The Signs of the Times
July 11, 1900
“Be Strong in the Lord”
No one has anything beyond that which God gives him. All that we have, time, ability, strength, has been bought with a costly price. A ransom, which includes every son and daughter of Adam, has been paid for the human race. The precious blood of Christ has been shed to redeem man from earthliness, from spiritual and physical uncleanness. This is the covenant God has made with His people. They are to be His chosen ones. Those who truly receive Christ will not yield to any claim, even for a moment, which would strengthen the powers hostile to righteousness and truth. They put on the yoke of Christ, devoting themselves unreservedly to the Saviour for all time. They pledge themselves to obey God's commandments, even should every other member of the human family become disloyal. ST July 11, 1900, par. 1
He who receives Christ by faith is a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ. His lot is a part of the cross of Christ. He is bound up with Christ for life and for death in the great plan of redemption. The full and entire renunciation of self that appeared in Christ appears in him. He shows Christlike gentleness, by speaking kind, compassionate words, words which are full of comfort, and hope, and love. He is filled with solicitude for human souls. His watchword is, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in Me.” He is willing to make any sacrifice to draw lost, perishing souls to the cross of Calvary. ST July 11, 1900, par. 2
A church separate and distinct from the world is in the estimation of heaven the object of greatest value in all the world. The members are pledged to consecrate their service to one Master, Jesus Christ. They are to show that they have chosen Christ as their Leader. In the Scriptures the members of the church of God are represented as striving, laboring, working, fighting the good fight of faith, and praying in faith, ever ready to unsheathe the sword of the Spirit. ST July 11, 1900, par. 3
The blessing of grace is given to men that the heavenly universe and the fallen world may see, as they could not otherwise see, the perfection of Christ's character. The great Teacher came to our world to show men and women how to live so that in the great day of God it may be said to them, “Ye are complete in Him.” We are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. When we feel that we are strong in our own strength, then comes defeat. Trusting in God we shall be victorious. Entire confidence in God brings success and victory. The Lord Jehovah is our strength and our shield. ST July 11, 1900, par. 4
The truth is to be given to those who are ready to perish. Call the attention of the people to the signs of the times. There are wars and rumors of wars. Nation is rising against nation. Selfishness and covetousness lead to violence, crime, and all kinds of wickedness. Nation is watching nation, to see if there is not some advantage to be gained. A concession made by one nation to another only opens the way for another concession to be called for. The presumptuous, daring deeds of unholy ambition, done to gain power by robbing others, show that men do not realize that those who take the sword shall perish with the sword.” ST July 11, 1900, par. 5
The signs of Christ's coming are fulfilling. Time is precious, too precious to be frittered away. God needs men who will give the warning message. He needs men who will sell and give alms, that the work of warning the world may not be hindered. The aggressive warfare is to be carried forward with firmness and determination; for Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. ST July 11, 1900, par. 6
Christians are to reveal the attributes of Christ, steadfastly persevering in the work God has given them to do. To those who do this work in faithfulness, angels are commissioned to give enlarged views of the character and work of Christ and of His power and grace and love. Thus they become partakers of His image, and day by day grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. It is the privilege of the children of God to have a constantly enlarging comprehension of the truth, that they may bring love for God and heaven into their work, and draw from others praise and thanksgiving to God because of the richness of His grace. ST July 11, 1900, par. 7
The Lord is in earnest with us. His promises are given us on condition that we faithfully do His will. He said to Solomon: “As for thee, if thou wilt walk before Me, as David thy Father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe My statutes and My judgments; then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy Father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. But if ye turn away, and forsake My statutes and My commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; then will I pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for My name, will I cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.” ST July 11, 1900, par. 8
God's government is a government of personal responsibility. No one can do his neighbor's work. No one will be excused for neglecting his own work because his friend or neighbor has failed to do the work the Lord has marked out. Each will be called upon to give an individual account for the way in which he has performed the work of giving the message of warning to the world. At the hand of the unfaithful servant God will require the blood of those who might have been saved had he done his duty faithfully. ST July 11, 1900, par. 9
Paul sums up his instruction to the Ephesians by saying, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,” not in self, “and in the power of His might,” not in self-confidence and self-sufficiency. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ST July 11, 1900, par. 10
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,”—having obeyed the instruction given by the Lord,—“to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.” Let the peace of Christ rule in the heart and express itself in words and works of praise and thanksgiving. Christlike words and deeds are the fruits which the Saviour loves to see in His followers. There is no excuse for dearth in the soul. The peace of Christ, which passeth understanding, is provided for all. ST July 11, 1900, par. 11
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Satan is near, for the purpose of preventing souls from gaining the spiritual attainments they may receive. Confidence in God, a constant exercise of faith, will quench his fiery darts. ST July 11, 1900, par. 12
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit”—presented to you by the Captain of the Lord's host—“which is the Word of God.” ST July 11, 1900, par. 13
We have reason for continued gratitude to God in that He has left us a perfect example. Every Christian should strive earnestly to follow the footsteps of the Saviour. We should offer grateful thanksgiving to God for giving us such a mighty Helper, a safeguard against every species of impropriety in thought, word, or deed. ST July 11, 1900, par. 14
God stands ready to furnish His children with light and grace and power. Every soldier in the army of the Lord is to stand firm in the faith, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that God is working with him and for him. God's soldiers are ever to be ready with the word, “It is written.” When assailed by the enemy, they are not to use words of human wisdom, but words of divine wisdom, keeping the eyes fixed on the Saviour. As they work to press back the powers of darkness, they are to pray always, “with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” ST July 11, 1900, par. 15
The only security against falling into sin is to keep ourselves constantly under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, at the same time working actively in the cause of truth and holiness, discharging every God-given duty, but taking no burden that God has not laid upon us. Christians must stand firmly under the banner of Christ, fighting the good fight of faith perseveringly and successfully, relying not in their own wisdom, but on the wisdom of God, never forgetting that they have a Leader who never has been and never can be overcome by evil. ST July 11, 1900, par. 16
Mrs. E. G. White