If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV).

ABSTRACT

Reformation can save the day only if God’s people humble themselves, repent deeply, and respond to His call for renewal, learning from the 1901 crisis that resisting divine correction delays revival while obedience opens the way for healing, unity, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

THE SHATTERED MIRROR OF REFORM: A CRY ECHOES THROUGH THE AGES

The 1901 General Conference marked a pivotal moment in our community’s history, where resistance to divine calls for reformation resulted in a profound spiritual setback, as evidenced by unheeded prophetic warnings and a failure to embrace necessary changes, yet it also reveals God’s persistent love through chastisement aimed at guiding us toward renewal and the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Scripture further illustrates this through verses emphasizing the need for heartfelt repentance and transformation, such as “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, KJV), and “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7, KJV). In Patriarchs and Prophets we read, “God requires that His holy law shall be as sacredly regarded now as in the ancient days. To this end He has given us in His word explicit instructions, and has sent forth by His prophets messages of warning, reproof, and instruction” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 362, 1890). A prophetic voice once wrote, “The reformation must begin at the house of God. Here the work of reformation and revival must be carried forward with persevering energy” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 80, 1882). This overview compels us to reflect on our own need for revival. What if we fail to heed similar calls today?

IS THE BODY TOO SICK TO HEAL?

Isaiah 1:5-6 paints a grim picture: “Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” This verse, like a chilling prophecy, resonates with the events of the 1901 General Conference. Imagine a body riddled with disease, each part failing, mirroring the spiritual sickness witnessed within the church. It’s a stark image, evoking a sense of deep sorrow and concern. This wasn’t merely a disagreement on policy; it was a matter of spiritual life and death. In the Scriptures we find support for this depiction of inner decay requiring divine intervention, as in “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, KJV), and “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders” (Mark 7:21, KJV). Through inspired counsel we are told, “Sin has degraded and corrupted the human family, but Christ gave Himself to change this order of things. He would elevate and ennoble men” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 92, 1875). The inspired pen reminds us, “The church is in a perilous condition, and for the sake of the cause of God, every man who is disloyal and unfaithful must be separated from the work” (Review and Herald, August 7, 1894). I feel a deep sadness when I reflect on how close the church was to a powerful revival, only to see it slip away like sand through our fingers. We must learn from this tragedy and strive for true reformation. How can we ignore the cries for change when they echo so loudly?

WHY IGNORE THE PROPHET’S PLEA?

The 1901 General Conference, held after 13 years of spiritual struggle since the 1888 session, was meant to be a turning point. Sr. White, returning from Australia, observed a resistance to the reforms that should have taken place years prior. It’s like watching a train hurtling towards a broken bridge, with warnings going unheeded. She stated, “The brethren assented to the light God had given, but there were those connected with our institutions… who brought in elements of unbelief” (General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901, p. 1). This is a heavy statement. It reveals a deep-seated problem: a surface acceptance of truth coupled with a heart of unbelief. This reminds me of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time, outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt. Further passages reveal this danger of rejecting divine guidance, such as “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6, KJV), and “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof” (Proverbs 1:24-25, KJV). A passage from Testimonies for the Church warns, “God calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord, until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 717, 1889). In The Great Controversy we read, “Whenever the people of God are growing in grace, they will be constantly obtaining a clearer understanding of His word. They will discern new light and beauty in its sacred truths” (The Great Controversy, p. 297, 1911). We must examine our own hearts: Do we truly believe, or are we merely going through the motions? What happens when divine light shines but hearts remain closed?

WHERE DID THE CHANGE GO WRONG?

Sr. White emphasized the critical need for “reformation,” a complete transformation of the church’s principles and practices. She lamented, “The Lord gave His people evidence that He was calling for reformation. Minds were convicted, and hearts were touched; but thorough work was not done” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, pp. 97-98). It’s like planting a seed in rocky soil; it might sprout, but it will never fully grow. The leadership’s failure to embrace this reformation, due to stubbornness and pride, prevented the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the “latter rain.” This missed opportunity makes my heart ache. Imagine the power that could have been unleashed, the souls that could have been saved! Scripture supports this call for inner renewal, as seen in “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2, KJV), and “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV). Ellen G. White wrote, “A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life…. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices” (Selected Messages Book 1, p. 128, 1958). Through inspired counsel we are told, “There must be a reformation in regard to these matters in every family that shall come into the kingdom of God” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 399, 1868). It’s a sobering thought. Why do we resist the very changes that promise spiritual vitality?

WHO SPEAKS FOR GOD NOW?

A crucial aspect of the crisis was the failure of the General Conference to function as the voice of God. Sr. White declared, “That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people… that is past” (General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901, p. 25). This is a devastating indictment. It’s like a compass that no longer points north, leaving the ship lost at sea. This wasn’t a minor administrative issue; it was a fundamental breakdown in spiritual authority. This reminds us that no human institution, no matter how sacred, is infallible. The Bible reinforces the importance of true divine authority, for example, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1, KJV), and “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17, KJV). A prophetic voice once wrote, “The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are must be compared with what they would have been if her course had been continually onward and upward” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 83, 1882). In Manuscript Releases we read, “God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments” (Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, p. 81, 1990). We must always test everything by the Word of God. How do we restore trust when heavenly guidance is questioned?

DID WE MISS OUR MIGHTY MOMENT?

Even after the 1901 GC, Sr. White observed in 1903 that “thorough work was not done” and that a “Pentecostal season” had been missed (General Conference Bulletin, April 1, 1903, p. 23). It’s like arriving at a feast only to find the tables empty. She described a vision of what could have been: brothers confessing to brothers, humility reigning, and the Spirit of God moving powerfully (General Conference Bulletin, April 1, 1903, pp. 24-25). But this vision remained unfulfilled. This fills me with a deep sense of longing. I yearn for that kind of unity and power in the church today. Further Scriptures highlight the tragedy of forsaken opportunities, such as “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven” (Hebrews 12:25, KJV), and “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth” (Proverbs 19:2, KJV). A passage from Evangelism urges, “If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one” (Evangelism, p. 699, 1946). The inspired pen notes, “The Lord desires His chosen servants to learn how to unite together. They are to unite in the work of bringing the truth to the people” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 145, 1909). We must ask ourselves: Are we willing to humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us? Does divine love persist even through our shortcomings?

HOW DOES LOVE LOOK IN REBUKE?

God’s love is evident even in His rebukes. The fact that He called for reformation demonstrates His deep care for His church. As it says in Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” This verse, like a comforting balm, reminds us that correction is a sign of love. Sr. White echoes this sentiment: “God is love, and His love is manifested in His efforts to purify and elevate His people” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 535). This quote, like a warm embrace, assures us that God’s ultimate goal is our good. Even in the midst of the crisis of 1901, God’s love was present, urging His people towards a deeper relationship with Him. The Word of God affirms this nurturing discipline, as in “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19, KJV), and “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him” (Hebrews 12:5, KJV). Through inspired counsel we are told, “The trials of life are God’s workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 10, 1896). A prophetic voice once wrote, “In mercy to the world, God subjects His people to trial, that they may be purified from all unrighteousness” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 484, 1875). Therefore, even in times of correction and challenge, we can see the unwavering love of God guiding us towards righteousness. Are we ready to respond to this love with action?

READY TO RISE AND REFORM?

The 1901 General Conference serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of responding to God’s call for reformation. It’s like a warning siren, urging us to stay vigilant. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past. We must be willing to examine our own hearts, to confess our sins, and to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us. As we look at the state of the church and the world today, with its increasing secularism and moral decay, the need for reformation is as urgent as ever. We must heed the call for reformation, not just in word, but in deed. We must, like the early church, be filled with the Holy Spirit and go forth to share the gospel with power. Biblical truths underscore this imperative for unity and renewal, such as “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, KJV), and “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21, KJV). In Selected Messages we read, “The work of reformation must begin with the ministry. The leaders in the work must be consecrated to God” (Selected Messages Book 3, p. 188, 1980). A passage from Christian Leadership instructs, “True godliness must be manifest in every man who has a part to act in the work of God” (Christian Leadership, p. 9, 1985). This is my prayer, and I hope it is yours as well. We, as the community, must strive for a deeper connection with God, allowing Him to work through us to bring about true and lasting change.

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SELF-REFLECTION

How can I deepen my understanding of these historical lessons in my daily devotions, letting them refine my faith and daily choices?

How might we present these insights on reformation in ways that inspire both longtime members and newcomers, preserving doctrinal depth while making it accessible?

What misunderstandings about church history and divine warnings persist among us, and how can Scripture and Sr. White’s guidance clarify them compassionately?

How can we as individuals and groups embody this call to reformation, becoming active examples of spiritual renewal in our communities amid today’s challenges?