“Our faith is not to stand in the ability of men but in the power of God. There is danger of trusting in men, even though they may have been used as instruments of God to do a great and good work. Christ must be our strength and our refuge. The best of men may fall from their steadfastness, and the best of religion is found in obedience to every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Righteousness exalts a nation, and the absence of it degrades and ruins man.” Ibid., May 19, 1890

Somebody is probably asking now, Who are you talking about? That is a question that you must become able to answer through your study of the Word and your vital connection with Christ through the Holy Spirit. If you are going to go through to the end, your faith must be in God and His Word and not on any many or you will not make it.

“As we near the end of time, falsehood will be so mingled with truth, that only those who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be able to distinguish truth from error.” Maranatha, 192

The End

Editorial – Some Things to Study

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As we approach the near coming of Jesus there are important subjects with which you need to be well acquainted to be ready for the swiftly coming future events.

  1. The reasons for your faith. “We shall have to stand before magistrates to answer for our allegiance to the law of God, to make known the reasons of our faith.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 128.
  2. Bible predictions about the closing events in this world’s history. “And the youth should understand these things. They should know the things that will come to pass before the closing up of the world’s history.” Ibid., 128, 129.
  3. The Books of Daniel and Revelation. “There is need of a much closer study of the word of God; especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 112.

“The unfulfilled predictions of the book of Revelation are soon to be fulfilled. This prophecy is now to be studied with diligence by the people of God, and should be clearly understood. It does not conceal the truth; it clearly forewarns, telling us what will be in the future.” Notebook Leaflets, vol. 1, 96.

  1. The judgment. “We are in the great day of atonement, and the sacred work of Christ for the people of God that is going on at the present time in the heavenly sanctuary should be our constant study.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 520.

“With what care should everyone come to the study of the Scriptures! With what a determination to know all that it is possible for him to know of the reasons of every point of the faith. Especially should he study the sanctuary question, and the first, second and third angel’s messages.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, 171.

  1. Health Reform. “God calls upon us to stand upon the broad platform of temperance in eating, drinking, and dressing. Parents, will you not awaken to your God-given responsibilities? Study the principles of health reform, and teach your children that the path of self-denial is the only path of safety.” Ibid., vol. 20, 9.

Editorial – Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord?

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This headline text from Genesis 18:14 is one of my favorite texts. With God, nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37), and with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). These are wonderful, comforting promises. Ellen White says, “None have fallen so low, none are so vile, but they can find deliverance in Christ.” The Desire of Ages, 258. Although nothing is too hard for the Lord, inspiration clearly reveals that even for God, there are some things that are hard. For example, “Said the angel, ‘Think ye that the Father yielded up His dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No, no.’ It was even a struggle with the God of heaven, whether to let guilty man perish, or to give his darling Son to die for them.” Early Writings, 127. Like the disciples, often we do not comprehend that it was One equal with the Father who took our nature upon Him and came to this world as a man. (See Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 365.)

There is something else that is hard for God to do: “The Majesty of heaven in tears! The Son of the infinite God troubled in spirit, bowed down with anguish! The scene reveals to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin; it shows how hard a task it is, even for Infinite Power, to save the guilty from the consequences of transgressing the law of God.” The Great Controversy, 22

So at the same time that we rejoice in the wonderful promises and know that nothing is too hard for the Lord, we must face the reality of the nature and depth of sin, because until we realize how awful and deep-rooted it is in our nature, we will not be able to comprehend the awesomeness or power of wonder of salvation. “There is nothing more acceptable in the sight of God than the continual humiliation of the soul before Him. These evidences are unmistakable proofs that the Lord has touched hearts by His Holy Spirit. More wonderful than miracles of physical healing is the miracle wrought in the child of God in wrestling with natural defects and overcoming them.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 184, 185. “The renewing of the heart is a far greater miracle than the healing of the diseases of the body.”—(To J.H. Kellogg, April 15, 1892.) Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, 281

If we do not understand this greatest of all miracles, we will be in danger of not having the “overcome or die” determination that everyone needs to have in order to be saved. Concerning soldiers, Ellen White comments, “There is an enemy to meet, an enemy to be resisted. Enemies of our country will destroy her peace and bring disaster and ruin, unless driven back and repulsed. ‘Conquer or die,’ is the motto. Thus it is with the Christian warfare, We have an enemy that we must meet, who is never off his guard one moment. The claims of our country are not higher than the claims of God. If hardships are borne and trials are endured by our soldiers fighting in behalf of their country to obtain the mastery and bring to obedience the rebellious, how much more willingingly should the soldiers of Christ endure privation, self-denial, and taxation for His sake!”Signs of the Times, October 21, 1908. “Angels and men are taking note of us to see what manner of spirit we are of, to see whether we are meeting the approval of heaven. You may feel that you cannot meet the approval of heaven. You may say, ‘I was born with a natural tendency toward this evil, and I cannot overcome.’ But every provision has been made by our heavenly Father whereby you may be able to overcome every unholy tendency. You are to overcome even as Christ overcame in your behalf. He says, ‘To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and set down with My Father in His throne.’ It was sin that imperiled the human family; and before man was created the provision was made that if man failed to bear the test, Jesus would become his sacrifice and surety, that through faith in Him, man might be reconciled to God, for Christ was the lamb ‘slain from the foundation of the world.’ Christ died on Calvary that man might have power to overcome his natural tendencies to sin.” Review and Herald, February 23, 1892

When this greatest of all miracles takes place in the life, the person “will then reflect the character of Christ, the hope of glory. It will be the greatest mystery to him that Jesus should have made so great a sacrifice to redeem him. He will exclaim, with humble mien and quivering lip, ‘He loved me. He gave Himself for me. he became poor that I, through His poverty, might be made rich. The man of sorrows did not spurn me, but poured out His inexhaustible, redeeming love that my heart might be made clean; and He has brought me back into loyalty and obedience to all His commandments. His condescension, his humiliation, His crucifixion, are the crowning miracles in the marvelous exhibition of the plan of salvation. That the just should die for the unjust, the pure for the impure, is beyond all manifestations of human love; and all this He has done to make it possible to impart to me His own righteousness, that I may keep the law I have transgressed. For this I adore Him. I will proclaim Him to all sinners. I will cry, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!”’” Review and Herald, October 16, 1888

Editorial – The Church Triumphant

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Every true believer is a part of the body of Christ. “The gracious promises are given to His church, and if you have taken the steps requisite in conversion, if you have made open confession of Christ, you are a part of the body of Christ, a part of His great whole.” The Upward Look, 312.

We are told: “Watch ye therefore: … lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.” Mark 13:35, 36.

“Judgment must begin at the house of God.” I Peter 4:17.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.” Acts 3:19, 20.

“As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance.” The Great Controversy, 483.

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5.

“In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found.” Jeremiah 50:20.

“… that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27. [ The church triumphant ]

“Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Mark 13:33. “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Revelation 3:3.

Editorial – Are you Ready for the Future?

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“Our people need to understand the oracles of God; they need to have a systematic knowledge of the principles of revealed truth, which will fit them for what is coming upon the earth and prevent them from being carried about by every wind of doctrine.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 273.

“Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts.” Prophets and Kings, 626.

Who is Your Leader?

“It is a marvel to the angels that human beings should choose to be incapable of realizing how greatly Christ humiliated Himself in their behalf. They marvel that men and women do not rejoice to acknowledge Christ as their Saviour, to accept Him as their Leader, and to follow His example of self-denial.” The Signs of the Times, December 20, 1905.

“There is to be no compromise with those who make void the law of God. It is not safe to rely upon them as counselors.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 371.

Christians cannot be faithful to the above counsels and at the same time fraternize with those who do not keep the commandments of God or follow the testimonies of His spirit. Christians cannot become members or associates of secret societies, or of confederacies labeled as a brotherhood of workers, or of confederacies that are labeled as an association to promote Christian unity. This has been done repeatedly in secret for decades but especially since 1982—Adventists have joined themselves with the ecumenical movement and in so doing denied the faith of the three angels messages. (This is the hidden reason behind much persecution Adventists are having in many countries.) Also, since the early 1980s Adventists have yoked up with lawyers and legal entanglements just as J. H. Kellogg did over one hundred years ago during the time of the alpha of deadly heresies. What will be the end of these things? Only the Lord knows. He has said through His messenger, “The developments of these last days will soon become decided. When these spiritualistic deceptions are revealed to be what they really are—the secret workings of evil spirits—those who have acted a part in them will become as men who have lost their minds. Letter 311, October 30, 1905, to Brethren Daniells and Prescott and their associates.” This Day With God, 312.

What side are you on? We should know without a doubt on what side we are exerting our influence.

Editorial – The Silent Sermon

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“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life.” Philippians 2:14–16, first part.

A few of the traits of character that result in making believers shine as lights in the world are listed below:

The love of Jesus in the heart produces traits of character that the Christian will shine as lights. They will be patient, kind and respectful to others and easy to be entreated. They will be courteous. In dealing with others they will display meekness and gentleness with no harsh or domineering words or actions. They will show no partiality treating all the same. Their hearts will be pure doing what is right themselves and extending mercy to others who do not act accordingly. Their speech will be Christlike.

“Christ’s knowledge was great, his wisdom deep; but it was without pretense. It found expression in words beautiful with the grace of simplicity, yet clothed with dignity and power.” The Youth’s Instructor, March 19, 1903. “Un-Christlike speech lies at the foundation of nine tenths of all the difficulties that exist in the church.” The Review and Herald, November 24, 1904.

“Into the city of God there will enter nothing that defiles. All who are to be dwellers there will here have become pure in heart. In one who is learning of Jesus, there will be manifest a growing distaste for careless manners, unseemly language, and coarse thought. When Christ abides in the heart, there will be purity and refinement of thought and manner. …

“Only like can appreciate like. Unless you accept in your own life the principle of self-sacrificing love, which is the principle of His character, you cannot know God.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 24, 25.

“All spiritual culture Christ has provided for His children. If Jesus is abiding in the soul, the heart is filled with the holy graces of His Spirit, which makes itself manifest in the transforming of the features. If you would have beauty and loveliness of character, the divine law must be written upon the heart and carried out in the life.” Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 22.

“Christ presents His loveliness of character for you to copy.” Manuscipt Releases, vol. 11, 312.

“A profession is nothing in the sight of a holy God. If the truth does not produce beauty of soul and loveliness of character it is of no benefit to the one who claims to believe it.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1472.

Editorial – Destiny

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It is widely believed in the Christian world today that a person is saved by making a profession of faith. This profession of faith is either confirmed or denied by a change in lifestyle.

How is it with you? Over and over Jesus emphasized in His parables the truth that character determines destiny. Read about the Good Samaritan, the parables about the talents and the unjust steward.

“In the time of harvest ye shall ‘return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not’ (Malachi 3:18). Christ Himself will decide who are worthy to dwell with the family of heaven. He will judge every man according to his words and his works. Profession is as nothing in the scale. It is character that decides destiny.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 74.

“Christ lifts the veil from the future and bids all to behold that it is character, not position, which decides man’s destiny.” Ibid.,123.

“Actions repeated form habits, habits form character, and by the character our destiny for time and for eternity is decided.” Ibid., 356.

“Angels from the heavenly courts stand by all who do God’s service in ministering to their fellow men. And you have the co-operation of Christ Himself. He is the Restorer, and as you work under His supervision, you will see great results.

“Upon your faithfulness in this work not only the well-being of others but your own eternal destiny depends. Christ is seeking to uplift all who will be lifted to companionship with Himself, that we may be one with Him as He is one with the Father. He permits us to come in contact with suffering and calamity in order to call us out of our selfishness; He seeks to develop in us the attributes of His character–compassion, tenderness, and love. By accepting this work of ministry we place ourselves in His school, to be fitted for the courts of God. By rejecting it, we reject His instruction, and choose eternal separation from His presence.” Ibid., 388, 389.

One of these days, we will all meet up with the consequences of the character we have developed. “Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men.” The Great Controversy, 491.

Editorial – Testing Our Teachings

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Whatever our defects and short-comings, we should not be discouraged. “Our greatest sins which separate our souls from God are unbelief and hardness of heart. Why is it that we are so unbelieving and unimpressible? The reason for it is, we are filled with self-confidence. We feel self-sufficient. If we receive some token of God’s blessing, we take it as a guarantee that we are all right. …

“How the enemy has brought his own spirit into our work! We do not love one another, as Christ has enjoined upon us, because we do not love Christ. If your track is crossed in any way, if any one differs in opinion from you, then in place of feeling humility of mind, in place of carrying your burden to Christ, and asking Him for wisdom and light to know what is truth, you draw from Him, and are tempted to present your brother’s views in a false light, that they shall not have influence. We know that this manner of spirit is not of God, no matter by whom it is manifested. …

“We should feel the necessity of searching the Scriptures for ourselves. … for, says the prophet, ‘if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them’ (Isaiah 8:20). …

“The Lord sends light among us to prove of what manner of spirit we are. We are not to deceive ourselves. … If we only understood the evil of this spirit of intolerance, how we would shun it! We join ourselves to the enemy of God and man when we accuse our brethren, for Satan was an accuser of the brethren. We bear false witness when we add a little to our brother’s words, and give them a false coloring; and in the sight of God we are not doers, but transgressors of the law. We are not on the Lord’s side; we are on the side of him who hurts, destroys, and tears down the cause of truth. We should pray for one another, instead of drawing apart. …

“We are to follow the Example. A flood of light shines upon us, and all jealousy should be put away; for jealousy is cruel as the grave. Purge out the old leaven; for a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Let us love one another. … Let us remember how forbearing and patient He [Jesus] was with the erring children of men. We should be in a wretched state if the God of heaven were like one of us, and treated us as we are inclined to treat one another.” The Review and Herald, August 27, 1889.

Editorial – As We Draw Near the End

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As we draw near the close of the age of grace, it becomes ever more important to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, for it is only in this way can we be prepared for the crises that is so rapidly approaching. “You now have an opportunity to attain to the greatest intellectual power through the study of the Word of God. But if you are indolent, and fail to dig deep in the mines of truth, you will not be ready for the crisis that is soon to come upon us. O that you would realize that each moment is golden. If you live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, you will not be found unprepared.” Our High Calling, 355

Secondly, there is no other avenue, or process, by which we are enabled to be overcomers. “Jesus endured the temptations of Satan in our behalf, that in His name we might come off more than conquerors. But we can overcome only by believing in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. We must know what is written in order that we may not be defeated by the sophistry and enchantments of Satan. The wily foe will work upon our minds in such a way that he will lead us to follow in the way he has gone, and cause us to dream of greatness, worldly honor, and distinction.” Signs of the Times, September 18, 1893

Thirdly, there is no other way to obtain success in our religious experience. “God prescribes the terms, and specifies every condition upon which we may receive His gifts. With the one party there is infinite power, wisdom, mercy, and goodness; with the other party is weakness, and ignorance, and helplessness and sin. Even the faculties and resources of men, which God will accept in cooperation with the divine, are ours only in trust. In the great condescension of God to admit human finite beings as co-laborers in the saving of the world, He makes it a condition that the human agent shall receive counsel from God, diligently obeying every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And our success in the religious life will be according to the integrity and thoroughness with which these conditions are fulfilled.” 1888 Materials, 1103

Fourth. This is the only way to avoid being deceived. “There is no need of any soul being deceived. The teaching of priest and rabbi cannot make the word of God of no authority. It is the duty of each man to know what the Scriptures teach and to take his position in harmony with the truth. The Lord has commanded us to ‘search the Scriptures.’ We are instructed to ‘prove all things,’ to ‘hold fast that which is good.’ God has given us an unfailing test to apply to every man’s life and doctrine. Says the prophet, ‘To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.’ We are not to live by the doctrines of men, not by a fragment, or a perversion of the truth; but by ‘every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” Signs of the Times, March 30, 1888

Fifth. There is safety in no other course. “How many are betrayed into sin, because they have not, through prayerful study of the Word of God, realized the sinfulness of sin, and found out how they may steadfastly resist it. When temptation comes upon them, they seem to be off guard, and ignorant of the devices of the enemy. We are living in perilous times, and as we draw near the close of earth’s history, there will be no safety for those who do not become familiar with the Word of God. I would warn the disciples of Christ of the impending days of peril, and beseech you to prepare for the time of test and trial; for everything that can be shaken, will be shaken. Do we now obey the Word of God, and live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God?” Youth’s Instructor, May 18, 1893

Sixth. It is the only way to be saved. “To believe in Christ, we must come to Christ and follow Him. Repentance toward God means the confession and forsaking of all sin. It means the confession and forsaking of all sin. It means laying hold of Christ as a personal Saviour, and continuing to hold fast to Him as the chief good. He is our Prince, our Saviour. Only through Him can we approach the Father. Loving Him day by day and hour by hour, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, taking Him as the man of our counsel, living by every word that proceedeth out of His mouth,—only thus can we reach heaven.” Review and Herald, August 13, 1901

Only those who actually live by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God are acknowledged by the Spirit of Prophecy to be part of the church. “Those who keep God’s commandments, those who live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, compose the church of the living God.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 949

The church militant is marching onward toward the heavenly Canaan from faith to greater faith, from obedience to a more perfect obedience, from light to a brighter light.
If the Lord wills, next month we will look at the most dangerous religion in the world.

Editorial – Feelings

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When God created mankind He not only gave the ability to think intellectually but also the ability to feel. When sin entered the world, mankind began to have to deal with negative feelings and feelings of despair and despondency. In the Bible we not only have books like the Song of Solomon but also books like Job and Lamentations. Dealing with feelings of despair and despondency is beyond the scope of this editorial, but following are some excerpts from Ellen White’s letters to one of our leading ministers, S. N. Haskell, who was sometimes plagued with feelings of despair.

“You ask me why it is that you awake in the night and feel enclosed in darkness? I often feel the same way myself; but these desponding feelings are no evidence that God has forsaken you or me. … Gloomy feelings are no evidence that the promises of God are of no effect.

“You look at your feelings, and because your outlook is not all brightness, you begin to draw more closely the garment of heaviness about your soul. You look within yourself and think that God is forsaking you. You are to look to Christ. …

“Entering into communion with our Saviour, we enter the region of peace. … We must put faith into constant exercise, and trust in God whatever our feelings may be. … We are to be of good cheer, knowing that Christ has overcome the world. We will have tribulation in the world, but peace in Jesus Christ. My brother, turn your eyes from within, and look to Jesus Who is your only helper.” Selected Messages, vol. 3, 324.

“I felt sorry when I read your letter breathing so depressed a spirit. Read Ephesians 2:4–22. This Scripture has been given me for you. Read it carefully, as you never read it before. It is full of instruction. …

“Bear in mind, the time will never come when the hellish shadow of Satan will not be cast athwart our pathway to obstruct our faith and eclipse the light emanating from the presence of Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness. Our faith must not stagger, but cleave through that shadow. … Our faith is not in feeling, but in truth. …

“We have the companionship of the divine presence, and as we realize this presence, our thoughts are brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. Our spiritual exercises are in accordance with the vividness of our sense of this companionship. Enoch walked with God in this way.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 387–389.

For inspired counsel on dealing with feelings of despair and despondency, read the chapter in The Ministry of Healing entitled “Mind Cure.”