Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 284, 1906

Place, O. G.

St. Helena, California

August 29, 1906

Previously unpublished. +^Note

Dr. O. G. Place:

My brother, will you carefully review your past experience, and examine well the condition of your heart? Are you prepared for the time when from the lips of Him who will never lie shall go forth the words: 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 1

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” [Revelation 22:11-15.] 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 2

These words I am bidden to present for your consideration. What has been your choice? Those who choose to continue in sin may do so, but they must accept the awful results of their course of action. Those who choose the righteousness of Christ must diligently maintain their integrity. Men are to be judged, not according to their professions, but according to the purity of their motives, and according to their obedience to God’s law. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 3

Soon probation will close, and our eternal destiny will be forever fixed. God’s forbearance will not much longer remain with those who refuse to place themselves under the banner of Jesus Christ. Every one must give to God an account of his stewardship. The Lord calls upon you now to make thorough work for repentance. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 4

Time is very short. The wickedness of the wicked is becoming more and more pronounced in transgression and indifference to the moral principles of Jehovah’s law. Temptations will not decrease, but they will increase. Some who have once had light and knowledge of the truth will act for the enemy as decoys to lead others in a path of disobedience and transgression. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 5

God’s ministers will stand as laborers together with Him. They will act as His voice, inviting all to partake freely of the water of life. And the Holy Spirit will co-operate with them in giving this invitation. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 6

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” [Verse 17.] Blessed are they who will hearken unto the voice of this invitation. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 7

Christ declares, “Ye are the light of the world.” [Matthew 5:14.] We are to shine amid the moral darkness of sin and iniquity. The grace of the Lord Jesus will be revealed by an upright character. By beholding the light that shines forth in good works, many will be led to glorify God. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 8

Our sanitariums have been established for the purpose of preparing a people for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour. In these institutions there is to be a living representation of what God will do for those who will obey the requirements of His law. All who are connected with them are to be workers together with God in directing the minds of the afflicted to the great Healer, who will cleanse the character and fit men by His Holy Spirit for a home among the blessed in His kingdom. This hope is ever to be kept before the sick and suffering. They are to be made to realize the love of God, and His desire for their happiness, and for their salvation. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 9

The Lord has given to this people great light upon the principles of health reform. We have been instructed that the eating of the flesh of animals tends to shorten life, that it is not good for those who are well, and that it retards the work of recovery of those who are sick. The use of tea and coffee produces an unhealthful stimulation. In our institutions all these things should be discarded, and the patients are to be instructed how to live so that they may prevent disease. They are to be shown the evil results of indulgence of the appetite. Too great a variety at one meal, even of simple foods, will bring on serious disorders. These principles are to be clearly presented in lectures and in talks to the patients. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 10

It was pleasing to God that a sanitarium should be established in Boulder to stand as a light before the world. An institution has been erected and is well equipped for the carrying forward of a work after God’s order. In this institution are workers who are trying to serve the Lord and who are trying to walk in the light of health reform, as He has given it to His people. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 11

In opening another medical institution close by the one that had already been established, you were not guided by the Spirit of the Lord. In the serving of flesh food, and in permitting other harmful indulgences, you have worked counter to the light that the Lord has given in health reform. This has worked great confusion. Some who have not been willing to deny themselves have been persuaded to leave the sanitarium and go to a nearby institution where they might continue to indulge the appetite. Some have been led to believe that the health reform, as it is practiced in the older institutions, is of no importance. This inconsistency has served to keep those questions constantly agitated. What moral right have you to continue to tear down the work of the Boulder Sanitarium? 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 12

At one time the question was raised as to whether you should purchase the Boulder Sanitarium. I was instructed that this would not be pleasing to the Lord; for you were not walking in His counsel. In establishing yourself so near to the older institution, you revealed a spirit of selfish ambition. And in the management of your institution, you have not heeded the light that the Lord has given as to how sanitariums should be conducted. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 13

These conditions have brought perplexity to the church. They have been used by the enemy to discourage the efforts of our brethren in the Boulder Sanitarium, who have endeavored to lessen a debt that they had not created. Your plans have been of human devising, and they have been contrary to justice, mercy, and righteousness. Will not the Lord judge for these things? 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 14

My brother, my soul yearns for you, that you may be brought to a realization of your spiritual condition. Your religious experience is not such as God approves. Would that you might feel your need of a sin-pardoning Saviour. O that you might come to God, humbling your soul before Him and allowing your heart to break. Unless there is a decided change in your heart, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 15

You know the truth, but your mind has not been brought into conformity to the mind of God. If you will face the mirror of God’s Word, you will see that unless you repent and turn unto the Lord, you will not stand in the heavenly courts. Repentance and conversion mean everything to you. Wash your robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. Make thorough work for eternity. Repent, before it is forever too late. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Will you heed this invitation, or will you reject the message? 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 16

Your words and your insinuations may to some seem to be plausible, but your work will not stand under the investigation of God. Souls have been imperiled by your influence. Those who sustain you in your course of action are doing you an injury; for you are on the enemy’s enchanted ground. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 17

Even though you will continue to serve self, will you not remove to some locality, where you can carry on your work without injuring an institution that is struggling to stand on vantage ground? Can you not see that you are dishonoring God, and that you are working against His purposes, in attempting to conduct a medical institution so near to one that has the right of way? 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 18

I entreat of you not to proceed further in your course. You have set a wrong example; but if you will now make the Lord your friend, and confess your sins, there is pardon for you. It will take courage for you to take your stand firmly on the right side and to represent the righteousness of heaven. When Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, there will be no scheming to gain advantage over others; but there will be seen an earnest endeavor to manifest the virtues of Christ. 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 19

Once more, I beg of you to heed the invitation of Christ and to make thorough work for repentance before the words shall be spoken, “Let him alone.” [Hosea 4:17.] Will you not cast your soul on the mercy of Him who has given His life for your salvation? 21LtMs, Lt 284, 1906, par. 20