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“I press toward the mark for the prize of
In our world today, there are many that are uncertain of their future, because of all that they see taking place within the world around them. The skeptics voice their thoughts, because they see no difference in what is proclaimed by those, who profess to be Christians. And much of the Christian world are looking at the claims of the skeptics, and they are unable to convince the skeptics on why they have chosen to be Christian, because they too are loosing heart in there beliefs. To many of the professing Christians, who are loosing heart, are looking with the skeptics to the same source of the entertainment industry, to fill them with some form of hope that things can be better than they are.
The skeptics voice their thoughts, because they want to believe, but they see no evidence for the faith of the Christians. And the professing Christians, who are loosing heart, they are not convincing, because the skeptics see no evidence in them that makes them different from the world. And the reason for this condition of loosing heart is because, both are looking to the wrong source to give them evidence and hope, to believe and to make a change. If both are looking in the wrong place, then where should our eyes look to make a successful change?
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). "The cross speaks life, and not death, to the soul that believes in Jesus. Welcome the precious life-giving rays that shine from the cross of Calvary. Reach up for the blessing, believe for the blessing. . . . Walk not in the shadow of the cross. Do not give expression to weeping, lamentation, and woe; but encourage your soul to hope and joy. The cross points upward to a living Saviour, who is your advocate, and is pleading in your behalf. . . . When you are deeply shadowed it is because Satan has interposed himself between you and the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness. . . .
"I have indeed been halting under the shadow of the cross. It is not a common thing for me to be overpowered and to suffer so much depression of spirits as I have suffered for the last few months. I would not be found to trifle with my own soul and thus trifle with my Saviour. I would not teach that Jesus is risen from the tomb, and that He is ascended on high and lives to make intercession for us before the Father, unless I carry out my teachings by practice and believe in Him for His salvation, casting my helpless soul upon Jesus for His grace, for righteousness, for peace and love.
"I must trust in Him irrespective of the changes of my emotional atmosphere. I must show forth the praises of Him who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. My heart must be steadfast in Christ, my Saviour, beholding His love and gracious goodness. I must not trust Him now and then, but always, that I may manifest the results of abiding in Him who has bought me with His precious blood. We must learn to believe the promises, to have an abiding faith. . . .
"Let us live in the sunlight of the cross of Calvary. Let us no longer dwell in the shadow, complaining of our sorrows, for this only deepens our trouble. Let us never forget, even when we walk in the valley, that Christ is as much with us when we walk trustingly there as when we are on the mountaintop. (In Heavenly Places, Page 52)
Notice that Christians do not become Christians by looking unto themselves, to acquire The Power to change from the ways of the world. No, Christians look up to Christ Jesus, Who is above all, to receive in themselves that which they do not have of themselves, which is His Power to work in them and through them, to bears witness unto others, that they too might believe on Him through their witness. As a Christian, who followed after Christ Jesus, Paul said, “…we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-7).
Notice that Paul makes it clear that it is Christ—The Light of GOD’S Word—The Spirit, Who is commanded of GOD to shine out of our hearts to give The Light of The Knowledge of The Glory of God, as we behold HIM in the face of Jesus Christ. It is His Spirit of The Knowledge of GOD that is hid in the earthen vessels of those Christians, who have received Him. Paul said, “[We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you” (2Corinthians 4:8-14).
It is this evidence that the skeptics need to see, which would cause them to consider and to make a change, and in their own lives to bear witness of the evidence of a risen Christ, Who lives not only in heaven at The Father’s side, but also within those, who receive Him. Notice that Paul makes it clear that it is The Life of Jesus, Who is made manifest in our body and in our mortal flesh, to have the same faith of those, who believed in Him, as their risen Lord and Savior. It is The Spirit of Christ Jesus Himself in us, not someone else.
The point of the cross points us to heaven, to focus our minds upon Jesus, Who is The Author and The Finisher of our faith. He has endured the cross, and the shame, to sit down at The Right Hand of the throne of GOD. Yet, many go to see an empty tomb where He once laid. But to the Christian, who believes in Christ Jesus, it is said that the cross speaks of life, rather than death. The focus of the tomb is that it is not occupied. The precious life-giving rays that shine from the cross of Calvary, comes from the risen Christ, Who sits at The Right Hand of the throne of GOD, and reveals His Life giving Spirit to all, who will receive and believe in Him. This Light of the cross of Calvary throws a shadow that points us to an empty tomb, which gives joy and hope to all, who will believe that He was raised from the dead, because He lives also within those, who believe on Him.
Regardless of the troubles on every side, Christians are not distressed; they may be perplexed, but they are not left in despair. Christians may go through persecutions, both from without and from within their own hearts, but those, who come to The Lord are not forsaken. Though those, who trust in self are cast down; those, who repent, to trust in The LORD and HIS Word, they are not destroyed. Christians in this world are bearing in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in them. For Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20), because it is by Him that we live, and not we of ourselves.
The disciples were troubled, perplexed and were fearful of going through persecution, because their Master, their Lord was crucified on the cross. But “...when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any [man]; for they were afraid” (Mark 16:1-8).
Notice that the women, who received the good news that Christ Jesus was not dead in the tomb, because He was alive and was raised from the dead, Matthew testified of the women and said that when they heard this good news, “…they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word” (Matthew 28:8). They the women were as a symbol of the members of the church, who took the good new of The Word of GOD--The Risen Lord, and bore witness to their brethren, who were living in the shadow of the cross. Their brethren were in fear of the future, because all their hopes and dreams appeared to have been lost. But the women with the good news run to their brethren to give them hope that He was not dead, He is our risen Lord, and He is our soon coming King. But to many of our brothers and sisters in the church are living in fear of the future, because they have taken their eyes off the goal, to put them upon the things of this world, which are passing away. And if this world is all that they are living for, then they are missing the mark, to be greatly disappointed. But if they repent and look up to The Light of The Glory of the soon coming King, then they will be filled with His Joy and Hope, because the evidence are indicating more and more of His soon return.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). "We profess to be the repositories of God's law, and as a people professing [to have] greater light and to live up to a higher standard than any other people upon earth, we should show greater perfection of character and a deeper devotion, exalting sacred and eternal things. A most solemn message has been entrusted to those who have received the light of truth, and our light should shine forth in clear beams to brighten the pathway of those who are in darkness, and thus daily glorify God in our lives.
"Every member of the church has an individual responsibility as a member of the visible church, and a worker in the vineyard of the Lord, and should do his utmost to preserve harmony, union, and love in the church. . . . The evidence that the world cannot withstand and controvert, that God has sent Jesus into the world as its Redeemer, is in the oneness of the church. Their unity and harmony is the convincing argument. Satan is therefore constantly at work to prevent this harmony and union, that in witnessing the bickerings, strifes, and dissension, unbelievers shall become disgusted with Christianity, and fastened in unbelief and infidelity. God is dishonored by those who profess the truth while they are at variance with one another.
"If our profession ... [to have] greater truths than other denominations [have] does not lead to deeper consecration, and purer and holier lives, of what advantage is this truth to us? It would be better for us if we had never seen the light of truth, than to profess to accept it, and not be sanctified by it. To determine how great a matter is involved in the conversion of a soul from error to truth, we must appreciate the value of immortality, we must sense the pains of the second death. We must comprehend the honors and glory awaiting the ransomed, and understand what it is to live in the presence of Him who died that He might elevate, ennoble, and give to the overcomer a royal diadem.
"The worth of a soul cannot be fully estimated. How gratefully will the ransomed and glorified ones remember those who were instrumental in their salvation. Not one will forget his self-denying labors, his persevering efforts, his patience, perseverance, and earnest heart yearning for these souls who might have been lost to Jesus Christ, had he neglected his duty or became weary in well doing.--Manuscript 1, Feb. 18, 1880, "Church Difficulties." (The Upward Look, Page 63)
Notice that, as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, we should show concern one towards another. For it is unlikely for a person to ignore an injury of any kind, even to his, or her own body. When we see a friend, a family member, or even a neighbor in any form of trouble, our own hearts naturally goes out to them, to aid in bringing comfort. When they hurt, we hurt. When the enemy deceives our brothers and sisters, to lead them astray, to be lost in darkness and death, we should be like the women, who with fear and Joy, run to give The Word of Life to our brethren, who are perplexed, because of the apparent lost. Even Christ, Who is The Only begotten Son of GOD, He saw our need, and working with The Father, He came into this earth, to redeem us from the deception of the enemy, that we might be saved from darkness and death. Would we not want for someone to extend a helping hand when we also are in need?
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4). "It is not a casual touch with Christ that is needed, but it is to abide with Him. He called you to abide with Him. He does not propose to you a short-lived blessedness that is realized occasionally through earnest seeking of the Lord and passes away as you engage in the common duties of life. Your abiding with Christ makes every necessary duty light, for He bears the weight of every burden. He has prepared for you to abide with Him. This means that you are to be conscious of an abiding Christ, that you are continually with Christ, where your mind is encouraged and strengthened. . . .
"Do not stand outside of Christ, as many professed Christians of today. To "abide in me, and I in you" is a possible thing to do, and the invitation would not be given if you could not do this. Jesus our Saviour is constantly drawing you by His Holy Spirit, working with your mind that you will abide with Christ. . . . The blessings He bestows are all connected with your own individual action. Shall Christ be refused? He says, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). Of another class He says, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). . . .
"Have you, have I, fully comprehended the gracious call, "Come unto me"? He says, "Abide in me," not Abide with Me. "Do understand My call. Come to Me to stay with Me." He will freely bestow all blessings connected with Himself upon all who come to Him for life. He has something better for you than a short-lived blessedness that you feel when you seek the Lord in earnest prayer. That is but as a drop in the bucket, to have a word with Christ. You are privileged with His abiding presence in the place of a short-lived privilege that is not lasting as you engage in the duties of life. . . . Will anxiety, perplexity, and cares drive you away from Christ? Are we less dependent upon God when in the workshop, in the field, in the market-place? . . . The Lord Jesus will abide with you and you with Him in every place." (In Heavenly Places, Page 55)
Notice that it is when we come to Christ and abide in Him, we have made the connection to receive His blessings of Life. He wants us to walk in The Light of His Presence that we might receive His blessings of being connect to Him. Abiding in Christ is being in that one fellowship with Him, rather than being on the outside knocking to come in.
"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). "We must have a living dependence upon a living God. And when there is a living connection with a living God, Christ abides in the heart by living faith, and the human agent works after Christ's life. He is going to change our life and character, speaking the words that Christ speaks, revealing the character that Christ reveals. And if trials come to us, we will not manifest a rebellious spirit. The opportunities will present themselves to every one of us, because we see oppression and unkindness, and because we see burdens that would be thrown upon us, and let self come in and exhibit itself.
"We let self arise. We want to put the trials in their right place, and where is it? Christ says to everyone that is weary and heavy laden, "Come unto me." And what? "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." And notwithstanding the crush of conflict that we shall have to pass through if we accept the truth of heavenly origin, there is meekness and lowliness in every move. Hide in Jesus Christ. Our life and character is hid with Christ in God, so we cannot afford to let any impulse of passion control our words or control our actions, but we must keep the Saviour's example ever before us, and we must do just as Jesus would have done under similar circumstances. We are not to be revengeful.
"Now the work that is before us we want clearly to understand. It is a work of mercy, a work of love, a work just in Christ's lines. Just as Christ worked. He says that the nobleman went a long journey, and to every man he gave his work. The human agent is to cooperate with the divine. To everyone his work, and this is Christ's work. It is not the man's work. He is not to feel that all he has to do is to attend to his own individual self. No, there is a broader field. He is to occupy "till I come," and what is it to occupy? To be laborers together with God. Therefore, it is of the greatest consequence that we understand in clear lines what it is to be laborers together with God.
"We must be imbued with the Spirit of Christ. We cannot labor with God merely from our intellect or our education. We cannot buy the grace of God with money; we cannot but it with eloquence; we cannot buy it with the power of our intellect. It is God's to begin with. . . . We are to occupy to the best knowledge that we have, and sense our responsibility, and let our light shine through us to those that are around us, and in doing that we are doing the work of God.--Manuscript 11, Feb. 17, 1894, "Isaiah 58." (The Upward Look, Page 62)
Notice that even though Paul was not connected with the disciples while they were being instructed by The Lord, after Christ had returned to The Father, he later had that experience where The Light of Christ in Spirit was made visible to him, that his view was changed from his world of darkness, to having the veil of darkness removed from his mind, to see The Spiritual things of Christ, Who passed His Knowledge of GOD unto him. We cannot gain the same Knowledge of GOD through Christ by remaining in the dark. We must behold Christ daily as we spend quality time receiving His Spirit in us that His Light might shine through us to others.
In speaking to His disciples when He was instructing them, Christ Jesus said to Philip, who was yet in darkness of not seeing The Father, WHO was being revealed to him through Him. He said, “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it]” (John 14:10-14).
The same instructions that were given to the disciples at that time are given to us today. Some might be in darkness of not seeing The Spirit of Christ, Who is revealed through the Christians, who believe in Him. Like Philip, the skeptics might say to the Christians, show us Christ Jesus, and we will be satisfied. As Christians, who are walking in The Light and not in darkness, we should be able to open our mouths to bear witness of Him, Who speaks through us and say, “Do you believe not that Christ Jesus abides in us, and we abide in Him? We are to be like Paul, who said, “…we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord”, Who bears Witness through us. The very works that He does in His Father’s NAME, we are to do, and should do in His Name that He might be glorified in us, because it is He, Who does The Work and The Will of The Father in and through all, who will believe in Him that The Father might be glorified in Him, because we without Him can do nothing.
But many, who are in the shadow of darkness have that veil over their hearts, and see not The Truth of Christ, Who shines His Light to them, because, as Paul said, “…the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Notice that the adversary works vigilantly to keep those, who are in the shadow of the cross, to remain in the dark that they might not walk from darkness into The Marvelous Light of Christ, that His Light might shine unto them. And to keep them in this condition, he keeps their minds entertained with the things of this world, that they might find no quality time to spend with The Lord in receiving of His Spirit in them. If Christ Jesus cannot keep His Father’s Commandment in the professed Christians, to bear witness of His Love for GOD and Love for His fellowmen, then it means that many are not abiding in Him that He might abide in them.
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). "Jesus is the perfect pattern. Instead of trying to please self and have our own way, let us seek to reflect His image. He was kind and courteous, compassionate and tender. Are we like Him in these respects? Do we seek to make our lives fragrant with good works? What we need is the simplicity of Christ. I fear that in many cases a hard, unfeeling spirit, that is entirely unlike that of the divine Pattern, has taken possession of the heart. This cast-iron principle, which has been cherished by so many, and which has even been thought a virtue, must all be removed, that we may love one another as Christ has loved us.
"It is not enough that we merely profess the faith; something more than a nominal assent is wanted. There must be a real knowledge, a genuine experience in the principles of the truth as it is in Jesus. The Holy Spirit must work within, bringing these principles into the strong light of distinct consciousness, that we may know their power and make them a living reality. The mind must yield obedience to the royal law of liberty, the law which the Spirit of God impresses upon the heart, and makes plain to the understanding. The expulsion of sin must be the act of the soul itself, in calling into exercise its noblest powers. The only freedom a finite will can enjoy consists in coming into harmony with the will of God, complying with the conditions that make man a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. . . .
"The human character is depraved, deformed by sin, and terribly unlike that of the first man as he came from the hands of the Creator. Jesus proposes to take man's deformity and sin, and to give him, in return, beauty and excellence in his own character. He engages to renovate the soul through the truth. Error cannot do this work of regeneration; therefore we must have spiritual eyesight to discern between truth and falsehood, that we fall not into the snare of the enemy.--Review and Herald, Nov. 24, 1885. (Ye Shall Receive Power, Page 57)
Ellen G. White wrote to the members of the church and said, "Dear brethren and sisters: As error is fast progressing, we should seek to be awake in the cause of God, and realize the time in which we live. Darkness is to cover the earth, and gross darkness the people. And as nearly all around us are being enveloped in the thick darkness of error and delusion, it becomes us to shake off stupidity and live near to God, where we can draw divine rays of light and glory from the countenance of Jesus. As darkness thickens and error increases, we should obtain a more thorough knowledge of the truth and be prepared to maintain our position from the Scriptures.
"We must be sanctified through the truth, be wholly consecrated to God, and so live out our holy profession that the Lord can shed increasing light upon us, and that we may see light in His light, and be strengthened with His strength. Every moment that we are not on our watch we are liable to be beset by the enemy and are in great danger of being overcome by the powers of darkness. Satan commissions his angels to be vigilant and overthrow all they can; to find out the waywardness and besetting sins of those who profess the truth, and throw darkness around them, that they may cease to be watchful, take a course that will dishonor the cause they profess to love, and bring sorrow upon the church. The souls of these misguided, unwatchful ones grow darker, and the light of heaven fades from them. They cannot discover their besetting sins, and Satan weaves his net about them, and they are taken in his snare." (Early Writings, Supplement, Page 104, 105)
"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish" (Matthew 25:1, 2). "We are not to rest in the idea that because we are church-members we are saved, while we give no evidence that we are conformed to the image of Christ, while we cling to our old habits, and weave our fabric with the threads of worldly ideas and customs. . . . The ten virgins are watching in the evening of this earth's history. All claim to be Christians. All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all claim to be doing God's service. All apparently watch for His appearing. But five are wanting. Five will be found surprised, dismayed, outside the banquet hall.
"We are represented either by the wise or by the foolish virgins. There are many who will not remain at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. They have not a knowledge of His ways; they are not prepared for His coming. They have made a pretense of waiting for their Lord. They have not watched and prayed with that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. They have lived a life of carelessness. They have heard and assented to the truth, but they have never brought it into their practical life. The oil of grace is not feeding their lamps, and they are not prepared to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb.
"Be not like the foolish virgins, who take for granted that the promises of God are theirs, while they do not follow the injunctions of Christ. Christ teaches us that profession is nothing. "If any man will come after me," He says, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." . . . When we stand the test of God in the refining, purifying process; when the furnace fire consumes the dross, and the true gold of a purified character appears, we may still say, with Paul, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after. . . . This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Maranatha, Page 54)
Notice that many are not abiding in Christ, to remain at the feet of Jesus feeding upon His Words of Life to be in that one fellowship with Him. They are thinking only of self that leads to a separation in sin from The Law of Love for GOD, and a Love for their fellowmen. As members of the body of Christ, we are to deny ourselves, or take up our cross daily, to die to our selfish will, and to live for Christ and for the sake of our fellowmen. For Christ left His throne above, and came into this world, and died, taking no thought of self, but to save us from sin by revealing to us The Truth of The Father. He said, “…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). He died, not just for Christians, but for all, who will believe and follow Him, to live by His Life in them, just as He lived His life in the flesh as Jesus The Christ for our Example.
It is said, “The Lord looks upon our afflictions. He graciously and discriminately metes them out and apportions them. As a refiner of silver He watches us every moment until the purification is complete. The furnace is to purify and refine, not to destroy and consume. He will cause those who put their trust in Him to sing of mercies in the midst of judgments. He is ever watching to impart, when most needed, new and fresh blessings, strength in the hour of weakness, succor in the hour of danger, friends in the hour of loneliness, sympathy, human and divine, in the hour of sorrow. We are homeward bound. He that loveth us so much as to die for us hath builded for us a city. The New Jerusalem is our place of rest. There will be no sadness in the City of God. No wail of sadness. No dirge of crushed hopes and buried affection shall ever more be heard. . . .(Daughter of God, Page 224.1}
Notice that it is because of His love for us that He watches us every moment, ever watching to impart, when most needed, new and fresh blessings, to strengthen in the hour of weakness, to comfort, or to help in the hour of danger. He sends to us friends in the hour of loneliness, sympathy, human and divine, in the hour of sorrow, that we might not be on the side of darkness, but remain in the Sunlight of His Love, to know that we have a Father, WHO is ever watching to see if we are turning our hearts, to return unto Him. But as it was stated above, “When you are deeply shadowed it is because Satan has interposed himself between you and the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness.”
It is written that, “To those who comply with the conditions, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean," God's promise is, "I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. It is the privilege and the duty of every Christian to have a rich and abundant experience in the things of God. "I am the light of the world," said Jesus. "He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18. Every step of faith and obedience brings the soul into closer connection with the Light of the world, in whom there "is no darkness at all." The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine upon the servants of God, and they are to reflect His rays. As the stars tell us that there is a great light in heaven with whose glory they are made bright, so Christians are to make it manifest that there is a God on the throne of the universe whose character is worthy of praise and imitation. The graces of His Spirit, the purity and holiness of His character, will be manifest in His witnesses.” (The Great Controversy, Page 475.3)
The point of the cross, which points up is that we are to be in The Light of Christ, and not in the shadow of darkness. Why? Because, as He has revealed through Paul, GOD has commanded The Light to shine out of darkness to give The Light of The Glory of GOD, as we behold HIM in the face of Jesus Christ. Notice what Paul said of those, who are in darkness. He said, “…if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4). There are many things in the gospel that trouble and perplex the minds of many, who are confused, because they take not the time to understand The Word of GOD, Who is given to us that we might receive The Knowledge of GOD through receiving of HIS Word that all might know HIM by HIS Word.
"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times" (Psalms 12:6). "In His Word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. Spiritual darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the people. . . . Many, very many, are questioning the verity and truth of the Scriptures. Human reasoning and the imaginings of the human heart are undermining the inspiration of the Word of God, and that which should be received as granted, is surrounded with a cloud of mysticism. Nothing stands out in clear and distinct lines, upon rock bottom. This is one of the marked signs of the last days. . . .
"There are men who strive to be original, who are wise above what is written; therefore, their wisdom is foolishness. . . . In seeking to make plain or to unravel mysteries hid from ages from mortal man, they are like a man floundering about in the mud, unable to extricate himself and yet telling others how to get out of the muddy sea they themselves are in. This is a fit representation of the men who set themselves to correct the errors of the Bible. No man can improve the Bible by suggesting what the Lord meant to say or ought to have said. . . .
"I take the Bible just as it is, as the Inspired Word. I believe its utterances in an entire Bible. This Holy Book has withstood the assaults of Satan, who has united with evil men to make everything of divine character shrouded in clouds and darkness. But the Lord has preserved this Holy Book by His own miraculous power in its present shape--a chart or guidebook to the human family to show them the way to heaven. . . . We thank God that the Bible is prepared for the poor man as well as for the learned man. It is fitted for all ages and all classes." (The Faith I Live By, Page 13)
It is by receiving GOD’S Word, Who came among men, to live and reflect The Will of GOD that Jesus said to His disciples, who loved, and followed Him, Who was given to all, as an Example. He says to us, as He said to them, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. . . . “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:15, 21). This is a promise He will fulfill to all those, who will receive His Spirit in them. But how can He fulfill this promise, by His second coming, when many of His profess Christians are in darkness to the fulfilling of His Law, to allow Him to keep His Father’s Commandments in them?
"The enemy has worked in the religious world to deceive men into the belief that the law of God can be set aside. He has had long years of experience in this work, for he began with our first parents, using his powers to cause them to distrust God. If he could interpose himself between their souls and God, he knew that he would succeed. The prospect of becoming gods, knowing good and evil, was pleasing to Adam and Eve, and they yielded to the temptation. In receiving a knowledge of good and evil, men feel that they are gaining much; but they do not understand the purposes of Satan. They do not understand that they are taken in his snare when they tamper with the law of God. The enemy knows that if the church can be controlled by political enactments, if she can be led to unite with the world, she virtually acknowledges him as her head. Then the authority of man-made commandments will work to oppose the rule of the government of heaven. Under the leadership of Satan men will dispense with the righteous, holy enactments of God concerning the Sabbath, the observance of which is to be a sign between God and His people forever." (The Signs of The Times, November 22, 1899, The Signs of God's People, par. 1)
"If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). "Let this point be fully settled in every mind: If we accept Christ as a Redeemer we must accept Him as a Ruler. We cannot have the assurance, the perfect, confiding trust in Christ as our Saviour, until we acknowledge Him and are obedient to His commandments. Thus we evidence our allegiance to God. We have then the genuine ring in our faith. It works by love. Speak it from your heart: "Lord, I believe Thou hast died to redeem my soul. If Thou hast placed such a value upon my soul as to give Thy life for mine, I give my life and all its possibilities in all my weakness into Thy keeping." The will must be brought into complete harmony with the will of God.
"Today the invitation is given: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11:28, 29). Christ has rest for all who will wear His yoke and learn His meekness and lowliness of heart. Here we are taught restraint and obedience, and in this we shall find rest. Thank God that in humility and obedience we shall find just that which we all need so much--the rest that is found in faith and confidence and perfect trust. We must not manufacture an oppressive yoke for our necks. Let us take the yoke of Christ and in entire obedience draw with Him. . . .
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10). This is the yoke which Christ invites us to wear--the yoke of obedience. Can we not say, "Lord, I take Thee at Thy word; I receive Thy promise. I come to Thee because I need Thee as a personal Saviour. I must have an abiding Christ. I am dependent on Thee. Thou art mine." Christ says, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them"--not in pretense, but with the whole mind, heart, soul, and strength--"he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21). This is the true test of character. We must be doers of the Word." (That I Might Know Him, Page 293)
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:21, 22) "We need to have more of Jesus, and far less of self. We need a childlike simplicity that will lead us to tell the Lord all our wants, and believe that according to His riches and goodness and love He will satisfy our needs. "If ye shall ask any thing in my name," He says, "I will do it." If you love Me, you will show that love by keeping My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth." . . .
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." This is the only true test of character. In doing the will of God we give the best evidence that we love God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. The oft-repeated words of love for God are of no value unless that love is made manifest in the life practice. Love for God is not a mere sentiment; it is a living, working power. The man who does the will of his Father who is in heaven shows to the world that he loves God. The fruit of his love is seen in good works. . . .
"The apostle James saw that dangers would arise in presenting the subject of justification by faith, and he labored to show that genuine faith cannot exist without corresponding works. The experience of Abraham is presented. "Seest thou," he says, "how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" This genuine faith does a genuine work in the believer. Faith and obedience bring a solid, valuable experience.
"There is a belief that is not a saving faith. The Word declares that the devils believe and tremble. The so-called faith that does not work by love and purify the soul will not justify any man. "Ye see," says the apostle, "how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." Abraham believed God. How do we know that he believed? His works testified to the character of his faith, and his faith was accounted to him for righteousness. We need the faith of Abraham in our day, to lighten the darkness that gathers around us, shutting out the sweet sunlight of God's love, and dwarfing spiritual growth. Our faith should be prolific of good works; for faith without works is dead. Every duty performed, every sacrifice made in the name of Jesus, brings an exceeding great reward. In the very act of duty, God speaks and gives His blessing.--Signs of the Times, May 19, 1898." (Reflecting Christ, Page 79)
Notice that Christ Jesus had already revealed to His disciples that it was The Father, WHO dwells in Him that does the works. And if He--Christ Jesus abides in us and we in Him, He will accomplish The Father’s Will of keeping HIS Law of Love in us. If we don’t abide in Him, and He is us, He cannot glorify The Father in us. To void The Commandments of GOD is to follow the will of the adversary, who is the author of the rebellion against GOD Law in The Authority of HIS Word.
“And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:27). "A neglected work remains to be done, and we are to repent of our indifference toward this work, and pray for spiritual discernment to see and to sense, as we should, its urgent needs. To us has been entrusted enlightening, saving truth. All about us are multitudes who have never yet been enlightened. To these we must proclaim the lifesaving truths of the third angel's message. We are to hunt for souls, laboring with all diligence to communicate to others that which is for their eternal welfare.
"The unwarned multitudes are fast becoming the sport of the evil one. Satan is leading them into many forms of folly and self-pleasing. Many are seeking for that which is novel and startling; their minds are far from God and the truths of His Word. At this time, when the enemy is working as never before to engross the minds of men and women, and turn them from the truth, we should be laboring with increasing activity in the highways and also in the byways. Diligently, interestedly, we are to proclaim the last message of mercy in the cities--the highways--and the work is not to end there, but is to extend into the surrounding settlements and in the country districts--into the byways and the hedges.
"All classes are to be reached. As we labor, we shall meet with various nationalities. None are to be passed by, unwarned. The Lord Jesus was the gift of God to the entire world--not to the higher classes alone, and not to any one nationality, to the exclusion of others. His saving grace encircles the whole world. Whosoever will may drink of the water of life freely. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13). But there is earnest work to be done. The gospel invitation is to be given in every place, for "how . . . shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (verse 14).
"The Lord desires His people to arise, and do their appointed work. The responsibility rests not upon the ministry alone. The lay members of the church are to share the burdens of soul saving. . . . The Lord now calls upon those who have a knowledge of the truth for this time, to arouse from their lethargy, and become true missionaries in His service. Time is short, and the Lord's work must be done without further delay.--Letter 4, Feb. 15, 1911, to W. C. White. (The Upward Look, Page 60)
Like the women, who went to the tomb in the shadow of the cross, they received the good news of Christ resurrection, and wasted no time in running to their brethren, who were shut up in darkness and groom, because their Living Hope appeared to them as being lost forever. Even after the good news was given, many of the disciples believed not the report that was given with joy, and of the message to go into Galilee to see The Lord there. Had they not gone to investigate the findings of The Word of GOD given unto them, then they would have remained lost to The Promise of GOD in HIS Word.
"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13). "Meekness in the school of Christ is one of the marked fruits of the Spirit. It is a grace wrought by the Holy Spirit as a sanctifier, and enables its possessor at all times to control a rash and impetuous temper. When the grace of meekness is cherished by those who are naturally sour or hasty in disposition, they will put forth the most earnest efforts to subdue their unhappy temper. Every day they will gain self-control, until that which is unlovely and unlike Jesus is conquered. They become assimilated to the divine Pattern, until they can obey the inspired injunction, "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19).
"When a man professes to be sanctified, and yet in words and works may be represented by the impure fountain sending forth its bitter waters, we may safely say, that man is deceived. He needs to learn the very alphabet of what constitutes the life of a Christian. Some who profess to be servants to Christ have so long cherished the demon of unkindness that they seem to love the unhallowed element, and to take pleasure in speaking words that displease and irritate. These men must be converted, before Christ will acknowledge them as His children.
"Meekness is the inward adorning, which God estimates as of great price. The apostle speaks of this as more excellent and valuable than gold, or pearls, or costly array. While the outward adorning beautifies only the mortal body, the ornament of meekness adorns the soul, and connects finite man with the infinite God. This is the ornament of God's own choice. He who garnished the heavens with the orbs of light has by the same Spirit promised that He will "beautify the meek with salvation" (Ps. 149:4). Angels of heaven will register as best adorned, those who put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and walk with Him in meekness and lowliness of mind.--Review and Herald, Jan. 18, 1881." (Ye Shall Receive Power", Page 54)
By Carron Lake @ www.thelightoftheword.org
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:14)
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Evidence of Our Allegiance