TO BE HOLY
“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Pet. 16. To every Christian this command is undoubtedly the most “frightening” verse in scripture. Attaining holiness seems to be an unreachable goal, and this has discouraged many a reader. Ellen G. White, as a child, felt “shut out from the perfect joy of holiness (of) heart.” ST Feb. 3, 1876. The standard described in Mar. 230 states: “ The true Christian obtains an experience which brings holiness. He is without a spot of guilt upon the conscience, or a taint of corruption upon the soul. The spirituality of the law of God, with its limiting principles, is brought into his life. The light of truth irradiates his understanding. A glow of perfect love for the Redeemer clears away the miasma which has interposed between his soul and God. The will of God has become his will, pure, elevated, refined and sanctified. His countenance reveals the light of heaven. His body is a fit temple for the Holy Spirit. Holiness adorns his character. God can commune with him, for soul and body are in harmony with God.” What a lofty aspiration!
We know, too well, our condition. “All have sinned.” Rom 5:13. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth in not in us.” 1 Jn. 1:8. “All our righteousness is as filthy rags.” Isa. 6:4. We are so far from holiness.
What is holiness? The quote from Maranatha above defines personal holiness well for us. Webster’s Dictionary tells us it is “exalted or worthy of complete devotion, Divine, elevated entirely to the deity or the work of the deity, having a divine quality.” Wikipedia on line dictionary states it is “wholeness, may be taken to indicates a state of religious completeness or perfection.” The word describes God as deity, or a condition of the believer, or people or articles dedicated to God in most Biblical references. The Hebrew word is Kedushah, meaning “ set apart, separated, separateness.” This is echoed in 2 Cor. 6:17 “Come apart from them and be ye separate.” Heb. 7:26 tells us to be “undefiled, separate from sinners.” Numbers 6:2, in referring to dedicating to a holy purpose, calls them to “separate themselves unto the Lord.” .The Hebrew word Nazar, for separate, means set apart for sacred purpose, consecrate, abstain from. The term sanctify, has the same meaning. The Greek word for holy, hagios, means blameless, sacred, to purify, consecrate. (Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.)
The Biblical use of holy refers to be dedicated to God, having the presence of God, being a name of God, having the characteristics of the divine, as in Isaiah 57:15 “The lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place.”
Psalms 11 states: “The Lord is in His holy temple.” Several things and people are referred to as holy: prophets, brethren, covenant, tithe, oil, offering, name, kiss, fruit, day, clothes, Sabbath, nation, temple, convocation (meeting), hill, law, commandment, faith, virgin, promise, water, all within the Biblical definition. Even the ground can be holy, as in Acts 7:33. (David, in pleading his case to God in Ps. 86:2, even referred to himself- “I am holy”-the term he used was chesed, which almost undefineable in English, means “one who shows divine love,.” Among other meanings.)
The definitions of holiness only emphasize our distance from holiness. Yet the pen of Inspiration states: “Without holiness, the Word of God tells us, no man can see the Lord. Without purity of life it is impossible for us to be fitted and prepared to dwell with the holy and sinless angels in a pure and holy heaven. No sin can be there. No impurity can enter the pearly gates of the golden city of God. And the question for us to settle is, whether we will turn from all sin and comply with the conditions God has given us that we may become His sons and daughters. Separation from the world He requires of us in order to become members of the royal family.” RH April 12, 1870. “This perfection you must reach. Should I tell you that you need not be very earnest, you need not be very active, the Lord is pleased to have you enjoy the things of this life, therefore you may be as calm and moderate in religious things as you choose, and while you are thus doing you will be gaining everlasting life, I should be telling you things not written in this book.” (Ibid) .
This is the standard we must reach, but it is reachable. To reach heaven one must be holy. We have read. Enoch, and Elijah were taken to heaven without seeing death. Moses and the faithful dead in Jerusalem when Christ died, were raised from the dead and taken to heaven. Revelation 7:9 tells us “A great multitude, who no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes.” The saved will be so many “no man could number” them, so holiness is reachable.
How is perfection attained? “Holiness is within the reach of all who reach for it by faith, not because of their good works, but because of Christ’s merits.” 7 BC 908. “Accepting Christ as a personal Savior, and following His example of self-denial- this is the secret of holiness.” AG 120. “There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul and attract it to God, to holiness.” AG 120 “Holiness..is an entire surrender of the will to God.” (Ibid) “Be ye therefore perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect’ We are to keep Christ as our pattern ever in view, and by contemplating Him we become transformed in character. His own righteousness is imputed to us. Therefore all virtue, all light, all that is of any value, is derived from Christ.” MM Oct. 1, 1893.
The power to be holy comes from Christ, but the surrender of the will, the daily surrendering of the life to God, the daily repentance, is the work of the Christian through the power of the inworking of the Holy Spirit. It is a process that involves every waking minute, growing in grace, perfecting the character. It is our “Duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God” GC 429, RH Sept 7, 1886, OHC 230. “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Peter tells us. 2 Pet. 7:1. “’He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.’ (1 Jn. 2:6). We cannot plead that we are unable to do this, for we have the assurance, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’ (2 Cor. 12:9). As we look into the divine mirror, the law of God, we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and our own lost condition as transgressors. But by repentance and faith we are justified before God, and through divine grace enabled to render obedience to His commandments.” SL 6.
This is a daily work, a constant effort. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you..” Phil. 2:12. “If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23. “True sanctification is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall last…battling with daily temptations, overcoming their own sinful tendencies, and seeking for holiness of heart and life….They are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sin appears to them exceedingly sinful.” SL 10. “Sanctification is a state of holiness, without and within, being holy and without reserve the Lord’s, not in form, but in truth. Every impurity of thought, every lustful passion, separates the soul from God; for Christ can never put His robe of righteousness upon a sinner to hide his deformity…There must be a progressive work of triumph over evil, of sympathy with good, a reflection of the character of Jesus. We must walk in the light, which will increase and grow brighter unto the perfect day. This is real, substantial growth, which will finally attain to the full stature of men and women in Jesus Christ…” OHC 214. “It is the worthiness of Christ that must save us. His blood that must cleanse us.. But we have efforts to make. We must do what we can, be zealous and repent, then believe that God accepts us.” OHC 351 “”Only those who are willing to sacrifice all for the eternal life will have it; but it will be worth suffering for, worth crucifying self and sacrificing every idol for.” OHC 351. “The gold of faith and love, the white raiment of a spotless character, and the eyesalve, or the power of clear discernment between good and evil- all these we must obtain before we can hope to enter the kingdom of God. But these precious treasures will not drop upon us without some exertion on our part. We must buy-we must ‘be zealous and repent’ of our lukewarm state. We must be awake to see our wrongs, to search for our sins, and to put them away from us.” OHC 351. “There is no resting spot here; there is no period when you can relax your efforts, no period when you can safely cease striving, agonizing, to enter in at the strait gate.” MM Oct. 1, 1893. Daily searching the life and confessing your sin and seeking repentance are crucial. “All who endeavor to excuse or conceal their sins, and permit them to remain on the books of heaven, unconfessed and unforgiven, will be overcome by Satan.” GC 544. “Opportunity is now given you to improve and become perfect this side of judgment. You must obtain a moral fitness here to meet your God. You should be right, just right, if you wish to obtain an entrance the gates of the holy city of God.” RH april 12, 1870. This is a work that must be done daily, constantly, for we are told concerning the close of probation, which could happen to any of us at any time, “Just as you then are, you will remain. Just as you fall, you will come up in the resurrection. And if you are living when the Son of Man is revealed, just as you are then found when He shall appear, if unready, so you must remain.The impure cannot then obtain perfection of Christian character. No work of purification can then be performed.” RH april 12, 1870.
There will never come a time when the Christian feels they have attained holiness. “The more closely they contemplate the life and character of Jesus, the more deeply they will feel their own sinfulness, and the less will they be disposed to claim holiness of heart or to boast of their sanctification.” SL. 79. “The more we contemplate the character of Christ, and the more we experience of his saving power, the more keenly shall we realize our own weakness and imperfection, and the more earnestly shall we look to Him as our strength and our Redeemer.” SL. 83. “No one who claims holiness is really holy. Those who are registered in the books of heaven are not aware of this fact, and are the last ones to boast of their own goodness.” NL 57.
Enoch, a man so close to God, a man who achieved holiness to the point that God took him to heaven without seeing death, is a fit example for us. “To him prayer was the breath of the soul. He lived in the very atmosphere of heaven.” PP. 85. “The godly character of this prophet represents the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be ‘redeemed from the earth’ (Rev. 14:3) at the time of Christ’s second advent…But like Enoch, God’s people will seek for purity of heart and conformity to His will, until they reflect the likeness of Christ.” PP 88,89.
You have searched your heart and confessed every sin you have found- you have given your will to Christ, “all your soul,” –you have given your life to serving others-you cherish your time in prayer and you “live in an attitude of prayer”- then, though only the angels can see it, you wear the white robe of Christ’s righteousness*, and you are seen as holy. Christ is in you and you have accepted Him as your Saviour. You are holy-whole before God, separate from this world, dedicated to Him, set apart for his service, a vessel for the presence of God.
Additional material:
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Certificate of property ownership
Certificate of property ownership
This is to certify that the property:
Plot 45,438
Seventh Tier
New Jerusalem
Is the property of Sarah Corbett who has sole and legal ownership. According the following terms: “Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Jn. 14:1-3” “ Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Heaven p55)
This title includes the golden mansion and attached garden areas and gives the owner shared ownership and access to the streets of transparent gold.
Said mansion includes a built in shelf of Gold which shall be the area set aside for the golden crown with attached stars, when said crown is not in direct use. All this according to the terms: “A crown of glory…is laid up for us who wait, and love, and long for, the appearing of the Saviour.” Mar. 309,310. “I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city glorious crowns- a crown for every saint, with his name written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to Him, and with His own right hand the lovely Jesus placed the crowns on the heads of the saints.”Mar 309, 310.
Said property is in Reserved Area # 67754, reserved for faithful Pathfinders and Pathfinder staff members. There shall be weekly, non-mandatory drill and marching exercises on the streets of gold there with rejoicing and perfect step and harmony.
This Deed Certified by:
Recording Angel #56,788
Fourth Level
This is to certify that the property:
Plot 45,438
Seventh Tier
New Jerusalem
Is the property of Sarah Corbett who has sole and legal ownership. According the following terms: “Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Jn. 14:1-3” “ Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Heaven p55)
This title includes the golden mansion and attached garden areas and gives the owner shared ownership and access to the streets of transparent gold.
Said mansion includes a built in shelf of Gold which shall be the area set aside for the golden crown with attached stars, when said crown is not in direct use. All this according to the terms: “A crown of glory…is laid up for us who wait, and love, and long for, the appearing of the Saviour.” Mar. 309,310. “I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city glorious crowns- a crown for every saint, with his name written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to Him, and with His own right hand the lovely Jesus placed the crowns on the heads of the saints.”Mar 309, 310.
Said property is in Reserved Area # 67754, reserved for faithful Pathfinders and Pathfinder staff members. There shall be weekly, non-mandatory drill and marching exercises on the streets of gold there with rejoicing and perfect step and harmony.
This Deed Certified by:
Recording Angel #56,788
Fourth Level
Why we are here defines what is important
Why we are here defines what is important
Why are we here? We are here to form righteous characters, follow God, and to serve others. The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, wrote: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl. 12:13) The whole duty, not a side interest while we pursue worldly “success” John Mark and Doctor Luke echo this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) The emphasis is on the word ALL. The prophet Micah in Micah 6:8, writes: “He has shown thee oh man what is good, and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.”
Over and over again the Bible writers emphasize our purpose in living is to help others. “I give you a new commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18, Matt. 19:19, John 15:12)
God defines why we are here, it is not ours to decide. God, our Creator and Sustainer, tells us “You are not your own. You are bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19,20)
This life is important because it is my only chance, by God’s power, to prepare my character for eternity. My time on earth is important because it is time spent in helping others and witnessing for my Lord. This life is important because God is using me to show His love to others. But in these reasons and only these, is it important in the grand scheme of things. We are the bride of Christ and our whole concentration is on preparing for the coming of the Bridegroom- with All of our mind and strength and soul and heart. A bride sits, fingering the lace of her wedding gown, waiting for the time in keen anticipation- looking forward to a life of shared love that grows with each passing day- looking forward to the coming of the groom who has promised to love her forever and to always be there with her and for her. We are that bride.
We do not discount this life- we put it into perspective. If we follow Him this life will have fulfillment and peace and joy, “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) “Thou shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” (Isa. 26:3) “But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.” (Gal. 5:22) These are values of the heart. The body may have troubles, illness, poverty, stress- but these values are possible through God’s gift of them to us. We have no guarantees of being appreciated, or loved, or of wealth or prestige. These are not important to our purpose. Our earthly success or accomplishments are not our purpose. (If it serves God’s purpose His followers may become people of prestige and power and riches, as in Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Esther, Mordecai, David and Solomon. If it serves His purpose His followers give up their successful businesses to serve Him, as in Matthew and James and John. The disciples and apostles were not recorded to be men of worldly wealth but were men wholly dedicated to fulfilling their purpose in life. Jesus had “not a place to lay His head” yet lived the most important and purposeful life the world has ever known.)
Life on earth does not give you peace or joy or fulfillment. It distracts you from your God-given purpose. Life here, though it screams for your attention, trying to drown out the voice of God, is hollow. “All flesh is like grass and its glory like the flowering of grass.” (1 Pet. 1:24) “Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes…” (James 4:13-17) “Time and chance happen to them all…no one can anticipate the time of disaster.” (Eccl. 9:11-12) “Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, all is vanity.” (Eccl. 12:8) As the song says: “This world is not my home, I’m just a stranger here.” In this world Christians are “aliens and exiles” (1 Pet. 2:11) It is said of Christians: “But they desire a better country, a heavenly.”(Heb. 11:16) We look forward to going home “to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb. 11:10)
The ending of this life is so much different for the Christian whose priority is a relationship with God and serving his fellow man. He does not go out scratching and clawing to hold on to life with both hands because this life is not that important. When I die, I may fear death because I am human and fear the “unknown”, but if I do this will be a ridiculous fear because it is NOT the unknown. I know it is a sleep without consciousness, and I know The next conscious thought is when I see Jesus coming again in the clouds of glory and I see an angel reaching out his hand for me, to take me to me Saviour. (1Thess. 4:16, Eccl. 9:5,6) If it is a conscious moment, I should raise my hand to grasp that of the angel coming for me, because that is, for me, reality. The priority of our life as Christians is to be with the Lord, not to hang on to this sinful sphere. Christ at this death uttered the words: “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” Stephen, at his death, prayed: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59) The great heroes of the Reformation showed they were looking forward to heaven, not hanging on to this world. Just before his death John Calvin stated he looked forward to a “happy resurrection.” Huldreich Zwingli, dying from wounds in battle with Catholic armies, said “What does it matter. The body they can kill, but not the soul.” Martin Luther’s last words were: “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit. Thou hast redeemed me God of truth.” John Huss, just before dying at the stake, spoke: “In the truth of the gospel, which I have written, taught, and preached, I will die today with gladness.” Jerome of Prague sang hymns on the way to his execution and told the executioner who was to light the fire around him: “Come forward boldly; apply the fire before my face. Had I been afraid, I should not be here” His lips continued to move in prayer as the fire consumed him. Truly they all followed the Bible admonition: “Take no thought for your life.” (Matt. 6:25)
In the service of God there will be things that happen to the Christian that he would not will; discomfort, sorrow, illness, death of family members, his own death. He will not understand why these things are happening. He will echo Job “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job. 38:42) God created me. He gives me life every moment. He has the right as my Creator and Sustainer to do with my life as He wishes. God loves me with an everlasting love. There is no question about that- Christ answered that on the cross. Therefore, if God sees fit that my life has trials or ends, I accept that “My ways are not your ways” and His decision was made in love. For years Christians have prayed “Thy will be done”- this is an acceptance of God being smarter than we are, of placing our lives totally to take or use as He sees fit, according to His Divine will. Will we ever understand why these things happen while we are on this earth? To be able to do so would be knowing the mind of God. The Bible gives us glimpses “through a glass darkly” but only in time eternal will we understand, and maybe not even then. Our understanding is not important- only our faith in our Savior. Throughout recorded history Christ has been leading us and guiding us in love. This same Jesus we worship and love because of His sacrifice is the same God that created the world, spoke from the burning bush, watched over the children of Israel in the pillar of fire by night, that serves as our intercessor and priest in the heavenly sanctuary now, and that will come again as conqueror, king, shepherd, priest and judge. This same Jesus will walk and talk with us in the New Jerusalem and will be our glorious light, so much so that there will be no need for sun or moon (Rev. 21:22) Do we understand this?- no more than we understand creation, His resurrection, or His incarnation. We live for and look forward to what we do not understand, for the Bible tells us: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) Humans, in their pride of heart, question what they do not understand. Christians accept the mind of God, and do not expect to understand until it is revealed to them.
All we need to know is “All things work together for Good to them that love God.” (Rom. 8:22), and that why we are here defines who we are, even in heaven, on the sea of glass before the pearly gates- “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints. Those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:22, 12:17)
Why are we here? We are here to form righteous characters, follow God, and to serve others. The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, wrote: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl. 12:13) The whole duty, not a side interest while we pursue worldly “success” John Mark and Doctor Luke echo this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) The emphasis is on the word ALL. The prophet Micah in Micah 6:8, writes: “He has shown thee oh man what is good, and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.”
Over and over again the Bible writers emphasize our purpose in living is to help others. “I give you a new commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18, Matt. 19:19, John 15:12)
God defines why we are here, it is not ours to decide. God, our Creator and Sustainer, tells us “You are not your own. You are bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19,20)
This life is important because it is my only chance, by God’s power, to prepare my character for eternity. My time on earth is important because it is time spent in helping others and witnessing for my Lord. This life is important because God is using me to show His love to others. But in these reasons and only these, is it important in the grand scheme of things. We are the bride of Christ and our whole concentration is on preparing for the coming of the Bridegroom- with All of our mind and strength and soul and heart. A bride sits, fingering the lace of her wedding gown, waiting for the time in keen anticipation- looking forward to a life of shared love that grows with each passing day- looking forward to the coming of the groom who has promised to love her forever and to always be there with her and for her. We are that bride.
We do not discount this life- we put it into perspective. If we follow Him this life will have fulfillment and peace and joy, “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) “Thou shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” (Isa. 26:3) “But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.” (Gal. 5:22) These are values of the heart. The body may have troubles, illness, poverty, stress- but these values are possible through God’s gift of them to us. We have no guarantees of being appreciated, or loved, or of wealth or prestige. These are not important to our purpose. Our earthly success or accomplishments are not our purpose. (If it serves God’s purpose His followers may become people of prestige and power and riches, as in Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Esther, Mordecai, David and Solomon. If it serves His purpose His followers give up their successful businesses to serve Him, as in Matthew and James and John. The disciples and apostles were not recorded to be men of worldly wealth but were men wholly dedicated to fulfilling their purpose in life. Jesus had “not a place to lay His head” yet lived the most important and purposeful life the world has ever known.)
Life on earth does not give you peace or joy or fulfillment. It distracts you from your God-given purpose. Life here, though it screams for your attention, trying to drown out the voice of God, is hollow. “All flesh is like grass and its glory like the flowering of grass.” (1 Pet. 1:24) “Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes…” (James 4:13-17) “Time and chance happen to them all…no one can anticipate the time of disaster.” (Eccl. 9:11-12) “Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, all is vanity.” (Eccl. 12:8) As the song says: “This world is not my home, I’m just a stranger here.” In this world Christians are “aliens and exiles” (1 Pet. 2:11) It is said of Christians: “But they desire a better country, a heavenly.”(Heb. 11:16) We look forward to going home “to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb. 11:10)
The ending of this life is so much different for the Christian whose priority is a relationship with God and serving his fellow man. He does not go out scratching and clawing to hold on to life with both hands because this life is not that important. When I die, I may fear death because I am human and fear the “unknown”, but if I do this will be a ridiculous fear because it is NOT the unknown. I know it is a sleep without consciousness, and I know The next conscious thought is when I see Jesus coming again in the clouds of glory and I see an angel reaching out his hand for me, to take me to me Saviour. (1Thess. 4:16, Eccl. 9:5,6) If it is a conscious moment, I should raise my hand to grasp that of the angel coming for me, because that is, for me, reality. The priority of our life as Christians is to be with the Lord, not to hang on to this sinful sphere. Christ at this death uttered the words: “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” Stephen, at his death, prayed: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59) The great heroes of the Reformation showed they were looking forward to heaven, not hanging on to this world. Just before his death John Calvin stated he looked forward to a “happy resurrection.” Huldreich Zwingli, dying from wounds in battle with Catholic armies, said “What does it matter. The body they can kill, but not the soul.” Martin Luther’s last words were: “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit. Thou hast redeemed me God of truth.” John Huss, just before dying at the stake, spoke: “In the truth of the gospel, which I have written, taught, and preached, I will die today with gladness.” Jerome of Prague sang hymns on the way to his execution and told the executioner who was to light the fire around him: “Come forward boldly; apply the fire before my face. Had I been afraid, I should not be here” His lips continued to move in prayer as the fire consumed him. Truly they all followed the Bible admonition: “Take no thought for your life.” (Matt. 6:25)
In the service of God there will be things that happen to the Christian that he would not will; discomfort, sorrow, illness, death of family members, his own death. He will not understand why these things are happening. He will echo Job “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job. 38:42) God created me. He gives me life every moment. He has the right as my Creator and Sustainer to do with my life as He wishes. God loves me with an everlasting love. There is no question about that- Christ answered that on the cross. Therefore, if God sees fit that my life has trials or ends, I accept that “My ways are not your ways” and His decision was made in love. For years Christians have prayed “Thy will be done”- this is an acceptance of God being smarter than we are, of placing our lives totally to take or use as He sees fit, according to His Divine will. Will we ever understand why these things happen while we are on this earth? To be able to do so would be knowing the mind of God. The Bible gives us glimpses “through a glass darkly” but only in time eternal will we understand, and maybe not even then. Our understanding is not important- only our faith in our Savior. Throughout recorded history Christ has been leading us and guiding us in love. This same Jesus we worship and love because of His sacrifice is the same God that created the world, spoke from the burning bush, watched over the children of Israel in the pillar of fire by night, that serves as our intercessor and priest in the heavenly sanctuary now, and that will come again as conqueror, king, shepherd, priest and judge. This same Jesus will walk and talk with us in the New Jerusalem and will be our glorious light, so much so that there will be no need for sun or moon (Rev. 21:22) Do we understand this?- no more than we understand creation, His resurrection, or His incarnation. We live for and look forward to what we do not understand, for the Bible tells us: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) Humans, in their pride of heart, question what they do not understand. Christians accept the mind of God, and do not expect to understand until it is revealed to them.
All we need to know is “All things work together for Good to them that love God.” (Rom. 8:22), and that why we are here defines who we are, even in heaven, on the sea of glass before the pearly gates- “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints. Those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:22, 12:17)
Answered Prayer
Answered Prayer
1. Always ask for forgiveness of your sins before you pray. Your heart needs to be set right with God for Him to hear you. Always pray in Jesus name.
2. Mean what you say. Sincere, heartfelt prayer is heard. “Now I lay me down to sleep” said without thought or meaning goes no higher than the ceiling. “ The most eloquent prayers are but idle words if they do not express the true sentiments of the heart, but the prayer that comes from an earnest heart, when the simple wants of the soul are expressed, as we would ask an earthly friend for a favor, expecting it to be granted-this the prayer of faith.”
3. “To every sincere prayer an answer WILL COME. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it, but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need…..God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your own good.” Prayer p8.
4. Do your part to fulfill what you pray for , your work. You cannot expect God to help you on a test if you have not studied for it.
5. “ We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should take it to the Lord in prayer.” “Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice.”
6. “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.”
7. God is able to answer our prayers, He is strong enough to do anything. “With God all things are possible.” We can have “firm assurance” that He is capable of filling our needs.
8. “We should have the door of the heart open continually” to God in prayer. If we did this, we would never sin!
9. “Prayer is the breath of the soul, It is the secret of spiritual power.” You often hear people say that they were not strong enough to resist the temptation- if they were praying about it sincerely, they could.
10. “Neglect the exercise of prayer or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God.”
11. Prayers are taken to heaven by the angels and presented to God by Christ Himself, translated in a form acceptable to God.
12. “If you offer no prayer for help…your neglect of duty will be marked in the book of God in heaven.”
13. “Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work.”
14. “Only the work accomplished with much prayer and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good.”
15. “It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask.” *********
16. “If your faith wavers, you will receive nothing from Him.” If you don’t believe He can or will help then your prayer will not be answered. Faith, Belief is mandatory for answered prayer. “Blessings received are proportionate to the faith exercised. “according to your faith be it unto you.” “
17. “He longs to have you expect great things from Him. He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as in spiritual matters. He can sharpen the intellect. He can give tact and skill. Put your talents into the work. AskGod for wisdom and it will be given you. “
18. There are prayers that if they are sincere, God always answers YES to. They are for wisdom, “for the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive and return thanks to God that we have received.”
19. “The Bible should never be studied without prayer.” The Holy Spirit alone can give you understanding of it.
20. “If we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted.” “If we render to Him only a partial, halfhearted obedience, His promises will not be fulfilled to us.”***********
21. Tithes and offerings- “But if we withhold from Him that which is His own, how can we expect Him to entrust us with the things of heaven? It may be that this is the secret of unanswered prayer.” COL.44.
22. “Sometimes answers to our prayers come immediately; sometimes we have to wait patiently and continue earnestly to plead for the things that we need. “
23. “Often our plans fail that God’s plans for us may succeed.” “In the future life the mysteries that have here annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.” Remember that “ Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to that that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children.”
24. “Continual earnest Prayer is the way to walk with God. “This is how Enoch walked with God.”
25. ”The youth who finds his joy in reading the word of God, and in the hour of prayer, will be constantly refreshed by drafts from the fountain of life. His will attain a height of moral excellence and a breadth of thought of which others cannot conceive. Communion with God encourages good thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, and lofty purposes of action.”
26. “Any amusement in which you can engage asking the blessing of God upon it in faith, will not be dangerous.”
1. Always ask for forgiveness of your sins before you pray. Your heart needs to be set right with God for Him to hear you. Always pray in Jesus name.
2. Mean what you say. Sincere, heartfelt prayer is heard. “Now I lay me down to sleep” said without thought or meaning goes no higher than the ceiling. “ The most eloquent prayers are but idle words if they do not express the true sentiments of the heart, but the prayer that comes from an earnest heart, when the simple wants of the soul are expressed, as we would ask an earthly friend for a favor, expecting it to be granted-this the prayer of faith.”
3. “To every sincere prayer an answer WILL COME. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it, but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need…..God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your own good.” Prayer p8.
4. Do your part to fulfill what you pray for , your work. You cannot expect God to help you on a test if you have not studied for it.
5. “ We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should take it to the Lord in prayer.” “Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice.”
6. “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.”
7. God is able to answer our prayers, He is strong enough to do anything. “With God all things are possible.” We can have “firm assurance” that He is capable of filling our needs.
8. “We should have the door of the heart open continually” to God in prayer. If we did this, we would never sin!
9. “Prayer is the breath of the soul, It is the secret of spiritual power.” You often hear people say that they were not strong enough to resist the temptation- if they were praying about it sincerely, they could.
10. “Neglect the exercise of prayer or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God.”
11. Prayers are taken to heaven by the angels and presented to God by Christ Himself, translated in a form acceptable to God.
12. “If you offer no prayer for help…your neglect of duty will be marked in the book of God in heaven.”
13. “Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work.”
14. “Only the work accomplished with much prayer and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good.”
15. “It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask.” *********
16. “If your faith wavers, you will receive nothing from Him.” If you don’t believe He can or will help then your prayer will not be answered. Faith, Belief is mandatory for answered prayer. “Blessings received are proportionate to the faith exercised. “according to your faith be it unto you.” “
17. “He longs to have you expect great things from Him. He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as in spiritual matters. He can sharpen the intellect. He can give tact and skill. Put your talents into the work. AskGod for wisdom and it will be given you. “
18. There are prayers that if they are sincere, God always answers YES to. They are for wisdom, “for the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive and return thanks to God that we have received.”
19. “The Bible should never be studied without prayer.” The Holy Spirit alone can give you understanding of it.
20. “If we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted.” “If we render to Him only a partial, halfhearted obedience, His promises will not be fulfilled to us.”***********
21. Tithes and offerings- “But if we withhold from Him that which is His own, how can we expect Him to entrust us with the things of heaven? It may be that this is the secret of unanswered prayer.” COL.44.
22. “Sometimes answers to our prayers come immediately; sometimes we have to wait patiently and continue earnestly to plead for the things that we need. “
23. “Often our plans fail that God’s plans for us may succeed.” “In the future life the mysteries that have here annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.” Remember that “ Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to that that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children.”
24. “Continual earnest Prayer is the way to walk with God. “This is how Enoch walked with God.”
25. ”The youth who finds his joy in reading the word of God, and in the hour of prayer, will be constantly refreshed by drafts from the fountain of life. His will attain a height of moral excellence and a breadth of thought of which others cannot conceive. Communion with God encourages good thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, and lofty purposes of action.”
26. “Any amusement in which you can engage asking the blessing of God upon it in faith, will not be dangerous.”
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Way
The only Door, the only Path
The only Door:“Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Me.”(John 14:6) “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ” (1 John 2:1) We have but one advocate. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Only He can cleanse us. “Nor is there salvation in any other, there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”(Acts. 4:12) “Through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men”(Rom. 5:18) “I am the door, if any man enter by Me he will be saved.” (John 10:9)
“The one thing for us to know is Christ, ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ ‘this is life eternal’ he said, ‘that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”(ST Jan. 6, 1898) “If these looked to Jesus..they would realize the truth of the words, ‘without Me you can do nothing.”(Ibid) “..with His own body Christ bridged the gulf that sin had made.” (Ibid) “Christ is the ladder to heaven. The base of the ladder rests firmly on the earth, brought to the very level of humanity, while the topmost round reaches and rests firmly on the throne of God.” (Ibid.) “We can reach heaven only by the mystic ladder, Jesus Christ.” (Ibid.) “Had it not been for Christ, the way to heaven would never have been known by the fallen race.” (TMK 82) “Since the first gospel sermon was preached, when in Eden it was declared that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head, Christ has been uplifted as the the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (ST Jan 13, 1898) “Christ was the way by which the patriarchs were saved…enshrouded in the pillar of cloud and giving directions to Moses to be given to the children of Israel. There was plenty of light in the old way to lead every soul to the abodes of bliss.”(Ibid.) Only through Him could salvation even be possible-“Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression.” (CHS 19)
Jesus is the only Way, the only Door, the only ladder, the only Bridge. The sanctuary service of the Old Testament illustrates this beautifully. There was only one entrance, one door, to the way of salvation, “through” Him. (Rom. 5:19, 10: 9,10) I enter and claim the sacrifice that He made and He alone could make. I step forward to the laver and am cleansed of all my sin by Him. In faith I enter the Holy Place and to my left is the 7-branched candlestick and I see Christ as the “light of the world.” To my right is the table of showbread, where Jesus has told me “Take eat, this is my body,” and has told me “I am the living bread which came down from heaven”(John 6:48) I know that Just knowing about Christ is not enough, I must “eat” the bread, I must internalize Christ and take Him into my life as an integral, living part of me.(CHS 33, Rom. 2:13) I step forward with Jesus to the altar of incense where He Himself sends my prayers and confessions to God, and He Himself is my advocate with the Father.(CHS 32), and I know “No one comes to the Father but by Me.”(Rom. 8: 26,27, 34) In faith, with Him, I pass through the veil, which is His body (Heb. 10:19-22) and where He took all my sins upon Himself. And at last, I stand at the mercy seat, the throne of God, where perfect love and perfect justice meet, and I stand there in the pure white robe of Christ’s righteousness with my High Priest, and I know I am only there because He has given His blood to redeem me from my sins. Every step I have taken has been because of Him and what he has done for me, and only Jesus could take me here. There is no other way. Justification and sanctification is all about Jesus. (As one stands back and views the sanctuary from above, the furniture forms the form of a cross (Path To the Throne of God by Sarah Peck 269) and this is only right, for the cross explains the character of Christ. “The mystery of the cross explains all other mysteries. In the light that streams from Calvary the attributes of God which had filled us with fear and awe appear beautiful and attractive. Mercy, tenderness and parental love are seen to blend with holiness, justice, and power.” (GC 571))
The only path:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7: 13,14, HP 266) “Search me O God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:24) “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk.” (Ps. 143) “Righteousness shall go before him (that fear Him) and He shall set us in the way of His steps.”(Ps. 85:13) “The way of the Lord is strength to the upright.” (Prov. 10:29)
The way of righteousness involves recognizing our sin, confessing it, asking forgiveness for it, and giving up our will to follow the will of God, and some day soon attaining His kingdom in heaven.. This is the only way to salvation. E.G. White describes this way in many terms, which include the way as: path of obedience, peace, light, of holiness, righteousness, for the pilgrim, consecrated by His footsteps(YI May 21, 1903), truth, leading to eternal life, where God leads, to the paradise of God, will grow clearer, will be illuminated, marked out, will grow brighter and brighter, of self denial and sacrifice, of God’s providence, open, that God has chosen, safe. “It is a difficult path.” (ST June 22, 1904)
“The way of righteousness is Life”(Job 12:28) we are told. This way has two main characteristics, following the law and scriptures, and giving up one’s will to God ( which in truth are one and the same). As to following the law it describes “the way of Thy testimonies…Thy precepts..of truth..of Thy commandments, of Thy statutes.” (Ps. 119) “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” (Prov. 6:23) Giving up one’s will to God is mandatory to follow this path. “But the way of life is narrow and the entrance straight. If you cling to any besetting sin, you will find the gateway too narrow for you to enter. Your own ways, your own will, your wrong habits and unchristlike practices, must be given up if you would keep the way of the Lord.” “Toil, patience, self-sacrifice, reproach, poverty, the contradiction of sinners against Himself, was the portion of Christ, and it must be our portion, if we ever enter the Paradise of God.” (ST June 22, 1904) “The first step in the path of obedience is to surrender..the path of faith and self-denial is an upward path.” (BEcho April 6, 1903) “What man thinks is for his spiritual and temporal interests may be altogether at variance with the experience he must have in order to be a follow or Christ.” (HP 266).
This upward path, hanging on only to the “ropes” of giving up the will and leaning only on Christ was so clearly shown to E.G. White in Her vision of the narrowing upward path she received in August 1868. (2 T 594-597)
“The path of righteousness is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”(Prov. 4:18) “This is the way, walk ye in it” is a command we must all follow to attain the kingdom. To attain His “perfect day.”
This path is illustrated so well in the work Pilgrims Progress, written in 1678, by John Bunyan. E.G. White stated that he “breathed the very atmosphere of heaven” as he wrote this.(GC 224)
“What a change would be wrought in our world if men would keep the way of the Lord, giving supreme love and loyalty to God, and manifesting love and respect for their neighbors.” (RH Oct. 1, 1895)
“Christ is indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There are not many ways to heaven. Each one may not choose his own way. Christ says: ‘I am the way..’No man cometh to the Father but by Me.’ Unless we are individually in this way, we can not reach the heavenly mansions. The question for each one to ask himself is, Am I following Christ because I know that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?” Am I in the path that leads to perfect obedience?” Those who walk in this way will never lose their strength, but constantly receive new power for their heavenward march” (ST Jan. 13, 1898)
“The pathway to heaven is narrow, but no one need fail of finding it. It has been plainly marked out by the Father’s hand. Not one trembling sinner need fail of walking in pure and holy light. Altho the upward path is sometimes difficult and often wearisome, although the Christian may have to endure toil and conflict, yet let him go forward in rejoicing, trusting as a little child in the loving guidance of Him ‘who keepeth the feet of His saints,’ knowing that the path he is traveling will bring him at last to the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him.” (ST June 22, 1904)
Following the path of righteousness is a daily, step by step process. It is a series of choices to do the right thing, as God has shown us in His revealed will. These choices decide our destiny. If John the disciple wrote verse, I am sure he would have penned words much like Robert Frost in his poem The Road Not Taken:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I..
Took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
The followers of Mohammed and Buddha are not on different paths that all lead to salvation. There is but one path. Part of the “new theology” is expressed in the book The Shack by Wm. Paul Young, where the character who is a personification of Jesus states: “You will grow in the freedom to be inside or outside all kinds of systems and to move freely between and among them.” “Remember, the people who know Me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda.” “I have no desire to make them Christian.” (The Shack 183, 184). This is not following the way. There is one path, one Shepherd, one Way. “To the law and to the testimonies, if they speak not according to these, there is no light in them” and “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5) speak of one way, one true belief. The Bible has no room for ecumenism.
This being said, Jesus said “Other sheep have I that are not of this fold”(John 10:16) He was speaking of Gentiles to the Jews, but His message was directed to the world also, Desire of Ages tells us. Those who have not had opportunity to learn of Him and His way but are living according to the light they have, and are living lives of love, may be saved. “Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”(James 4:17) “Love is the fulfillment of the law” applies to them, and Christ died for them too. “Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wherever the heart reaches out to uplift and bless others, there is revealed the working of God’s Holy Spirit in the depths of heathenism, men who have no knowledge of the written law of God, who have never even heard of the name of Christ, have been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. Their acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted the grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickened his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The ‘Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,’ is shining in his soul; and this light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God.” (RH Dec. 24, 1908) God knows the heart, and can see the love in it, and knows they are “safe to save.”
Our prayer should always be “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk.” (Ps 143) Our response should be obedience when “Thus says the Lord; Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:16)
The Crown of Righteousness
A Study
The crown the saved are presented and wear in heaven and the New Jerusalem is described as a literal and physical crown, not just as a spiritual symbol.It is called by several names, some describing the crown itself, and some describing the character and characteristics of the saved that wear it. “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Pet. 5:4) “There is a crown of life for the overcomer.”(1) “Their joy is complete and they take their glittering crowns and cast them at their Redeemer’s feet.”(2) “Finally, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not to my only, but also to all that have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:8) “They do it to win a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” (1 Cor. 9:25)
It is made of gold and decorating with brilliant stars. “We want you to live among the pure and holy angels in heaven, and wear a crown of gold…”(4). “God wants to put the harp in your hand and the crown of gold on your head.”(5) “The white robe and jeweled crown given to them by Christ as a reward for their unselfish efforts..The stars in their crowns will shine forever and ever..”(6) “The crown of life will be bright or dim, will glitter with many stars, or be lighted by a few gems, in accordance with ones own cause of action.” (7) “For each there is a crown bearing his own ‘new name’ and the inscription ‘Holiness To The Lord.’”(10)
The stars in the crown signify those who are in heaven because of your influence. “
By living a life of devotion and self-sacrifice in doing good to others, you might have been adding stars and gems to the crown that you will wear in heaven, and laying up unfading, eternal, treasure.” (8) “The lives saved through their efforts will be more precious to them than costly and fashionable dress. The white robes and jeweled crown given them by Christ as a reward for their unselfish efforts in the salvation of souls, will be more valuable then needless ornaments. The stars in their crowns will shine forever and ever…”(9) “The crown of life will be bright of dim...in accordance to ones own cause of action.”(7) “On the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns.”(11)
God, our just God, rewards them for their deeds, as He does the wicked.(12)
“There will be no one saved in heaven with a starless crown. If you enter there will be some soul in the courts of glory that has found an entrance there through your instrumentality.” (13) A well known hymn by Elisa Edmunds Hewitt asks the question: “Will there be any stars in my crown, when at evening the sun goeth down?” If the answer is no, another hymn answers the question by singing “I Dreamed I searched heaven for you, searched vainly in heaven for you.”(14)
We have a part in attaining this crown of glory. We know that if we have not been instrumental in saving at least one person here on earth the crown will not be ours.Also: “How many of us are worthy to receive the crown of life?”(15) “The Christian moves steadily onward and upward, daily drawing near his heavenly home, where awaits for him a crown of life, and a new name…”(16) “ For you are fighting for the crown of life and should not rest satisfied for a low standard.” (17) “Those who are ready will receive an unfading crown of life.”(18) “Those who expect to wear at last a crown of life, must in this life be lightbearers.” (19) “Blessed is he who endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.”(James 1:12) “A crown of life awaits all who fight the good fight of faith.” (20) “. It is also a fearful thing to fold the talent entrusted to us in a napkin, and hide it away in the world; for this is casting away the crown of life. God claims our service.”(21) “There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…also to all that have loved His appearing.”(2 Tim. 4:8) “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)
The crowns are made by angels. “Angels are employed in making crowns for such ones, and upon these star-gemmed crowns will be reflected, with splendor, the light which radiates from the throne of God…I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city glorious crowns-a crown for every saint, with his name written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to Him.”(22)
The crowns of life will be placed on the heads of the saved by Jesus Himself. “Before entering the city of God, the Savior bestows upon His followers the emblems of victory and invests them with the insignia of their royal state. The glittering ranks are drawn up in the form of a hollow square about their King, whose form rises in majesty above saint and angel, whose countenance beams upon them full of benignant love. Throughout the unnumbered host of the redeemed every glance is fixed upon Him, every eye beholds His glory whose ‘visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’ Upon the heads of the overcomers, Jesus with His own right hand places the crown of glory. For each there is a crown, bearing his own ‘new name” (Rev. 2:17), and the inscription ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ In every hand are placed the victor’s palm and the shining harp.”(23)
The saved put up the crowns when they are not wearing them. “In each (house outside the city) was a golden shelf. I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses and do something with the earth..”(24)
In adoration of Christ, the saved will throw down their crowns at His feet in love at times. “I want to cast my crown at His feet, and I want to touch the golden harp and fill all heaven with sweetest music.”(25) “Then all the heavenly host surrounded the Son of God, their majestic Commander, and with the deepest adoration bowed, casting their glittering crowns at His feet, and they touched their golden harps, and in sweet, melodious strains, filled all heaven with their rich music and songs to the lamb that was slain, yet lives again in majesty and glory.”(26) The 24 elders in their crowns of gold (Rev. 4:5) often adore God in this manner. “The 24 elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast down their crowns before the throne..”(Rev. 4:10,11) All know without question that “Christ is your hope and your crown of rejoicing.”(27)
All the saved can echo with joy the poetry of Wyman Allen:
He is coming, oh my spirit with His everlasting peace,
With His blessedness, immortal and complete;
He is coming, oh my spirit, and His coming brings release-
I listen for the coming of His feet. (28)
(Another kind of crown, the crown of sacrifice- not a literal crown, but a description of self-sacrificing service by the Christian, is mentioned in the writings of the Messenger of God. “All who follow Christ will wear the crown of sacrifice. They will surely be misunderstood by selfish men… the principle of self-sacrifice” (29) “The brows who do this work will wear the crown of sacrifice but they will receive their reward.”(30) The service is rewarded according to the spirit in which the service is given. “The value of service to God is measured by the spirit in which it is rendered, rather than by the length of time spent in labor.”(31) The reward is given here on this earth also. “those who give their lives to Christlike ministry know the meaning of true happiness.”(32) “Even in this life, they find a precious reward.”(33) )
Bibliography
1. DG 184
2. CS 349
3. SDG 340
4. YI Oct. 1, 1852, Heaven p.84, An Appeal to the Youth p.41
5. MR 3 p.290
6. DG 217
7. 6 SDABC 1105
8. 4 SDABC 1174, T.C. 200
9. DG 17
10. Heaven p.59
11. EW 16,17
12. GC 589
13. S.T. June 6, 1892
14. Song-“I Dreamed I Searched Heaven for You” by Kitty Wells
15. Mar 98
16. MYP 95
17. FCE 301
18. SDG 362
19. Words of Encouragement to Self-Supporting Workers p.11
20. Ms 21, 1895
21. MYP 37
22. Heaven pp. 56, 57
23. Heaven 59
24. Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White p.62
25. Sermons and Talks Vol.2, p 34
26. 1 SG 77, S.T. Nov. 10, 1881, Ms 21, 1885, Sermons and Talks 2 p.259, LDE 298, 8T 254
27. Spalding and Magen Collection 281
28. Poem: “The Coming of His Feet:” by Lyman Allen, The Best Loved Poems of the American People. P 306
29. DA 223
30. 6T 348
31. 9T 74
32. 9T 42
33. GT 308.309
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