Ellen G. White: The Lonely Years: 1876-1891 (vol. 3)

What Shall the Messenger of God Do?

Just what led Ellen White to write as she did in the Review and Herald of her work in Fresno is not clear, but the circumstances called from her a thought-provoking statement about her responsibilities as the messenger of the Lord. 3BIO 380.1

The messengers, as the ambassadors of God, must bear a living testimony to rebuke sin, which will cut through the soul, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. There are many who close their eyes that they may not see, and their ears that they may not hear. They think that there has been a mistake made, that all these plain, pointed testimonies cannot come from God, but are from human agencies alone. 3BIO 380.2

They wrap themselves up in their self-righteousness, and fight every inch of the way, that they may stand where they imagine they should stand—in defiance of the warnings of God's servants. They cling with desperate grasp to the garments of their own self-righteousness, lest they should be torn away from them. 3BIO 380.3

But does not God know? Is there not knowledge with the Most High? Our God sees our hearts in a different light from that in which we see them. He is acquainted with our secret thoughts. He searches into the hidden recesses of our nature. He sends answers to our prayers, when we are filled with uneasiness and distress. He gives ear to our inward groanings, and reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that we may overcome defects, instead of being overcome by them. 3BIO 380.4

Then she pointed out the crucial experience in accepting testimonies that call for changes in life and practice: 3BIO 380.5

When unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened before us, the test and the trial come; and the question is, whether or not we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. Will we cling to our own ideas and plans, and value ourselves more highly than we ought? 3BIO 380.6

God knows better than we do what is good for His children; and if they could see their real necessity as He does, they would say that the Lord had dealt most wisely with them. The ways of the Lord are obscure to him who desires to see things in a pleasing light to himself. 3BIO 380.7

God can discern the end of His purposes from the beginning; but because the Lord's ways are not man's ways, they appear dark, severe, and painful to our human natures. But God's ways are ways of mercy, and their end is salvation and blessedness.—Ibid., July 3, 1888. 3BIO 381.1

After portraying the purposes of God in sending such messages of counsel and reproof, Ellen White in this statement turns to the plight of the prophet: 3BIO 381.2

What shall we do? Shall we bear the message God gives us, or shall we refrain, for fear of offending our brethren? As God's messengers, we cannot falter in the path of duty. Impelled by the Spirit of God, words are spoken, warnings and counsels are given. All unexpectedly the lips were opened, and there was no refraining from speaking the message of God. Reproofs were uttered that we would naturally shrink from giving. A zeal, prompted by the Spirit of God, led us to declare the dangers that threatened the children of God. 3BIO 381.3

The servant of the Lord must pursue His work, losing sight of self, without thought of the consequences, exhorting to faithfulness, and urging to repentance. He must show the people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. The Lord has given the word; who can forbear to publish it? The love of Christ has a constraining power; who shall withstand its influence? It is the greatest evidence that God loves His people, that He sends them messages of warning.—Ibid. 3BIO 381.4