What Ellen White has Meant to Me

Chapter 17—She Has Made the Difference

God smiled on Seventh-day Adventists when He bestowed on them the modern manifestation of the gift of prophecy, in the ministry of Ellen G. White. I am fully convinced that she was uniquely God’s messenger for our time; her writings have made all the difference in my life. I know from experience, especially as a campus pastor, that rich benefits await everyone who accepts and follows this holy counsel, for it surely is “the testimony of Jesus.” WEWMM 131.1

The Great Secret of Spiritual Strength—From my earliest years as a Seventh-day Adventist, I have heard preachers, teachers, and others extolling the virtues of a private devotional life. A few years ago, however, I discovered a passage in In Heavenly Places that leaped out at me: “Christian workers can never attain the highest success until they learn the secret of strength.... Family prayer and public prayer have their place, but it is secret communion with God that sustains the soul life.”—Page 83. (Emphasis supplied.) This is it! Group experiences are important and helpful, but one’s personal, private devotional life is primary and indispensable. WEWMM 131.2

Prior to this discovery my private devotions had not been as consistent as they should have been. I determined that henceforth, daily consistency would be the pattern, with God’s help. This was a definite turning point in my experience. I have shared this precious truth with others through sermons and personal counseling, suggesting practical techniques and procedures that would enrich and provide sustained interest in private devotions. Under God’s blessing, this new emphasis seems to benefit others, both youth and adults, more than any other single spiritual approach to life. WEWMM 131.3

Biblical Understanding and Appreciation—It is a thrill to see what Christ has done through Ellen White to point the way toward a clearer understanding of the Bible. In my experience, her focus has helped in two key areas. Above all else, her writings open before us the magnificent panoramic sweep of Scripture. For years the Bible seemed, to me, somewhat jumbled; it was not easy to grasp it as a whole. WEWMM 132.1

Then something wonderful took place. I read The Conflict of the Ages series through in sequence. Starting with Patriarchs and Prophets, I traced events from Creation to the time of King David. Then followed Prophets and Kings, beginning with Solomon, David’s son, to the end of the Old Testament period. The Desire of Ages followed, covering the life of Jesus. The remainder of the New Testament was developed in The Acts of the Apostles. Climaxing this remarkable journey through the world of the Bible was The Great Controversy, beginning at the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and culminating in the glorious new earth. After reading these five books I understood my Bible much better. I knew where to fit the “pieces” in much more accurately, and found that my love for Jesus and His Word was greatly enhanced. For the first time I saw the forest as well as the trees. WEWMM 132.2

The second area of Biblical focus has been Ellen White’s help in making clear the meaning of specific Bible texts and symbols. For example, in the Laodicean message of Revelation 3, Jesus, the True Witness, not only accurately diagnoses the spiritual maladies of the Laodiceans, but He lovingly prescribes the divine remedy of gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve. Ellen White defines the gold as faith and love, the white raiment as purity of character, and the eyesalve as that wisdom and grace that enables us to discern between evil and the good. (See Testimonies for the Church 4:88.) These explanations are helpful and accurate, as personal experience demonstrates, when we “buy” these heavenly remedies from the Great Physician and incorporate them into our lives. When I see what her Biblical expositions have done—for me and countless others—it is clear to me that God mightily used her. WEWMM 132.3

Special Guidance on Contemporary Issues—Especially while ministering to young people on a college campus did I appreciate her continuing relevance. Two issues particularly stand out in the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s. One dealt with major developments in the area of music, especially religious music. Many strange and, for some, new beats and rhythms clamored for acceptance in our worship services, Sabbath schools, youth meetings, and in our homes. In this context, my wife was electrified by what she read in Selected Messages 2:36, and quickly called my attention to these words: “The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation.... There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing.... This is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods.... This is an invention of Satan.... Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings.” (Emphasis supplied.) Thank God for the counsel, warning, and instruction Jesus has sent through Ellen White ahead of time. WEWMM 133.1

The second issue involved a significant religious trend toward youth revivals. Surely we can rejoice in the awakening of religious interest as we take advantage of this spiritual appetite to give the third angel’s message. We also know that a sincere seeker for Christ can find Jesus and begin his Christian walk regardless of who first may be his human bridge. Yet a deep impression was made on my mind by a vital statement in the chapter entitled “Modern Revivals,” in The Great Controversy: “Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times.... Before the time for such a movement shall come, he [Satan] will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit.”—Page 464. (Emphasis supplied.) Note the chronological relationship. The implications are tremendous. WEWMM 133.2

Personal Guidance—I continue to marvel at the wonders these inspired writings can accomplish in the lives of people who accept the guidance they provide. On the college campus, particularly, I had the opportunity to see many young people, during the key decision time of their lives, follow her instruction. This was especially true in vocational guidance. Many times while counseling with students in regard to their vocational choice, I would use Proverbs 3:6 as a base, and a statement in Education as a plumb line: “To do our best in the work that lies nearest, to commit our ways to God, and to watch for the indications for His providence—these are rules that insure safe guidance in the choice of an occupation.”—Page 267. (Emphasis supplied.) Three simple, clear-cut rules are enunciated in this statement. It has been my happy privilege to see scores of young people take this divine formula, implement it in their experience, and reap satisfying benefits. Ellen White’s counsel is always practical; experience proves its wisdom. WEWMM 134.1

The Advent Message and Organization in Perspective—Ellen White’s writings keep vivid in our memory the struggles, privations, divine guidance, and deliverance in the early history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her counsel to leaders in the church is especially helpful. We all recognize that the church is made up of human beings who are not above making mistakes. Sometimes, regrettable events occur. But again Ellen White has been helpful, inspirational, and accurate: “God is at the head of the work, and He will set everything in order. If matters need adjusting at the head of the work, God will attend to that, and work to right every wrong.”—Selected Messages 2:390. The passage of time has repeatedly proved the veracity and accuracy of such statements. WEWMM 134.2

Closely associated with the question of divine leadership of the Advent Movement is the matter of offshoot movements that arise from time to time. One statement on this subject in Testimonies, volume 5, representative of many others, provides sound counsel: “God has not passed His people by, and chosen one solitary man here and another there as the only ones worthy to be intrusted with His truth. He does not give one man new light contrary to the established faith of the body.”—Page 291. (Emphasis supplied.) This is a good statement to anchor to when divisive elements arise. WEWMM 134.3

As Seventh-day Adventists we are concerned for the welfare of our schools. Some wonder about their future. The assurance of the following statement has buoyed up my confidence in the future of our educational work: “Our institutions of learning may swing into worldly conformity. Step by step they may advance to the world; but they are prisoners of hope, and God will correct and enlighten them, and bring them back to their upright position of distinction from the world.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 290. WEWMM 135.1

Preacher’s Assistant—I believe that my fellow Adventist preachers will bear witness with me that Ellen White’s counsels regarding the work of preaching testify to their divine origin. WEWMM 135.2

Other than the Bible, I believe that certain portions of her writings are without peer for help in preaching, both in content and in organization of ideas. Aside from the Bible itself the best sermons I have been able to prepare are those that rest heavily on these writings for basic content. WEWMM 135.3

Her practical counsel regarding the use of the voice—the rate of speaking, the volume, the resonance, and other aspects of vocal production—has all been vindicated by modern research in speech techniques. Much of this counsel was given when the vogue of the day advocated styles and speech habits that proved to be detrimental to health as well as inimical to Christlike methods. WEWMM 135.4

Numerous other areas lend additional weight to my conviction that Ellen G. White was God’s special messenger. Countless examples of the accuracy of her counsel to individuals on items regarding which she could have had no human knowledge add further proof of the divine origin of her counsel. How could I doubt, in the light of all this? What a joy and privilege to believe! WEWMM 135.5

Lansing, Michigan
May 1972