The Straight Testimony
Our Greatest Need

Introduction:

Lest I am accused of being self-righteous and/or judgmental, I need to share with my reader the fact that this website has been put together by one who has an acute awareness of his own failings and needs.

Yet I consider this awareness to be an inestimable blessing in that it keeps me cradled at the feet of the Master, and it keeps me coming back, day after day, to feed on the Bread of Life - for unless I attend the daily banquet, I find it extremely difficult to live with myself - and I find it even more difficult to live with certain aspects of my past.

This said, I now feel at liberty to invite you to carefully consider a question that needs to be answered with utmost urgency in this Laodicean era . . .

How can God make true Christians out of us
 if we are of the sincere opinion
that we are doing just fine in the eyes of God?

The answer is relatively simple - He has to reveal to us our spiritual deficiencies, He has to expose us to our failings and our needs, He has to show us that our characters fall far short of His glorious character. This exposure will enable us to realise our desperate need of a Saviour, our desperate need of His righteousness (which is all His and none of ours), and our desperate need of spending time alone with Him on a daily basis.

This realization also enables us to see the cutting truths, not as cruel whips, but as gentle yokes that keep us depending on Him, looking to Him, and learning from Him.

More than this, it is the cutting truths that keep us from being deceived, for . . .

`Many are deceived concerning the condition of their hearts. They do not realize that the natural heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. They wrap themselves about with their own righteousness and are satisfied in reaching their own human standard of character. [But man] has nothing of his own but what is tainted and corrupted, polluted with sin, utterly repulsive to a pure and holy God. Apart from Christ, we have no merit, no righteousness. Our sinfulness, our weakness, our human imperfection make it impossible that we should appear before God.' (1SM320, 342, 333)

When viewed in this light, therefore, we realize that it is the cutting truths that enable us to accept the fact that . . .

`The nature of man is in opposition to the divine will, depraved, deformed, and wholly unlike the character of God expressed in His law.' (ST 06-09-90.12)

It is the cutting truths, therefore, that keep us humble [but "in humility there is strength". (YI 12-06-00)]. It is the cutting truths that keep us reminded that we are the lost people that Jesus shed His blood for. It is the cutting truths that keep us reminded that we are the weak people that He has promised to make strong - in Him. It is the cutting truths that keep us reminded that we are the deplorable sinners that He came to save.

It is from this understanding, therefore, that I invite you to consider the following Spirit of Prophecy Counsels:

`The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. The church has gone over to the world in transgression of the law, when the world should have come over to the church in obedience to the law. Daily the church is being converted to the world. All these expect to be saved by Christ's death, while they refuse to live His self-sacrificing life. They extol the riches of free grace, and attempt to cover themselves with an appearance of righteousness, hoping to screen their defects of character; but their efforts will be of no avail in the day of God.' (COL315/6)

`Wickedness and deception are increasing among God's people who profess to keep His commandments. Spiritual discernment to see sin as it exists, and then to put it out of the camp, is decreasing among God's people; and spiritual blindness is fast coming upon them. The straight testimony must be revived, and it will separate those from Israel who have ever been at war with the means that God has ordained to keep corruptions out of the church. Wrongs must be called wrongs. Grievous sins must be called by their right name.' (3T324)

`I was shown the churches in different states that profess to be keeping the commandments of God and looking for the second coming of Christ. There is an alarming amount of indifference, pride, love of the world, and cold formality existing among them. And these are the people who are fast coming to resemble ancient Israel, so far as the want of piety is concerned. Many make high claims to godliness and yet are destitute of self-control. Appetite and passion bear sway; self is made prominent. Many are arbitrary, dictatorial, overbearing, boastful, proud, and unconsecrated. Yet some of these persons are ministers, handling sacred truths.' (4T403)

`By some there is a shunning of the living testimony. Cutting truths must not be shunned. It needs something besides the theory to reach hearts now. It needs the stirring testimony to alarm and arouse; that will stir the enemy's subjects, and then honest souls will be led to decide for the truth. There has been and still is with some a disposition to have everything move on smoothly. They see no necessity of the straight testimony.' (2SG283)

`Those to whom the message of truth is spoken seldom ask, "Is it true?" but "by whom is is it advocated?" Multitudes estimate it by the numbers who accept it; and the question is still asked, "Have any of the learned men or religious leaders believed." ' (DA459)

`Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke; for grievous sins have separated the people from God. Infidelity is fast becoming fashionable. "We will not have this man to rule over us" (Luke19:14) is the language of thousands. The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression. The trumpet does not give a certain sound. Men are not cut to the heart by the plain, sharp truths of God's word. When will the voice of faithful rebuke be heard once more in the church?' (PK675)

`I was shown that the pointed testimony must live in the church. This ALONE will answer to the message to the Laodiceans. Wrongs must be reproved, sin must be called sin, and iniquity must be met promptly and decidedly, and put away from us as a people.' (3T260)

`The truth must not be muffled now. Plain statements must be made. Unvarnished truth must be spoken in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn.' (9T231)

`We are now living in the last days, when the truth must be spoken, when in reproof and warning it must be given to the world, irrespective of consequences. If there are some who will become offended and turn from the truth, we must bear in mind that there were those who did the same in Christ's day.' (3SM422)

`A clear decided testimony is to be borne, for a people is to be prepared to meet a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.' (MM38)

`I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans [Rev 3:18]. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people. I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified.' (EW270)

The Remaining Parts Of This Feature
Will Be Published At A Later Date