Chapter 34—Genuine Christian Experience
I saw that unless there is an entire change in the young, a thorough
conversion, they may despair of heaven. From what has been
shown me, there are not more than half of the young who profess
religion and the truth, who have been truly converted. If they had
been converted, they would bear fruit to the glory of God. Many
are leaning upon a supposed hope, without a true foundation. The
fountain is not cleansed, therefore the streams proceeding from that
fountain are not pure. Cleanse the fountain, and the streams will be
pure.
If the heart is right, your words, your dress, your acts will all be
right. True godliness is lacking. I would not dishonor my Master
so much as to admit that a careless, trifling, prayerless person is a
Christian. No; a Christian has victory over his besetments, over his
passions. There is a remedy for the sin-sick soul. That remedy is in
Jesus. Precious Saviour! His grace is sufficient for the weakest; and
the strongest must also have His grace or perish.
Saving Grace
I saw how this grace could be obtained. Go to your closet, and
there alone plead with God: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and
renew a right spirit within me.” Be in earnest, be sincere. Fervent
prayer availeth much. Jacob-like, wrestle in prayer. Agonize. Jesus
in the garden sweat great drops of blood; you must make an effort.
[132] Do not leave your closet until you feel strong in God; then watch,
and just as long as you watch and pray you can keep these evil
besetments under, and the grace of God can and will appear in you.
God forbid that I should cease to warn you. Young friends,
seek the Lord with all your heart. Come with zeal, and when you
sincerely feel that without the help of God you perish, when you
pant after Him as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, then will
the Lord strengthen you speedily. Then will your peace pass all
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Genuine Christian Experience 121
understanding. If you expect salvation, you must pray. Take time.
Be not hurried and careless in your prayers. Beg of God to work in
you a thorough reformation, that the fruits of His Spirit may dwell
in you, and you shine as lights in the world. Be not a hindrance or
curse to the cause of God; you can be a help, a blessing. Does Satan
tell you that you cannot enjoy salvation, full and free? Believe him
not.
The First Steps
It is the privilege of every Christian to enjoy the deep movings
of the Spirit of God. A sweet, heavenly peace will pervade the mind,
and you will love to meditate upon God and heaven. You will feast
upon the glorious promises of His word. But know first that you
have begun the Christian course. Know that the first steps are taken
in the road to everlasting life. Be not deceived. I fear, yea, I know
that many of you know not what religion is. You have felt some
excitement, some emotion, but have never seen sin in its enormity.
You have never felt your undone condition, and turned from your
evil ways with bitter sorrow. You have never died to the world. You [133]
still love its pleasures; you love to engage in conversation on worldly
matters. But when the truth of God is introduced, you have nothing
to say. Why so silent! Why so talkative upon worldly things, and so
silent upon the subject that should most concern you,—a subject that
should engage your whole soul? The truth of God does not dwell in
you.—Testimonies for the Church 1:158, 159.
Opening the Way for God’s Blessing
There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people
of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that
the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an
impenitent congregation. If Satan had his way, there would never be
another awakening, great or small, to the end of time. But we are
not ignorant of his devices. It is possible to resist his power. When
the way is prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessing will come.
Satan can no more hinder a shower of blessing from descending
upon God’s people than he can close the windows of heaven that rain
122 Messages to Young People
cannot come upon the earth. Wicked men and devils cannot hinder
the work of God, or shut out His presence from the assemblies of
His people, if they will, with subdued, contrite hearts, confess and
put away their sins, and in faith claim His promises.—The Review
[134] and Herald, March 22, 1887.
Chapter 35—Self-Discipline
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” He has conquered self,—
the strongest foe man has to meet.
The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control.
He who can stand unmoved amid a storm of abuse is one of God’s
heroes.
To rule the spirit is to keep self under discipline; to resist evil;
to regulate every word and deed by God’s great standard of righteousness.
He who has learned to rule his spirit will rise above the
slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed,
and these will cease to cast a gloom over his spirit.
It is God’s purpose that the kingly power of sanctified reason,
controlled by divine grace, shall bear sway in the lives of human
beings. He who rules his spirit is in possession of this power.
Power of Self-Control
In childhood and youth the character is most impressible. The
power of self-control should then be acquired. By the fireside and
at the family board influences are exerted the results of which are
as enduring as eternity. More than any natural endowment, the
habits established in early years will decide whether a man shall be
victorious or vanquished in the battle of life.
In the use of language, there is, perhaps, no error that old and
young are more ready to pass over lightly in themselves than hasty, [135]
impatient speech. They think it is a sufficient excuse to plead, “I
was off my guard, and did not really mean what I said.” But God’s
word does not treat it lightly. The Scripture says: “Seest thou a man
that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken
down, and without walls.”
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124 Messages to Young People
The largest share of life’s annoyances, its heartaches, its irritations,
is due to uncontrolled temper. In one moment, by hasty,
passionate, careless words, may be wrought evil that a whole lifetime’s
repentance cannot undo. Oh, the hearts that are broken, the
friends estranged, the lives wrecked, by the harsh, hasty words of
those who might have brought help and healing!
Overwork sometimes causes a loss of self-control. But the Lord
never compels hurried, complicated movements. Many gather to
themselves burdens that the merciful Heavenly Father did not place
on them. Duties He never designed them to perform chase one
another wildly. God desires us to realize that we do not glorify His
name when we take so many burdens that we are overtaxed, and,
becoming heart-weary and brain-weary, chafe and fret and scold. We
are to bear only the responsibilities that the Lord gives us, trusting in
Him, and thus keeping our hearts pure and sweet and sympathetic.
Ruling the Spirit
There is a wonderful power in silence. When impatient words
[136] are spoken to you, do not retaliate. Words spoken in reply to one
who is angry usually act as a whip, lashing the temper into greater
fury. But anger met by silence quickly dies away. Let the Christian
bridle his tongue, firmly resolving not to speak harsh, impatient
words. With the tongue bridled, he may be victorious in every trial
of patience through which he is called to pass.
In his own strength man cannot rule his spirit. But through Christ
he may gain self-control. In His strength he may bring his thoughts
and words into subjection to the will of God. The religion of Christ
brings the emotions under the control of reason and disciplines the
tongue. Under its influence the hasty temper is subdued, and the
heart is filled with patience and gentleness.
Hold firmly to the One who has all power in heaven and in earth.
Though you so often fail to reveal patience and calmness, do not
give up the struggle. Resolve again, this time more firmly, to be
patient under every provocation. And never take your eyes off your
divine Example.—The Review and Herald, October 31, 1907.
