Lest We Forget

What is done in the present creates both history and future.

1832 One middle-aged farmer began preaching that Jesus was coming soon.
1844 One frail teenage girl related the first vision given to her by God.
1846 One retired sea captain published a little book on the seventh-day Sabbath.
1849 One penniless itinerant preacher created an eight-page pamphlet to bring light to those in darkness.

And so it began. Ordinary people--who lived extraordinary lives of dedication to God--pioneered a little movement that swelled into a worldwide denomination that is now comprised of more than 15 million members.

In this unique devotional George R. Knight reintroduces us to our spiritual ancestors. They weren't perfect. They weren't all easy to get along with. But they shared one common goal--telling others about the soon-coming Savior.

But as in any family, it's all too easy to forget where we've come from; to forget the struggles endured by those who have gone before us; to take for granted the inheritance they left to us. Sometimes we need a gentle reminder of the true value of their legacy. In shaping the future of Adventism, these intrepid pioneers molded not only our history, but our present. And as we reflect upon our past, perhaps we should also contemplate the future to which we are each contributors.

George R. Knight, Ph.D., is a professor of church history at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and author of many books, including Angry Saints, Anticipating the Advent, The Pharisee's Guide to Perfect Holiness, From 188 to Apostasy, A User-friendly Guide to the 1888 Message, Millennial Fever, and the four volumes that comprise his Ellen White series, Meeting Ellen White, Reading Ellen White, Ellen White's World, and Walking With Ellen White.

He is also the general editor of the Abundant Life Bible Amplifier commentary series and the author of the Adventist Heritage Series (A Brief History of Seventh-day Adventists, A Search for Identity: The Development of Seventh-day Adventist Beliefs, and Organizing to Beat the Devil: The Development of Adventist Church Structure.)

Although his first love is Adventist church history, he also enjoys writing books on topics and has written two daily devotionals: Walking With Jesus on the Mount of Blessing and Walking With Paul Through Romans.

George R. Knight, Ph.D., is a professor of church history at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and author of many books, including Angry Saints, Anticipating the Advent, The Pharisee's Guide to Perfect Holiness, From 188 to Apostasy, A User-friendly Guide to the 1888 Message, Millennial Fever, and the four volumes that comprise his Ellen White series, Meeting Ellen White, Reading Ellen White, Ellen White's World, and Walking With Ellen White.