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WILL IT STAND THE TEST?

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Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 22, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 4

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WILL IT STAND THE TEST?

By E. T. Bedee

BY E. T. BEDEE.
This question often arises in connection with the work of God. We, as participants in the Sabbath-school work, have a part to act in the third angel’s message. But what are our motives? Why do we seek to labor in this cause? Oh that we may examine the mainspring of action, remembering that the Lord trieth the secret intents of the heart. Let us try our motives, and see that we do not work from a selfish standpoint. It is not to glorify self, to become exalted in the eyes of men, that we should seek to benefit humanity. Rather, let us work for the souls of men; try to lead others in the narrow way, because we love them, and want to have them saved in the kingdom of Heaven.
The word of God shows that the time will come when our work will be tested. Yes; the work of to-day is for us to meet in the Judgment. The God of Heaven will not take men into his kingdom, without first testing them. We must all stand before the Judgment-seat of Christ.
The responsibility of the teacher is great. He should feel that it is a solemn thing to instruct minds in the truths of these last days. Oh that we may love the work, and feel that burden for its prosperity that we should. It is not simply to succeed in establishing Sabbath-schools that we should labor so earnestly, but because this is a means of gathering precious souls into the fold of Christ. As we engage in the work, let us remember that the record is either for or against us. May we ask ourselves the question, “Am I doing this so that I shall stand acquitted in the day of Judgment?”
May God help the officers, teachers, and pupils of our schools to do their work so faithfully that when they pass the final examination, the blessed Saviour will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”