God calls upon His workers, in this age
of diseased piety and perverted principle, to reveal a healthy,
influential spirituality. My brethren
and sisters, this God requires of you. Every jot of your influence
is to be used on the side of Christ. You are now to call things
by the right name and stand firm in defense of the truth as it
is in Jesus.
It behooves every soul whose life is hid
with Christ in God to come to the front now and to contend for
the faith once delivered to the saints. Truth must be defended
and the kingdom of God advanced as it would be were Christ in
person on this earth. If He were here He would be drawn out to
rebuke many who, though professing to be medical missionaries,
have not chosen to learn of the great Medical Missionary His
meekness and lowliness. In the lives of some occupying high positions
in the medical missionary work, self has been exalted. Until
such ones rid themselves of every desire to uplift self, they
cannot clearly discern the character of Christ, nor can they
do the work that He did.
When the Holy Spirit controls the minds
of our church members, there will be seen in our churches a much
higher standard in speech, in ministry, in spirituality, than
is now seen. The church members will be refreshed by the water
of life, and the laborers, working under one Head, even Christ,
will reveal their Master in spirit, in word, in deed, and will
encourage one another to press forward in the grand, closing
work in which we are engaged. There will be a healthy increase
of unity and love, which will bear testimony to the world that
God sent His Son to die for the redemption of sinners. Divine
truth will be exalted; and as it shines forth as a lamp that
burneth, we shall understand it more and still more clearly.
The testing truth for this time is not
the fabrication of any human mind. It is from God. It is genuine
philosophy to those who appropriate it. Christ became incarnate
in order that we, through belief of the truth, might be sanctified
and redeemed. Let those who hold the truth in righteousness arouse
and go forth, shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace, to proclaim the truth to those who
know it not. Let them make straight paths for their feet, lest
the lame be turned out of the way.
We are now to unify and by true medical
missionary work prepare the way for our coming King. But let
us remember that Christian unity does not mean that the identity
of one person is to be submerged in that of another; nor does
it mean that the mind of one is to be led and controlled by the
mind of another. God has not given to any man the power that
some, by word and act, seek to claim. God requires every man
to stand free and to follow the directions of the word.
Let us increase in a knowledge of the truth,
giving all praise and glory to Him who is One with the Father.
Let us seek most earnestly for the heavenly anointing, the Holy
Spirit. Let us have a pure, growing Christianity, that in the
heavenly courts we may at last be pronounced complete in Christ.
"Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." Matthew 25:6. Lose no time now in rising and trimming your lamps. Lose no time in seeking perfect unity with one another. We must expect difficulties. Trials will come. Christ, the Captain of our salvation, was made perfect through suffering. His followers will encounter the enemy many times and will be severely tried, but they need not despair. Christ says to them: "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33.
I
thought that the course of the Christian to heaven
Would be bright as the summer and glad as the morn.
Thou
show'dst me the path; it was dark and rough,
All rugged with rocks, all tangled with thorn;
I dreamed
of celestial rewards and renown;
I asked
for the palm branch, the robe, and the crown;
I asked, and Thou show'dst me a cross and a grave.