Lt 97, 1892

Olsen, O. A.

Adelaide, South Australia

October 22, 1892

Previously unpublished.

Dear Brother Olsen:

I have received a letter from you sent up in the mail from Melbourne. I can see that discouragements are tugging hard at your soul. I understand the situation, and I hope that you will not think that you are standing alone. Jesus is at your right hand to help you. We are praying for you, and we long to see you standing in full assurance of faith, saying, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places, to the chief singer upon my stringed instruments.” [Habakkuk 3:17-19.] 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 1

Is not God your Father? All the heavenly intelligences have an intense interest in all who are dwelling upon the earth. The Lord God reigns over both heaven and earth. We may in our work be comforted and gratified with the sympathy of human friends, but we may contemplate the workings of that power in cooperation with us among the heavenly intelligences. We in our warfare against supernatural agencies are not going on a warfare at our own charges, or in our own finite ability. We are in every conflict and every crisis fighting in full view of the heavenly host; they help compose the army of truth and righteousness against error and sin. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 2

Redemption is an everlasting monument reared for eternity, to prove the interest which the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have for every believing soul. Upon that monument of Calvary is inscribed, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” [1 John 4:10.] 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 3

God has never left Himself without a witness of His matchless love. He has given us temporal blessings and spiritual blessings—seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, filling our hearts with food and gladness, feeding us with heavenly manna. He is making the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice over us. Day unto day is uttering His speech, and night unto night is teaching us the knowledge of His great love. Oh, the devised plan of God in our redemption, which strikingly has manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only beloved Son into the world, that we might live through Him! 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 4

Elder Olsen, all heaven is in sympathy with you. While the Holy Spirit is our intercessor in the court of conscience, the Lord Jesus is our intercessor in the heavenly courts. We are mortal. We may make mistakes. We may err in human blindness. But even then we are not left. “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” [1 John 2:1.] Jesus bears us upon His heart. We will nurture and cherish faith by considering the interest which the Holy Spirit has in us, manifested in His mission of love in coming to our world, humiliating Himself to humanity to save us. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 5

Should our faith fail? No. I do not think you are faithless by any means, but I do want to stir up your mind by way of remembrance. I know it makes your heart sick to see how few feel deeply impressed with rightly understood, living gospel facts, of this most wonderful achievement. Oh, what condescension! But the morning cometh and also the night. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 6

The watchmen are few. The prophecy of future events has been sounding, and men are asleep. What will arouse them to sense their peril? But you must be strong. You must look up to God, above the ladder of Christ's mediation. The base of this ladder rests upon the earth, the topmost round reaches unto the highest heavens, and the angels of God are ascending and descending on this ladder of shining brightness, to execute their commission of watchfulness and of love in our behalf. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation?” [Hebrews 1:14.] 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 7

“Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, for he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” [Psalm 91:9-12.] This was the prophecy not only concerning the Author of our salvation, but all who shall believe on Him. The heavenly angels have intense solicitude, as only angels can have, for all that is going on upon the earth. There are thousands of thousands, and ten times ten thousands who are waiting to cooperate with the human agent. They are acquainted not only with all that is going on in the earth, but also in heaven. They are willing missionaries, from a holy heaven, to bring messages of mercy and love and joy to the living agents upon the earth. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 8

Our work is a necessary one. Your work is appointed you of heaven. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify of these things in the church.” [Revelation 22:16.] Then if heavenly messengers have a testimony to bear to the churches, well may every minister voice the words of Christ, “He that hath ears to hear let them hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” [Revelation 3:22.] Some will not listen to the message, and some who do hear, pay no heed. When the voice from heaven is heard, it becomes every human agent to place himself in the attitude of a solemn listener. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 9

“I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” [Revelation 22:16.] There is life and vitality and brightness in the message. Angels see the inhabitants of the world, and they know that Jesus died for the salvation of the world, and they know the value of the human soul. They know that all who have genuine faith in Jesus constitute a portion of the Lord's family; that every individual soul formed after the image of God is capable of being transformed through grace and becoming one with Christ, that the glorified image of Christ shall be represented by them; that the Father will love man even as He loves His Son. Then while the living human agent stands in holy surrender to God, saying, “Here am I; send me” [Isaiah 6:8], will that willing human messenger be left unaided to do the grand and solemn work for this time? No! no! He works in holy companionship with heavenly angels. My brother, do not feel that you have the work to do your own self, alone. While it seems almost impossible to go forward, while so many are idlers in the marketplace while so many carry no real burden, be not discouraged. You are not alone, and do not feel that you are alone. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 10

I have returned from the church. I have, on this occasion, as almost every time, a great sense of my feebleness. Something will set my infirmities into vigorous action just before I am to fill my appointments, and I go in fear and trembling. This was the case today, but while I looked at myself and said, “It is impossible for me to stand on my feet,” I said, “I will endeavor to do it. I will place myself in position before God.” Then just as we were to step into the phaeton, Elder Daniells said, “It is raining; I think we will not take you out; it is not at all prudent for you to go.” I said, “I will wrap up in anything.” We had no cover to our carriage. It rained all the way, but did not rain hard. I kept looking to Jesus, praying for strength. I stood before the people, and was free; the cramp and suffering left me, and I spoke about one hour and twenty minutes, upon the subject of the talents. The Lord gave me great liberty and freedom of spirit. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 11

We are making an effort to raise one hundred pounds for our school. We believe we shall accomplish it. They know but little here how to give or how to lift any burdens to sustain the work and cause of God. We are doing our utmost to educate them. Elder Daniells visits these families in their homes, and makes personal efforts to help all. Night after night he does not return home until nearly midnight. This church has been terribly neglected; and this is a kind of work—the personal labor—this church has not had. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 12

I have now spoken in the church six times in about three and a half weeks, and the Lord has blessed me. In seeking to water others, I myself have been watered. Elder Daniells leaves one week from next Monday; his ticket then expires. He goes to Melbourne, and from Melbourne to Sydney. We remain until November 22, then go to Ballaratt and spend Sabbath and Sunday with the church there, and there I shall spend my birthday. The last was upon the boat Alameda. November 27 we shall go to Melbourne. I am so thankful to God for His mercies and blessings to me. I spend precious time during the wakeful hours of the night, in praying and trusting in God. It will do little good to pray unless we trust in the Lord as well. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 13

Now, I beg of you, do not work too hard. Cherish your strength, rest in spirit, take things calmly, and be not afraid. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 14

I sent you and Capt. Eldridge special testimonies for the church or printing office in Battle Creek. I did not want the burden to rest on you; that is why I sent it to him. You know I gave you the message for the office; but if you had done anything about it, I think you would have mentioned it in letter to me. And I knew all through Michigan there was dissatisfaction with the management at the office, and thousands of dollars were withheld. I have kept still, only in one or two cases questions have been asked me decidedly if I approved of some things. I told them I did not at all; but if they would just pray about it, and not get disaffected, the Lord would set things in order. He had always done this, and I was sure He would work still. “I have waited,” said one, and still another, “expecting that Sister White would certainly have something on this point, and I have been answered that she had been shown in regard to matters, how they were not managed as they should be, and I was cautioned to say nothing to anyone about my feelings, and I have not, but I am confident that things are not moving right. Nothing has been said by you in our meetings. We expected you would bear a message at the Lansing campmeeting, but nothing was said.” I answered to these words, “The Lord's own time is the best time.” 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 15

Well, at different periods, from letters and conversation, I have been consulted where it is best to invest money, where it would do the most good in the cause, for I can never put my money into the Battle Creek Office. I have during my sickness thought of these things. I sent to one these words: “You said to me, ‘If you, Sister White, see a place where the cause of God can surely be helped by money, let me know, and I will follow your counsel. I meant to leave all I had to the Review and Herald office. I am reluctant to do this now.’ Now if you could help us a little here in Australia, we would be greatly relieved. We stand in need of help.” I set the situation before them as it is, but I have not received any response. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 16

Did you do anything with the matter left in your hands to be read to the managers in the Review and Herald Office? I felt that matters must not be left in the shape they were. I read this matter to a large committee [that was] meeting in the committee meeting room of the Tabernacle, and I felt that then my duty was done; but as no changes have been made, as near as I can learn, I felt burdened over the matter. I could not let the matter go on and our people supposing I was sustaining everything done in the Review and Herald Office. Repeatedly I have been told that they knew the Lord would set things right through the message given to me for them, as He had in all the years through its establishment, and therefore they had told people who came to them with their burdens about the matter, that as long as Sister White lived that office would not be left to go wrong and the means coming into it be misapplied. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 17

I write you these things that you may know why I sent the articles which have been read in the committee meeting, to Capt. Eldridge, requesting that the matter be published according to directions given. The people who have in earlier days invested their means heartily to establish and sustain the printing establishment, have had set before them in clear lines how that office should be conducted in order to meet the mind of the Spirit of God; and if there are men placed in positions of trust who have had no depth of religious experience, who are wholly unacquainted with the past history of our work and choose to remain unacquainted and work on selfish principles, the Lord cannot prosper that office. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 18

I do not know that I can now do anything more. But I would not be pleased to go to Battle Creek and labor there, for I could not under the existing state of things. I have many dear friends in Battle Creek whom I love, and consider them as seeking to live to the glory of God. While my home is there, and all is consistent for me there, [I could only return] if my soul could have rest in the Lord and not see so many things moving in a way that they should not, knowing that unless the men in positions of trust are converted to God the Lord will suffer the enemy to bring disaster, and they will be brought into straight places, to humble them. And if they do not acknowledge the hand of God, and repent and turn to Him with their whole heart, His hand will be stretched out against them. In their blindness some will not lay these things to heart, and assign other reasons for the chastisement of God, and will keep on as they have done, and will stumble at they know not what. The warnings given of God have been unheeded, and while fallen angels are walking about striving to gain the mastery over every soul that is not under the divine shield of omnipotence, he finds in positions of sacred trust those whom he can tempt and deceive. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 19

Repentance and confession is the Spirit's work upon the human heart. The Laodicean message has been ignored, and in the place of heeding the voice of Jesus, the true Witness, “Those that I love I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent.” [Revelation 3:19.] In that moment when self is humbled Satan loses his hold on the human agent that has been led captive by him at his will. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door I will come to him and sup with him, and he with me.” [Verse 20.] 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 20

Everything depends upon hearing the voice. If one goes on in his self-presumption and self-confidence, he will attribute the voice to anything or anyone but to Jesus, close his ears, turn from the invitation, and open the door of his heart to the bewitching delusions of Satan, to his own ruin. Satan has triumphed. But the tidings of a soul repentant and humbled and contrite before God, creates joy among the angels of God in heaven. Joyous anthems pour forth from angel voices, “Worthy is the Lamb, who is slain to receive, power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessings.” [Revelation 5:12.] “For there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repented.” [Luke 15:7.] 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 21

In every case of repentance Satan suffers a defeat, and Christ gains a victory. All heaven is watching the conflict going on between Christ and Satan. When the tide of battle runs in favor of the cross and when the standard is raised over the citadel of another heart conquered by the mercy and love of Jesus, angels rejoice. Oh, what a work is ours! We will do all we can to win souls to Christ. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 22

Sunday, October 23, [1892]

Yesterday I spoke to an attentive audience from (Matthew 25), upon the talents. I was not well, but the Lord strengthened me. Today I spoke from Matthew 6:19-29. We are seeking to arouse the church here to give our hundred pounds for the school. We believe we shall succeed. I gave our experience in the leading out of this work, and Elder Daniells thinks quite an impression was made upon the people. He speaks tonight, and is seeing what can be raised. Willie has sent to America for money, but it has not yet reached here. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 23

I wrote you in reference to the royalty on my books published in foreign languages. We have not received any answer to my letter, but I have loaned the school five hundred dollars on the strength of this. I called for one thousand—five hundred was for the furnishing of the school building, and five hundred to be a fund to be used for the education of those promising students who could not attend school without this aid. Please to consider this matter at once, and send us the means as soon as possible. We are doing all we possibly can to set things in motion, and it will require close, hard pushing to get the car rolling up the hill. 7LtMs, Lt 97, 1892, par. 24