Will Souls Be Lost By Our
Neglect?
The position of those
who have been called of God to labor in word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church, is one
of grave responsibility. In Christ's stead they are to beseech men and women to
be reconciled to God, and they can fulfill their mission only as they receive
wisdom and power from above. {AA 360.2}
Christ's ministers are
the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted to their care. Their work has
been likened to that of watchmen. In ancient times sentinels were often
stationed on the walls of cities, where, from points of vantage, they could
overlook important posts to be guarded, and give warning of the approach of an
enemy. Upon their faithfulness depended the safety of all within.
At stated intervals they were required to call to one another, to make sure
that all were awake and that no harm had befallen any. The cry of good cheer or
of warning was borne from one to another, each repeating the call till it
echoed round the city. {AA 360.3}
To every minister the
Lord declares: "O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of
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from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I
require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the
wicked of his way to turn from it, . . . thou hast
delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 33:7-9. {AA 360.4}
The words of the
prophet declare the solemn responsibility of those who are appointed as
guardians of the
It is the privilege of
the watchmen on the walls of
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of God, sealed with the blood of consecration, they are to rescue men and women
from impending destruction. {AA 361.2}
Anciently the Lord
declared to one who spoke in His name: "The house of
So far as
his opportunities extend, everyone who has received the light of truth is under
the same solemn and fearful responsibility as was the prophet of Israel, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying:
"Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel;
therefore thou shalt hear
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the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O
wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not
speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his
iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but
thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 33:7-9. {GC 459.3}
The watchmen anciently
placed upon the walls of
These
watchmen represent the ministry, upon whose fidelity depends
the salvation of souls. The
stewards of the mysteries of God should stand as watchmen upon the walls of
... {Ez 33 quoted}... Ambassadors of Christ
should take heed that they do not, through their unfaithfulness, lose their own
souls and the souls of those who hear them. {4T 403.1}
1
Timothy 4: 13Until I come, devote yourself
to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do
not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the
body of elders laid their hands on you.
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so
that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and
doctrine closely. Persevere in them,
because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (NIV)
"Wherefore I take
you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood
of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you
all the counsel of God." No fear of giving offense, no desire for
friendship or applause, could lead Paul to withhold the words that God had
given him for their instruction, warning, or correction. From His servants
today God requires fearlessness in preaching the word and in carrying out its
precepts. The minister of Christ is not to present to the people only those
truths that are the most pleasing, while he withholds others that might cause
them pain. He should watch with deep solicitude the development of character.
If he sees that any of his flock are cherishing sin he must as a faithful
shepherd give them from God's word the instruction that is applicable to their
case. Should he permit them in their self-confidence to go on unwarned, he
would be held responsible for their souls. The pastor who fulfills his high
commission must give his people faithful instruction on every point of the
Christian faith, showing them what they must be and do in order to stand
perfect in the day of God. He only who is a faithful teacher of the truth
will at the close of his work be able to say with Paul, "I am pure from
the blood of all men." {AA
393.4}
Those in the service of God must show
animation and determination in the work of winning souls. Remember that there are those
who will perish unless we as God's instrumentalities work with a determination
that will not fail nor become discouraged. The throne of grace is to be our
continual dependence. {6T 418.1}
There are those who for a lifetime have professed to be acquainted with Christ, yet who have never made a personal effort to bring even one soul to the Saviour. They leave all the work for the minister. He may be well qualified for his calling, but he cannot do that which God has left for the members of the church. {DA 141.2}
There are many who need
the ministration of loving Christian hearts. Many have gone down to ruin who might have
been saved if their neighbors, common men and women, had put forth personal
effort for them. Many are waiting to be personally addressed. In the very family,
the neighborhood, the town, where we live, there is work for us to do as
missionaries for Christ. If we are Christians, this work will be our delight.
No sooner is one converted than there is born within him a desire to make known
to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus. The saving and
sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. {DA 141.3}
All who are consecrated
to God will be channels of light. God makes them His agents to communicate to
others the riches of His grace. His promise is, "I will make them and the
places round about My hill a blessing; and I will
cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of
blessing." Ezek. 34:26. {DA 141.4}
Oh, if mothers would only work with
wisdom, with calmness and determination, to train and subdue the carnal tempers
of their children, what an amount of sin would be nipped in the bud, and what a
host of church trials would be saved! . . . Many souls will be eternally lost because
of the neglect of parents to properly discipline their children, and to teach
them submission to authority in their youth. Petting faults and soothing
outbreaks is not laying the ax at the root of the evil, but proves the ruin of
thousands of souls. Oh, how will parents answer to God for this fearful neglect
of their duty! {CG 176.2}
We should anticipate the sorrows, the
difficulties, the troubles of others. We should enter into the joys and cares
of both high and low, rich and poor. "Freely ye have received,"
Christ says, "freely give." Matt. 10:8. All around us are poor, tried
souls that need sympathizing words and helpful deeds. There are widows who need
sympathy and assistance. There are orphans whom Christ has bidden His followers
receive as a trust from God. Too often these are passed by with neglect. They
may be ragged, uncouth, and seemingly in every way unattractive; yet they are
God's property. They have been bought with a
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price, and they are as precious in His sight as we are. They are members of
God's great household, and Christians as His stewards are responsible for
them. "Their souls," He says, "will I require at thine hand." {
Brethren and sisters in the faith, does
the question arise in your hearts, "Am I my brother's keeper?" If you
claim to be children of God, you are your brother's keeper. The Lord holds
the church responsible for the souls of those whom they might be the means of
saving.--Historical Sketches, p. 291. {ChS
13.3}
Your work has
been such as to open to many souls the door of temptation, and many will be
lost in consequence. You may reform, you may see your mistakes, but you will
never be able to remove the impression that has been made. {TSB 156.1}
The worth of a soul cannot be fully estimated by finite minds. How
gratefully will the ransomed and glorified ones remember those who were
instrumental in their salvation! No one will then regret his self-denying
efforts and persevering labors, his patience, forbearance, and earnest heart
yearnings for souls that might have been lost had he neglected his duty or become
weary in well-doing. {5T 620.3}
Yes, Christ has become the medium of prayer between man and God.
He also has become the medium of blessing between God and man. He has combined
divinity and humanity. Men are to be co-laborers with God in the
salvation of their own souls, and then make earnest, persevering, untiring
efforts to save those who are ready to perish (Letter 22, 1898). {6BC 1078.8}
It was a great cross for me to relate to
the erring what had been shown me concerning them. It caused me great distress
to see others troubled or grieved. And when obliged to declare the messages, I
would often soften them down, and make them appear as favorable for the
individual as I could, and then would go by myself and weep in agony of spirit.
I looked upon those who seemed to have only their own souls to care for, and
thought if I were in their condition I would not murmur. It was hard to relate
the plain, cutting testimonies given me of God. I anxiously watched the result,
and if the persons reproved rose up against the reproof, and afterward opposed
the truth, these queries would arise in my mind: Did I deliver the message just
as I should?
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Could there not have been some way to save them? And then such
distress pressed upon my soul that I often felt that death would be a welcome
messenger, and the grave a sweet resting-place. {CET 78.4}
I did not realize that I was unfaithful
in thus questioning and doubting, and did not see the danger and sin of such a
course, until in vision I was taken into the presence of Jesus. He looked upon
me with a frown, and turned His face from me. It is not possible to describe
the terror and agony I then felt. I fell upon my face before Him, but had no
power to utter a word. Oh, how I longed to be covered and hid from that
dreadful frown! Then could I realize, in some degree, what the feelings of the
lost will be when they cry to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and
hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." Revelation 6:16. {CET 79.1}
Presently an angel bade me rise, and the
sight that met my eyes can hardly be described. Before me was a company whose
hair and garments were torn, and whose countenances were the very picture of
despair and horror. They came close to me, and rubbed their garments upon mine.
As I looked at my garments, I saw that they were stained with blood. Again I
fell like one dead, at the feet of my accompanying angel. I could not plead one
excuse, and longed to be away from that holy place. {CET 79.2}
The angel raised me to my feet, and said:
"This is not your case now, but this scene has passed before you to let
you know what your situation must be if you neglect to declare to others what
the Lord has revealed to you. But if you are faithful to the end, you shall eat
of the tree of life, and shall drink of the
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river of the water of life. You will have to
suffer much, but the grace of God is sufficient." {CET 79.3}
I then felt willing to do all that the
Lord might require me to do, that I might have His approbation, and not feel
His dreadful frown. {CET 80.1}