The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 602

principles of Christianity. And this youthful infidelity, shallow as it is,
has its influence. Many are thus led to jest at the faith of their fathers
and to do despite to the Spirit of grace. Hebrews 10:29. Many a life that
promised to be an honor to God and a blessing to the world has been
blighted by the foul breath of infidelity. All who trust to the boastful
decisions of human reason and imagine that they can explain divine
mysteries and arrive at truth unaided by the wisdom of God are entangled
in the snare of Satan.
We are living in the most solemn period of this world’s history. The
destiny of earth’s teeming multitudes is about to be decided. Our own
future well-being and also the salvation of other souls depend upon the
course which we now pursue. We need to be guided by the Spirit of
truth. Every follower of Christ should earnestly inquire: “Lord, what
wilt Thou have me to do?” We need to humble ourselves before the
Lord, with fasting and prayer, and to meditate much upon His word,
especially upon the scenes of the judgment. We should now seek a deep
and living experience in the things of God. We have not a moment to
lose. Events of vital importance are taking place around us; we are on
Satan’s enchanted ground. Sleep not, sentinels of God; the foe is lurking
near, ready at any moment, should you become lax and drowsy, to spring
upon you and make you his prey.
Many are deceived as to their true condition before God. They
congratulate themselves upon the wrong acts which they do not commit,
and forget to enumerate the good and noble deeds which God requires
of them, but which they have neglected to perform. It is not enough
that they are trees in the garden of God. They are to answer His
expectation by bearing fruit. He holds them accountable for their failure
to accomplish all the good which they could have done, through His
grace strengthening them. In the books of heaven they are registered as
cumberers of the ground. Yet the case of even this class is not utterly
hopeless. With those who have slighted God’s mercy and abused His
grace, the heart of

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