Moses stood before the people he led for the last time giving his Last Will and Testament speaking these words: “…watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)
It is impossible to tell the story of the birth of Israel nation without mentioning of Moses, its prophet. How would one explain the Exodus without Moses? Or Mount Sinai? Or why Israel had to wander in the wilderness for forty years?
In the same way it is impossible to tell the story of our identity as people, the Seventh-day Adventist movement without mentioning Ellen White's ministry in the affirmation of Biblical doctrine, in the building of a church organization strong enough to support a world church, and in the Moses-like messages of reproof and courage that helped to shape the character of the church. As one author said “without her today it is probable that the Adventist Church would be only a footnote in some history book of various religious groups in the nineteenth century" (Herbert E. Douglass, Messenger of the Lord, p. 538)
Early in the development of our movement Ellen White offered this call: "We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history" (Life Sketches, p. 196; Testimonies to Ministers, p. 31).
What would have happened to the Seventh-day Adventist church without the guidance of Ellen G. White? It is safe to say that without her guidance as the messenger from the Lord to the remnant church, the Seventh-day Adventist church, as we know it now, would not exist.
Every year this time in October Adventist churches around the world remember our beginnings – October 22, 1844 – a mistake in understanding the Bible that led to an earnest search for understanding God’s purpose in preparing the world for the Second Coming of Jesus.
As we remember our pioneers, our beginning, we also recall our personal walk in the light of the Everlasting Gospel, our personal journey to the relationship with God. We recall our discovery of God’s Grace. Are we telling it to our children? Do they know how God has led us this far? Are we teaching our kids, the generation that is 163 years removed from the great Disappointment and the Great Discovery of the Sanctuary Truth, about what god has done and promised to do yet?
If God spoke to you, would you listen? Real listening is more than just hearing the sounds. It is entering into a positive relationship, one of respect and love. Such a relationship with God leads to obedience as well, doing the things that will please and honour Him. So if God spoke to you, would you listen, really?
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