The Review and Herald
March 22, 1906
Search the Scriptures
I have a decided message from the Lord for the people who claim to believe the truth for this time. I can but present before them their danger. There are many who, though members of the church, are unconverted, having lost their first love. God will not accept any excuse for backsliding, for continuing in a cold, lifeless condition spiritually. Christ has given every encouragement for his disciples to grow in grace. “Come unto me,” he says, “all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” RH March 22, 1906, par. 1
If you remain servants of sin, the result of the consequence will rest upon you; for you have had light. We are not to turn from the One mighty in counsel to ask guidance of men. Let those who are inclined to do this read and receive the Bible as the word of God to them. The Bible is the voice of God to his people. As we study the living oracles, we are to remember that God is speaking to his people out of his Word. We are to make this Word the man of our counsel. “Search the Scriptures,” Christ said; “for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” If we realized the importance of searching the Scriptures, how much more diligently we would study them! With awe we would take up the inspired Word, and with earnest desire search its pages, beginning a new life of genuine experience in the things of God. The Scriptures would be read and studied as the sure evidence of God's will concerning us. RH March 22, 1906, par. 2
The Bible is to be studied with special interest; for it contains the most valuable information that finite beings can have, pointing out the way in which we are to prepare for the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven, putting away sin, and putting on the white robes of character that will give us entrance into the mansions that Christ told his disciples he was going to prepare for them. “If I go” away, he said, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” RH March 22, 1906, par. 3
If we do not receive the Word of God as food for the soul, we shall miss the greatest treasure that has been prepared for men and women; for the Word is a message to each and every soul. Christ declares that those who make its truths a part of their lives are eating his flesh and drinking his blood. If obeyed, it gives spiritual life and strength. The pure, spiritual current that enters the life in a living experience is eternal life to the receiver. RH March 22, 1906, par. 4
God's Word is our light. It is Christ's message to his heritage, who have been bought with the price of his blood. It was written for our guidance, and if we make this Word our counselor, we shall never walk in strange paths. Our words, whether we are in the home or associating with those outside the home, will be kind, affectionate, and pure. If we study the Word, and make it a part of our lives, we shall have a wholesome experience, which will always speak forth the truth. We shall search our hearts diligently, comparing our daily speech and tenor of life with the Word, that we may make no mistake. With the example of Christ Jesus before us, none need make a failure of the lifework. RH March 22, 1906, par. 5
In our daily experience, we shall be safe in criticizing ourselves in the light of the great moral standard of righteousness which never changes. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul,” and when we bring our lives into harmony with the life of Christ, it will be seen that we are eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. The spiritual life is built up from the food given to the mind; and if we eat the food provided in the Word of God, spiritual and mental health will be the result. RH March 22, 1906, par. 6
Eternal interests are involved in this matter. From a diligent study and faithful practise of the principles of the Word of God, we shall obtain the highest of all education. The Word must not be neglected for other interests. No other food can build up the spiritual life. My brethren and sisters, do not depend upon minister or physician to create your experience for you. The Word of God is to be your counselor. I am deeply in earnest, because this instruction, in most forcible words, has been given me to give to our church-members. RH March 22, 1906, par. 7
We are each deciding our eternal destiny, and it rests wholly with us whether we shall gain eternal life. Shall we live the lessons given in the Word of God, Christ's great lesson book? It is the grandest, and yet the most simply arranged and easily understood study book ever provided for human beings. It is the only book that will prepare men and women for the life that measures with the life of God. RH March 22, 1906, par. 8
Christ is the only judge of the fitness of human beings to receive eternal life. The gates of the holy city will open to those who are humble, meek, lowly followers of his, those who learn in his school, and receive from him the eternal life insurance policy, forming characters after the divine similitude. RH March 22, 1906, par. 9
One night I was standing before a congregation, calling their attention to the way to obtain the life insurance policy by living upon the plan of addition. Read the first chapter of Second Peter. I now call upon all who desire to obtain the eternal life insurance policy to take the Word of God as their guide. Let them not listen to the words of men who are not studying the Word with the determined purpose of carrying out the principles of the teaching of Christ, but who have come to suppose that they can be a law to themselves. If those who suppose this continue to carry on the same kind of character building that they have carried on, they will at last find themselves outside the gates of the city, with that company who think that they can take the city, and hold it as their property, though they have no right to it. They are disqualified by disobedience for being received into the kingdom of God as loyal citizens. RH March 22, 1906, par. 10
Let all who shall read these words, all to whose notice they shall come, remember that they are truth,—a solemn, earnest warning. I know that in the hearts of our people there is a large work to be done. O how grateful I should be if I could see a deep, thorough work accomplished in the hearts of all! Purification of soul is needed. Let us begin at once to take out of our hearts the root of bitterness. Let us consider the time in which we are living, the nearness of the end, and the work that God expects us to do. RH March 22, 1906, par. 11