God, in His great love and mercy towards us weak human beings has given us mediums which help us to be saved. If we use these mediums we all will be saved to eternal life. One very important medium for our salvation is the church and church meetings. If we neglect the benefit of this medium, we certainly will be lost.
Sister White writes, “We sustain a loss when we neglect the privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in the service of God. The truths of His word lose their vividness and importance in our minds. Our hearts cease to be enlightened and aroused by the sanctifying influence, and we decline in spirituality.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 541
“It is a serious mistake to neglect the public worship of God. The privilege of divine service should not be lightly regarded.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 511
If we neglect to attend religious services because we need to visit our parents, or children, then we do not love God. Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:37
In a dream at night, I saw Jesus coming in person to our prayer meeting. I told Him that we are only four people here; if others would have known that You would be here, certainly more people would have come to see You and talk to You. In reality, Jesus, with the angels and the Holy Spirit are present in our prayer meetings.
Another important medium is the Bible. We read, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Sister White writes, “None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.” –The Great Controversy, p. 593
Further she writes:
Bible study gives strength to your mind (Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 394).
Bible study disciplines your mind (Counsels to Teachers, p. 448).
Bible study enlarges your mind (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 228).
Bible study elevates your mind (The Ministry of Healing, p. 446).
Bible study expands your mind (Counsels to Teachers, p. 452).
Bible study ennobles your mind (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 323).
Bible study gives new vigor to your mind (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 524).
Bible study improves your mind (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 499).
Bible study lifts your mind from earthliness and debasement (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 319).
Bible study quickens your mind (Education, p. 126).
Our minister in Bulgaria, Brother Botchev, read the Bible through more than sixty times. Our sister Teresa in Venezuela read the Bible at least 56 times. Then we find professed Christians who have not read the Bible through even once.
Also God has given us the Spirit of Prophecy writings. Sister White wrote more than 100,000 pages. Many books have been printed from these hand-written pages. All her writings are stored in the Seventh-Day Adventist headquarters and no one is permitted to see and read them. They always tell visitors to read the existing printed books first, and one person told them that he has read them all.
The angel, Gabriel came from heaven two thousand times to give her visions and dreams, and also the Holy Spirit inspired her to write messages that are so important to us. The nine volumes of the Testimonies for the Church are especially important for all of us, to read them all and to underline the most important passages.
“With regard to those who have turned from the light sent them, He said: ‘In slighting and rejecting the testimony that I have given you to bear, it is not you, but Me, your Lord, that they have slighted.’” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 688
“Will you please read this in your churches? And will you make earnest effort to draw nigh to God that God may draw nigh to you? Will you urge upon the churches the searching of the Scriptures and the careful reading of the Testimonies? The warnings that have been given to arouse the churches to activity have not been regarded, and God holds the church guilty because of this neglect. You need the revival of the Spirit of God. You need in the several churches to greatly humble your souls before God, lest Jesus pass by and leave you no blessing. Now while mercy lingers, be in earnest. Make no delay, lest it shall be forever too late. The slumber of the world-loving men and women is deep. It will require a powerful effort to break up this frozen state of things and thaw out souls. May God help you to help yourselves.” –An Important Testimony to our Brethren and Sisters in New York (1887), pamphlet, PH 039
We may say that we believe the Testimonies of Ellen G. White, but if we do not read them and put them into practice, it is equal to rejecting them. “The Testimonies of the Spirit of God are given to direct men to His Word, which has been neglected. Now if their messages are not heeded, the Holy Spirit is shut away from the soul. What further means has God in reserve to reach the erring ones, and show them their true condition?” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 46
Another important medium that God has given us is the privilege of prayer. The Apostle Paul writes, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:18
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Sister White writes, “No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer. Especially should we entreat the Lord for wisdom to understand His Word. Here are revealed the wiles of the tempter and the means by which he may be successfully resisted.” –The Great Controversy, p. 530
Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12. If Jesus needed to spend the whole night in prayer, then we need it even more.
Also a great medium for us to develop perfect characters is health reform. Sister White writes, “The light God has given on health reform is for our salvation and the salvation of the world.” –Counsels on Health, p. 446
“It was in love that our heavenly Father sent the light of health reform to guard against the evils that result from unrestrained indulgence of appetite.” –Child Guidance, p. 461
“The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 492
One medium that we cannot ignore is missionary work. We are saved by saving others. We are to love our neighbour as ourselves. Because of this love we cannot let them perish, being ignorant of this great salvation. “When entered upon with this spirit, the missionary work becomes elevating and uplifting both to the laborer and to the person helped.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 189
“There are many who would work if urged into service, and who would save their souls by thus working.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 390
“They should arrange matters so that every member of the church shall have a part to act, that none may lead an aimless life, but that all may accomplish what they can according to their several ability.” –Christian Service, p. 62
We sing in our gospel hymn, “Work for the night is coming, when man works no more.”
Also the holy Sabbath day is a medium for our salvation. We need to spend this day in spiritual study and meditation. Especially the Sabbath commandment reminds us to remember it. The whole week we are to remember the Sabbath day so that when it comes, we may keep it holy.
There are other mediums also that God has given us for our salvation. If we ignore even one of them, we are in danger of being lost. If our salvation is important to us, then we cannot neglect even one of His mediums. The standard of God is high that we must reach, and no one can reach it without God-given mediums. The wisdom of God is so much greater than our wisdom that we need to put our reasoning aside, and follow the direction of God and His mediums; then we all will be saved. AMEN.
Timo Martin