Ellen G. White's Last Recorded
Letter
St. Helena, California, June 14,
1914
My Dear Sister:
The Lord has given me a message for
you, and not for you only, but also for other faithful souls who are troubled
by doubts and fears regarding their acceptance by the Lord Jesus Christ. His
word to you is, "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy
name; thou art Mine." You desire to please the Lord, and you can do this by
believing His promises. He is waiting to take you into a harbor of gracious
experience, and He bids you, "Be still, and know that I am God." You have had a
time of unrest; but Jesus says to you, "Come unto Me, . . . and I will give you
rest." The joy of Christ in the soul is worth everything. "Then are they glad,"
because they are privileged to rest in the arms of everlasting love.
Put away your distrust of our
heavenly Father. Instead of talking of your doubts, break away from them in the
strength of Jesus, and let light shine into your soul by letting your voice
express confidence and trust in God. I know that the Lord is very nigh to give
you victory, and I say to you, Be helped, be strengthened, be lifted out of and
away from the dark dungeon of unbelief. Doubts will rush into your mind,
because Satan is trying to hold you in captivity to his cruel power; but face
him in the strength that Jesus is willing to give you, and conquer the
inclination to express unbelief in your Saviour.
Do not talk of your inefficiency and
your defects. When despair would seem to be sweeping over your soul, look to
Jesus, saying, He lives to make intercession for me. Forget the things that are
behind, and believe the promise, "I will come to you," and "abide with you."
God is waiting to bestow the blessing
of forgiveness, of pardon for iniquity, of the gifts of righteousness, upon all
who will believe in His love and accept the salvation He offers. Christ is
ready to say to the repenting sinner, "Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to
pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." The blood of
Jesus Christ is the eloquent plea that speaks in behalf of sinners. This blood
"cleanseth us from all sin."
It is your privilege to trust in the
love of Jesus for salvation, in the fullest, surest, noblest manner; to say, He
loves me, He receives me; I will trust Him, for He gave His life for me.
Nothing so dispels doubt as coming in contact with the character of Christ. He
declares, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out;" that is, there is
no possibility of My casting him out, for I have pledged My word to receive
him. Take Christ at His word, and let your lips declare that you have gained
the victory.
Is Jesus true? Does He mean what He
says? Answer decidedly, Yes, every word. Then if you have settled this, by
faith claim every promise that He has made, and receive the blessing; for this
acceptance by faith gives life to the soul. You may believe that Jesus is true
to you, even though you feel yourself to be the weakest and most unworthy of
His children. And as you believe, all your dark, brooding doubts are thrown
back upon the archdeceiver who originated them. You can be a great blessing if
you will take God at His word. By living faith you are to trust Him, even
though the impulse is strong within you to speak words of distrust.
Peace comes with dependence on divine
power. As fast as the soul resolves to act in accordance with the light given,
the Holy Spirit gives more light and strength. The grace of the Spirit is
supplied to cooperate with the soul's resolve, but it is not a substitute for
the individual exercise of faith. Success in the Christian life depends upon
the appropriation of the light that God has given. It is not an abundance of
light and evidence that makes the soul free in Christ; it is the rising of the
powers and the will and the energies of the soul to cry out sincerely, "Lord, I
believe; help Thou mine unbelief."
I rejoice in the bright prospects of
the future, and so may you. Be cheerful, and praise the Lord for His
loving-kindness. That which you cannot understand, commit to Him. He loves you
and pities your every weakness. He "hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ." It would not satisfy the heart of the
Infinite One to give those who love His Son a lesser blessing than He gives His
Son.
Satan seeks to draw our minds away
from the mighty Helper, to lead us to ponder over our degeneration of soul. But
though Jesus sees the guilt of the past, He speaks pardon; and we should not
dishonor Him by doubting His love. The feeling of guiltiness must be laid at
the foot of the cross, or it will poison the springs of life. When Satan
thrusts his threatenings upon you, turn from them, and comfort your soul with
the promises of God. The cloud may be dark in itself, but when filled with the
light of heaven, it turns to the brightness of gold; for the glory of God rests
upon it.
God's children are not to be subject
to feelings and emotions. When they fluctuate between hope and fear, the heart
of Christ is hurt; for He has given them unmistakable evidence of His love. He
wants them to be established, strengthened, and settled in the most holy faith.
He wants them to do the work He has given them; then their hearts will become
in His hands as sacred harps, every chord of which will send forth praise and
thanksgiving to the One sent by God to take away the sins of the world.
Christ's love for His children is as
tender as it is strong. And it is stronger than death; for He died to purchase
our salvation, and to make us one with Him, mystically and eternally one. So
strong is His love that it controls all His powers, and employs the vast
resources of heaven in doing His people good. It is without variableness or
shadow of turning--the same yesterday, today, and forever. Although sin has
existed for ages, trying to counteract this love and obstruct its flowing
earthward, it still flows in rich currents to those for whom Christ died.
God loves the sinless angels, who do
His service and are obedient to all His commands; but He does not give them
grace; they have never needed it, for they have never sinned. Grace is an
attribute shown to undeserving human beings. We did not seek after it; it was
sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow grace upon all who hunger and
thirst for it, not because we are worthy, but because we are unworthy. Our need
is the qualification which gives us the assurance that we shall receive the
gift.
It should not be difficult to
remember that the Lord desires you to lay your troubles and perplexities at His
feet, and leave them there. Go to Him, saying: "Lord, my burdens are too heavy
for me to carry. Wilt Thou bear them for me?" And He will answer: "I will take
them. 'With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee.' I will take your
sins, and will give you peace. Banish no longer your self-respect; for I have
bought you with the price of My own blood. You are Mine. Your weakened will I
will strengthen. Your remorse for sin I will remove."
"I, even I, am He," the Lord
declares, "that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not
remember thy sins. Put Me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou,
that thou mayest be justified." "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place
of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye Me in vain: I the Lord
speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." "Look unto Me, and be ye
saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."
Respond to the calls of God's mercy, and say: "I will trust in the Lord and be
comforted. I will praise the Lord; for His anger is turned away. I will rejoice
in God, who gives the victory."
Printed in Testimonies to
Ministers and Gospel Workers, pp. 516-520.
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|  God's
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Through
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Ellen
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