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Their own imagination

Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .

their own imagination

Men put God out of their knowledge and worshiped the creatures of their own imagination; and as the result, they became more and more debased. The psalmist describes the effect produced upon the worshiper by the adoration of idols. He says, "They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." Psalm 115: 8. It is a law of the human mind that by beholding we become changed. Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of truth, purity, and holiness. If the mind is never exalted above the level of humanity, if it is not uplifted by faith to contemplate infinite wisdom and love, the man will be constantly sinking lower and lower. The worshipers of false gods clothed their deities with human attributes and passions, and thus their standard of character was degraded to the likeness of sinful humanity. They were defiled in consequence. "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. . . . The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence." God had given men His commandments as a rule of life, but His law was transgressed, and every conceivable sin was the result. The wickedness of men was open and daring, justice was trampled in the dust, and the cries of the oppressed reached unto heaven. Patriarchs and Prophets, page 91.2

It is no marvel that the church is not vivified by the Holy Spirit's power. Men and women are setting aside the instruction Christ has given. Anger and covetousness are gaining the victory, and the soul temple is full of wickedness, so that there is no room for Christ. Men, unheeding the words of the Saviour, follow their own perverse ways. They take themselves into their own hands, rejecting reproofs and warnings, until the candlestick is moved out of its place, and spiritual discernment is confused by human ideas. Men set the law of God aside to follow the light of their own imagination. {SW, January 1, 1907 par. 10}

Not desiring to retain God in their knowledge, they soon came to deny His existence. They adored nature in place of the God of nature. . . . Extensive groves, that retained their foliage throughout the year, were dedicated to the worship of false gods. . . . Men put God out of their knowledge and worshiped the creatures of their own imagination; and as the result, they became more and more debased. {CC 32.3}

While you have been gratifying your inclination in the appropriation of money-God's money-for which you must give an account, missionary work has been hindered and bound about for want of means and workers to plant the banner of truth in places where the people have never heard the message of warning. Will God say to those who are selfishly pleasing their own imagination and gratifying their own desires: "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"? Matthew 25:23. {8T 51.1}

The Jewish leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, made the well-springs of the water of life foul by their false precepts. They beclouded that which was clear. By their example of pride, hardness, and selfishness, they misrepresented the character of God. They made him altogether such a one as themselves. Their own imagination was darkened and polluted by their wicked works. Their religious degeneracy clouded their minds, so that nothing that concerned Christ's kingdom was correctly discerned. By their stubborn resistance of the message borne to them by the Lord of life and glory, they became past feeling. Evidence they had in abundance; more would only have increased and deepened their guilt. But thinking themselves wise, they became as fools. They used their intellect in an endeavor to brand the truth of God with falsehood. {RH, May 18, 1897 par. 10}

Had the Jews searched God's word as they should, they would have seen that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. But they searched with proud, selfish ambition as a guide, and they found a Messiah of their own imagination. Therefore when the Saviour came, a humble man, bringing to naught by His teaching long-established theories and traditions, presenting truth entirely opposite to their practices, they said, Who is this invader that dares to set aside our authority? Christ did not come as they had expected; therefore they refused to receive Him, and called Him a deceiver and an impostor. Instead of listening to Him that they might learn the truth, they listened with evil intent, that they might find something over which to cavil. And when once they had set their feet in the path of the great leader in rebellion, it was an easy matter for Satan to strengthen them in opposition. Christ's wonderful works, which God meant to be heaven-sent evidence to them, Satan caused them to interpret against Him. The more marked the way in which God spoke to them by His works of mercy and love, the more confirmed did they become in their resistance. Blinded by prejudice, they refused to acknowledge that Jesus is divine. {RH, March 26, 1901 par. 10}

There is no need to marvel that the church is not vivified by the Holy Spirit's power. Men and women are setting aside the instruction Christ has given. Anger and covetousness are obtaining the victory. The soul-temple is full of wickedness. There is no room for Christ. Men follow their own perverse ways. They will not heed the words of the Saviour. They take themselves into their own hands, rejecting reproofs and warnings, until the candlestick is moved out of its place, and spiritual discernment is confused by human ideas. Though deficient in service, they justify themselves, saying, "The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord are we." They set the law of God aside to follow the light of their own imagination. {RH, April 8, 1902 par. 10}

While you have been gratifying your inclination in the appropriation of money--God's money--for which you must give an account, missionary work has been hindered, and bound about for want of money and workers to lift the banner of truth in localities where they have never even heard the message of warning. Will God say to those who are selfishly pleasing their own imagination and gratifying their own desires, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord? Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things." What kind of witness for the truth are you in Battle Creek bearing to the unbelieving world? I have been shown that the Lord does not look upon your course with favor, for your practice contradicts your profession of faith. You are not doers of the words of Christ. {PH084 8.1}

The Lord God of Israel demands an altogether deeper piety than has been manifested by those who have been placed in positions of sacred trust in the Review & Herald office and in the management of the great work in connection with the cause of God. If these men are not under the special influence of the Spirit of God, if they do not recognize his voice, they will work after their own imagination, and will set in operation plans that will be entirely contrary to the mind and Spirit of God, and that will counteract the work of God. {1888 1304.1}

Following their own imagination

Many of the instructors in the schools of the present day are practicing deception by leading their students over a field of study that is comparatively useless, that takes time, study, and means that should be used to gain that higher education that Christ came to give. He took upon Him the form of humanity, that He might lift the mind from the lessons men deemed essential to lessons which involve eternal results. He saw the world wrapped in satanic deception. He saw men earnestly following their own imagination, thinking they had gained everything if they had found how they might be called great in the world. But they gained nothing but death. Christ took His stand in the highways and byways of this earth, and looked upon the crowd eagerly seeking for happiness, thinking that in every new scheme they had discovered how they might be gods in this world. Christ pointed men upward, telling them that the only true knowledge is a knowledge of God and of Christ. This knowledge will bring peace and happiness in this present life, and will secure God's free gift, eternal life. He urged His hearers, as men possessing reasoning powers, not to lose eternity out of their reckoning. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness," He said, "and all these things shall be added unto you." You are then co-workers with God. For this I have bought you with My suffering, humiliation, and death. {FE 469.2} {RH, August 17, 1897 par. 8}

Let there be much praying done and even with fasting, that not one shall move in darkness, but move in the light as God is in the light. We may look for anything to break forth outside and within our ranks, and there are minds undisciplined by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that have not practiced the words of Christ, and who do not understand the movings of the Spirit of God, and will follow a wrong course of action, because they do not follow Jesus closely. They follow impulse and their own imagination. Let there be nothing done in a disorderly manner, that there shall be a great loss or sacrifice made upon property because of ardent, impulsive speeches which stir up an enthusiasm which is not after the order of God, that a victory that was essential to be gained shall, for lack of level-headed moderation and proper contemplation of sound principles and purposes be turned into defeat. Let there be wise generalship in this matter, and all move under the guidance of a wise, unseen counsellor, which is God. Elements that are human will struggle for the mastery, and there may be a work done that does not bear the signature of God. {SpM 84.3}

We may look for anything now to break forth outside and within our ranks; and there are minds undisciplined by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that have not practiced the words of Christ, and who do not understand the movings of the Spirit of God, who will follow a wrong course of action because they do not follow Jesus fully. They follow impulse and their own imagination. {YRP 120.2}

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