Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 25, 1900

Wessels, Sister [A. E.]

February 15, 1900

Portions of this letter are published in LDE 237.

My Dear Sister Wessels:

Christ declared, “He that will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” [Mark 8:34.] Let those fathers and mothers who love God and keep His commandments do all in their power to educate their children aright. Let the elder members of the family strive earnestly to help the younger members to walk in the path Christ followed. To make a practice of indulging children’s wishes and desires leads to the existence of many more wishes and desires. Thus the lives that should be trained to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice, to help and bless others, are trained to live for selfish pleasure. They are unfitted for the service of God. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 1

With such deficient instruction, so contrary to the Word of God, how can children learn the lessons they must learn in order to be entrusted with eternal riches? 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 2

Those who realize the importance of studying Christ’s life, who seek to develop a character like His, will be attended by holy angels, who at every step will help them to exalt the Saviour. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 3

I ask you, my dear sister, to see the bearing of what I write. Money should never be regarded as of such value as to lead us to measure our estimation of people by the money they possess. It is the character at which God looks. “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand.” [Daniel 12:10.] We need to remember that Satan is to be resisted in every possible way. He will not willingly resign his dominion over any soul. If parents do not guard against him, he will take their children under his control. It is as true now as it was when Christ was upon this earth that every inroad made by the gospel upon the enemy’s dominions is met by fierce opposition from his vast armies. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 4

We are living amid the perils of the last days. The conflict which is right upon us will be the most terrible ever seen. But though Satan is represented as being as strong as the strong man armed, his overthrow will be complete, and every one who unites with him in choosing apostasy rather than loyalty will perish with him. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 5

There is no work in our world so great and so glorious, no work which God honors as much, as the gospel work. The message presented is the last message of mercy for a fallen world. Those who have the privilege of hearing this message, and yet refuse to be enlightened, throw away their last chance. All will be tested and tried, according to the light they have had. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 6

Those who turn from the truth to fables can look for no second probation. There will be no temporal millennium. If, after the Holy Spirit has brought conviction to their hearts, they resist the truth, and use their influence to block the way so that others will not receive it, they will never be convinced. They did not seek for transformation of character in the probation given them, and Christ will not give them opportunity to pass over the ground again. The decision is a final one. This is why I am so anxious that every one of the Wessels family shall seek the Lord while He is to be found and call upon Him while He is near. He says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God; for he will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:7.] 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 7

My sister, do not stand in the way of the Lord. Work harmoniously with God. Draw in even cords with Him. Co-operate with the Saviour; He will help you to see everything in a correct light. It will be with you as it has often been with me: you will confer personal favors and yet have no encouragement to think that these favors are appreciated. Remember that the Lord sees every action and weighs every motive. He will reward every deed done for the love of Christ. And there are those here on this earth who appreciate what you do to help others. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 8

The experience of Job may be your experience. He says, “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me. ... The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. ... I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.” [Job 29:11, 13, 15.] In the day of judgment, the good we have done humanity, not only spiritually, but temporally, will be recognized. Gratitude will be expressed for what men and women and children have done by unselfish actions for the saving of souls. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 9

“At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered; every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. But they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” [Daniel 12:1-3.] 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 10

Mighty, invisible powers are acting their part in the affairs of men in the last great conflict. The warfare will be so conducted that the power, which has exalted itself above God and has enlisted souls in rebellion against God, will work out fully the principles of disobedience. Every mouth shall confess the glory of God. It will be plainly seen that the principles of righteousness and obedience to God’s law are above all powers, and that the retribution which falls upon transgressors is just. The unfallen worlds and the heavenly universe will see the result of the apostasy of Satan and will acknowledge God as the living and only true God. The forces of rebellion will confess God’s righteousness, but this acknowledgment will not give them another probation. Their cases are forever settled. After the second resurrection, Satan, the root, and his children the branches, will perish together. 15LtMs, Lt 25, 1900, par. 11