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"AS A
LITTLE CHILD"
NOW IS THE TIME TO GROW AND PREPARE FOR HEAVEN
It
is now that we must form the characters which we will take to heaven.
"There
will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in
this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ's righteousness, This
is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has
made ready for those who obey His commandments." Christ's Object
Lessons. 319.
We
are now to cooperate with the angels in perfecting our characters.
"The
work of these heavenly beings is to prepare the inhabitants of this
world to become children of God, pure, holy, undefiled. But men, though
professing to be followers of Christ, do not place themselves in a
position where they can understand this ministry, and thus the work of the
heavenly messengers is made hard." 7 Bible Commentary. 923.
"The
heavenly intelligences will work with the human agent who seeks with
determined faith that perfection of character which will reach out to
perfection in action. To everyone engaged in this work Christ says, I am
at your right hand to help you." Christ's Object Lessons. 332.
(For the opposite outcome, read GC 542-543.) At the close of this chapter,
we will view divinely given promises of what we can now be enabled to
do.
When
Christ returns He will give "rewards" to everyone. "I the
Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according
to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah
17:10.
"Thine
eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men; to give every one
according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah
32:19.
"For
the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and
then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew
16:27.
"God
who will render to every man according to his deeds." Romans
2:5-6. "Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his
own labour." 1 Corinthians 3:8.
"Behold,
I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as
his work shall be." Revelation 22:12.
The
present writer had assumed that the "rewards" consist only of
eternal death for the wicked and eternal life for the righteous. But,
according to the following statements, those rewards will, in some
manner, be different for some than for others of the redeemed.
The
following statements do not clarify whether or not the persons discussed
will or will not be saved.
"In
these days of peril and corruption. the young are exposed to many trials
and temptations. Many are sailing in a dangerous harbor . . They need an
unerring counselor, an infallible guide. This they will find in the Word
of God. Unless they are diligent students of that Word. they will make
grave mistakes, which will mar their happiness and that of others, both
for the present and the future life." Messages to Young People,
443.
"It
is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every
thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of
ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death
brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character.
The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them
forever beyond all change." 5 Testimonies, 466.
"Let no one
say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this
decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining eternal life. The
impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you cannot
overcome. . Thousands pass through life as if they had no definite object
for which to live, no standard to reach. Such will obtain a reward
proportionate to their works." Christ’s Object Lessons. 331.
"Make
your home atmosphere fragrant with tender thoughtfulness. If you have
become estranged and have failed to be Bible Christians, be converted;
for the character you bear in probationary time will be the character
you will have at the coming of Christ. If you would be a saint in heaven,
you must first be a saint on earth. The traits of character you cherish in
life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come up
from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your home and in
society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of
transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our
destiny." Adventist Home, 16.
The
following statements are about the redeemed, and indicate that—now, in
this life—we determine the extent of our usefulness in heaven.
"Before His coming, then, the character of every man's work will have
been determined, and to every one of Christ's followers the reward will
have been apportioned according to his deeds.
"It
is while men are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of
investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. The lives of
all His professed followers pass in review before God. All are examined
according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to his deeds
the destiny of each is forever fixed." Christ's Object Lessons,
310.
"The
competitors in the ancient games, after they had submitted to
self-denial and rigid discipline, were not even then sure of the
victory . . Such is not the case in the Christian warfare. Not one who
complies with the conditions will be disappointed at the end of the race.
Not one who is earnest and persevering will fail of success. The race is
not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. The weakest saint, as well
as the strongest, may wear the crown of immortal glory. All may win who,
through the power of divine grace, bring their lives into conformity to
the will of Christ. . Every act casts its weight into the scale that
determines life's victory or defeat. And the reward given to those who win
will be in proportion to the energy and earnestness with which they have
striven." Acts of the Apostles, 313-314.
"God
has given us many advantages and opportunities, and when the last great
day shall be ushered in, and we shall see what we might have attained, had
we taken advantage of the helps that Heaven vouchsafed to us; when we see
how we might have grown in grace, and look upon these things as God looks
upon them, seeing what we have lost by failing grow up into the full
stature of men and women in Christ, we shall wish that we had been more in
earnest." Sons and Daughters of God, 330.
"Every
sin, every unrighteous action, every transgression of the law of God,
tells with a thousand-fold more force upon the actor than the sufferer.
Every time one of the glorious faculties with which God has enriched man
is abused or misused, that faculty loses forever a portion of its vigor
and will never be as it was before the abuse it suffered. Every abuse
inflicted upon our moral nature in this life is felt not only for time but
for eternity. Through God may forgive the sinner, yet eternity will not
make up that voluntary loss sustained in this life.
"To
go forth into the next, the future life, deprived of half the power
which might be carried there is a terrible thought. The days of probation
lost here in acquiring a fitness for heaven, is a loss which will never be
recovered. The capacities of enjoyment will be less in the future life
for the misdemeanors and abuse of moral powers in this life. However high
we might attain in the future life, we might soar higher and still
higher, if we had made the most of our Godgiven privileges and golden
opportunities to improve our faculties here in this probationary
existence." This Day with God, 350.
"As
the books of heaven are opened, each overcomer is assigned his lot and
place in heaven, in accordance with the advancement he has made in this
life." Upward Look, 248. "The reward, the glories of heaven,
bestowed upon the overcomers, will be proportionate to the degree in which
they have represented the character of Christ in the world. 'He which
soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly.' Thank God that it is our
privilege to sow on earth the seed that will be harvested in heaven." 6 Bible Commentary, 1104-1105.
We
are told that we will take every divine improvement to heaven.
"Those
who, under the education of Christ, make it possible to reach the highest
attainments will take every divine improvement with them to the higher
school. But those who are unwilling to have their characters molded after
the divine similitude make the angels sad; for by clinging to their sinful
habits and practices they spoil the design of God." Sons and Daughters
of God, 315.
The
parable of the talents helps explain the concept.
"
'After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with
them' [Matthew 25:19]. When the Lord takes account of His servants, the
return from every talent will be scrutinized. The work done reveals the
character of the worker. .
"They
[the servants] see that they have done only their duty. The capital was
the Lord's; the improvement is His. Had not the Saviour bestowed upon
them His love and grace, they would have been bankrupt for eternity.
"But
when the Master receives the talents, He approves and rewards the workers
as though the merit were all their own . .
"
'Well done, thou good and faithful servant,' He says; 'thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord' [Matthew 25:21].
"It
is the faithfulness, the loyalty to God, the loving service, that wins the
divine approval." Christ's Object Lessons, 360-361.
Commenting
further on this parable, the principle of proportionate rewards to the redeemed
is mentioned. "What we shall be in heaven is the reflection of what
we are now in character and holy service. . Our reward for working with
Christ in this world is the greater power and wider privilege of working
with Him in the world to come." Christ's Object Lessons, 361.
"We
shall individually be held responsible for doing one jot less than we have
ability to do. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for
service." Christ's Object Lessons, 363 [and the rest of the
paragraph].
But
then we are told the means by which the work down here is to be done.
"But
when we give ourselves wholly to God and in our work follow His
directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. He would
not have us conjecture as to the success of our honest endeavors. Not once
should we even think of failure. We are to cooperate with One who knows no
failure." Christ's Object Lessons, 363 [and next paragraph].
"The
spirit of the slothful servant we are often fain to call humility. But
true humility is widely different. . Real humility fulfills God's purposes
by depending upon His strength." Christ's Object Lessons, 363.
In
view of what we have read, the situation can look somewhat discouraging.
How can we possibly do all that God requires? Our days are short. We have
to work for a living; there are times when we become ill from overwork.
What is the answer?
The
solution is just what we have been discussing all through this book!
Become God's little child—and totally rely upon Him for everything
and He will work through you to accomplish all that you, with your
limited time and talents, are able to perform. And in the process, He will
perfect you! Thank God; He does it in and through us, as we obediently
cooperate with Him.
The
requirement is big.
"Of
every Christian the Lord requires growth in efficiency and capability in
every line." Christ's Object Lessons, 330.
"Be
ambitious, for the Master's glory, to cultivate every grace of
character. In every phase of your character building you are to please
God." Christ's Object Lessons, 332.
But
the promises are bigger!
"But
when we give ourselves wholly to God and in our work follow His
directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. He would
not have us conjecture as to the success of our honest endeavors. Not once
should we even think of failure. We are to cooperate with One who knows no
failure." Christ's Object Lessons, 363.
"All
who will with determined effort seek help from above, and subdue and
crucify self, may be successful in this world, and may gain the future,
immortal life. This world is the field of man's labor. His preparation for
the future world depends upon the way he discharges his duties in this
world. . There are services due to others, which we cannot ignore and
yet keep the commandments of God. To live, think, and act for self only is
to become useless as servants of God. High-sounding titles and great
talents are not essential." 4 Testimonies, 339-340.
“As
the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent.
Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength.
All His biddings are enablings." Christ's Object Lessons, 333.
"True
obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the
love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all
righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right
because it is right—because right doing is pleasing to
God." Christ's Object Lessons, 97-98.
"God
in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His
Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and
hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives.
Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new
experience and advances us in the work of character
building." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 117.
"Those
who thus exercise the Christian graces will grow, and will become strong
to work for God. They will have clear spiritual perceptions, a steady,
growing faith, and an increased power in prayer. The Spirit of God, moving
upon their spirit, calls forth the sacred harmonies of the soul, in answer
to the divine touch. Those who thus devote themselves to unselfish effort
for the good of others, are most surely working out their own salvation.
The only way to grow in grace is . . to engage, to the extent of our
ability, in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give
them." Amazing Grace, 305.
"God
does not desire you to remain novices. He needs in His work everything
that you can gain here in the lines of mental culture and clear
discernment. He desires to have you reach the very highest round of the
ladder, and then step off it into the kingdom of God." Sons and
Daughters of God, 330.
"Every
promise that is in God's book holds out to us the encouragement that we
may be partakers of the divine nature. This is the possibility—to rely
upon God, to believe His Word, to work His works, and this we can do when
we lay hold on the divinity of Christ. This possibility is worth more to
us than all the riches in the world. There is nothing on earth that can
compare with it. As we lay hold of the power thus placed within our
reach, we receive a hope so strong that we can rely wholly upon God's promise;
and laying hold of the possibilities there are in Christ, we become the
sons and daughters of God. .
"If
you are partakers of the divine nature, you will day by day be obtaining a
fitting for that life that measures with the life of God. Day by day you
will purify your trust in Jesus and follow His example and grow into His
likeness until you shall stand before Him perfected." My Life
Today, 274.
Day
by day, you are building for eternity. "Remember that you will never
reach a higher standard than you yourself set. Then set your mark high,
and step by step, though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and
sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress. Let
nothing hinder you. Fate has not woven its meshes about any human being so
firmly that he need remain helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing
circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The
breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go
forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and
circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances." Christ's
Object Lessons, 331-332.
"Day
by day you are building for eternity. Fashion your characters after the
divine model. Weave into them all the kindness, thoughtful obedience,
painstaking, and love that you can . . Cultivate quick sympathy; always
have a cheerful, happy face, and be ready to lend a helping hand to those
who need your aid . . He [God] will make an accurate entry of every deed
done to His glory. . And in the great day of final accounts you will
receive a glorious reward." Sons and Daughters of God, 149.
One
could surmise, from some of the earlier statements (especially This Day
with God, 350, and Upward Look, 248), that it is now that we must grow;
because in heaven there is no growth and we must be content with the level
achieved, through the grace of Christ, in this life.
It
is true that it is now that we must make growth which (according to This
Day with God, 350) cannot be made up in heaven. Exactly what that is, the
author is not certain. It very likely is the degree or breadth of capacity
to which we can be used in heaven. That is the indication given in Upward
Look, 248 (which is quoted again, just below).
But
do not imagine that there will be no more growth. There will, indeed, be
more growth in heaven for all the redeemed! However, the following
statements which speak of it (and they are indeed glorious) appear to
refer especially to growth in knowledge of God and His created works, and
love for Him.
"When
God's redeemed ones are called to heaven, they will not leave behind the
advancement they have made in this life by beholding Christ. They will
go on, learning more and still more of God. They will carry their
spiritual attainments into the courts above, leaving nothing of
heavenly origin in this world. As the books of heaven are opened, each overcomer is assigned his lot and place in heaven, in accordance with
the advancement he has made in this life." Upward Look, 248.
"Our
lifework here is a preparation for the life eternal. The education begun
here will not be completed in this life; it will be going forward
through all eternity,—ever progressing, never completed. More and more
fully will be revealed the wisdom and love of God in the plan of
redemption.
"The
Saviour, as He leads His children to the fountains of living waters, will
impart rich stores of knowledge. And day by day the wonderful works of
God, the evidences of His power in creating and sustaining the universe,
will open before the mind in new beauty. In the light that shines from the
throne, mysteries will disappear, and the soul will be filled with
astonishment at the simplicity of the things that were never before
comprehended. Now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face;
now we know in part; but then we shall know even as also we are
known." Ministry of Healing, 466.
"Think
what it will mean to study through eternal ages under the personal
instruction of Christ! Amidst the present conflicts and temptations, in
this our day of probation, we are to form characters that will prepare us
to obtain a life that measures with the life of God." Manuscript
Releases. Vol. 20, 87.
Here
are several of the concluding paragraphs in that masterpiece of
Inspiration—the book, Great Controversy. You will notice that this
lengthy passage is focused solely on the ongoing growth in knowledge and
love we shall acquire in heaven.
"There,
immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders
of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There will be no
cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every facility will
be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge
will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises
may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest
ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount,
new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call
forth the powers of mind and soul and body.
“All
the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's redeemed.
Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds
afar—worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and
rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. With
unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the
wisdom of unfallen beings. They share the treasures of knowledge and
understanding gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God's
handiwork. With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of
creation—suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order
circling the throne of Deity. Upon all things, from the least to the greatest,
the Creator's name is written, and in all are the riches of His power
displayed.
"And
the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more
glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive,
so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of
God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens
before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the
great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with
more fervent devotion. and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of
gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of voices unite to
swell the mighty chorus of praise." Great Controversy, 677-678.
The
reward we will receive will be the joy of serving God on more extended
levels than we could do down here. We are now determining what that level
shall be. It is very likely that those who, on this earth, choose to be
little children in relation to their heavenly Father are more likely to be
used more fully in heaven. Why? because by entering such a relationship,
they were actually becoming more like God,—for the Ancient of Days is
Himself meek, lowly, and childlike in affections and purity of heart.
All
this may seem astounding, but keep reading in the Bible and Spirit of
Prophecy, and you will find that it is so.
There
yet remains one question; will the redeemed be fully happy with their
position and work in heaven?
Yes,
yes! Every tear is wiped away, and everyone is fully satisfied. The most
obvious example of this is the fact that the crowns given to the
redeemed vary in the number of stars. Yet we are told that each will be
perfectly happy with his crown.
“Jesus
brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads.
. 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." Early Writings. 16.
That
would not happen down here! If ten people were each given differently
weighted crowns, most would be envious of those with the more elaborate
gifts. But in heaven, there will be no tempter to annoy. Everyone will be
perfectly contented with his lot in life. We can all be thankful for
that.
We
earlier noted that character was the crucial area of concern. There is a
passage in Christ's Object Lessons which vividly explains this:
After
noting the incident in which the rich young ruler comes to Christ, we
discover that Peter began thinking he was going to get some rich reward in
heaven for his work on earth. In response, Jesus gives the parable of the
husbandman who hires different men all through the day—but pays them
all the same amount at its close. Ellen White comments on this and, in several
incisive statements, shows that the reward of our service is the penny:
eternal life. (In sharp contrast, we earlier discovered that the rewards
of character development are differential.) Consider these clear
statements. We are to labor out of love for God, not for the reward.
"But Peter's question, 'What shall we have therefore?' had revealed a
spirit that uncorrected would unfit the disciples to be messengers for
Christ; for it was the spirit of a hireling. While they had been
attracted by the love of Jesus, the disciples were not wholly free from Pharisaism. They still worked with the thought of meriting a reward in
proportion to their labor." Christ's Object Lessons, 396.
"In
worldly business, compensation is given according to the work
accomplished. . In the parable. . they were rewarded, not according to the
amount of their labor, but according to the generosity of his [the
householder's] purpose." Christ's Object Lessons, 397.
"God
desires us to appreciate His promised blessings. But He would not have us
eager for rewards nor feel that for every duty we must receive
compensation. We should not be so anxious to gain the reward as to do
what is right, irrespective of all gain. Love to God and to our fellow men
should be our motive." Christ's Object Lessons, 398-399 [also read
399-400]. It is the spirit in which the work is done, not the labor
itself, which counts. The spirit reveals the character.
"His
reward is given not according to our merit but according to His own
purpose. . Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but
the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with
God." Christ's Object Lessons, 397 [also 398].
Appendix
I: Questions, Answers and Facts
"Christianity
does not require this! Is not righteousness by faith all that is needed'?
Also, I have heard that all I need is justification, sanctification, or
obedience."
Justification,
sanctification, obedience, and righteousness by faith are wonderful topics
for study—and all are important in their own way. But a remarkable
number of the theological errors are based on taking part of the whole
and omitting the rest. When combined together, each of the above elements
is important. Yet they are all causes or effects of our relationship with
God, not the core of it. Where that relationship is missing, there is no
effective justification, obedience, sanctification, nor righteousness by
faith. By themselves, none of those aspects will get you to heaven. It is
the basic, ongoing, vital experience with God that is crucial. if you do
not have God,—what of worth do you have? Anyone who imagines that he can
have God's "righteousness," apart from having Him, is only
fooling himself.
"But
is not forgiveness and grace all that is needed'?"
It
will make an infinite difference whether or not you think you need to obey
God. Some people suppose that all they need is forgiving
"grace"—and they can live and die in their sins and still be
saved.
Grace
is unmerited favor, shown by God to those who do not deserve it. Christ's
life on earth, death on Calvary, and intercessory work in the heavenly
Sanctuary makes it available to all who will receive it.
The
grace of Christ is able to do two wonderful things in your life: It can
forgive and it can empower. Therefore, we speak of forgiving grace and
enabling grace. Forgiving grace is sent to forgive our past sins. Enabling
grace strengthens us in Christ (always, only in Christ; that is, when we
are in submission to Christ) to be able to resist temptation and sin and
obey the commandments of God.
Grace
is given to eliminate sin from our lives, not whitewash over it.
"What
is justification and sanctification?" For practical purposes,
justification is the forgiveness of your past sins. By it, you are made
right with God. Christ clothes you with His own robe of righteousness, and
God looks on you as He looks on His own Son. He imputes His righteousness
to you. That word just means that you are accounted as though you are
righteous.
Some
try to make justification appear very complicated and burdensome. Yet it
is just a matter of coming to God, genuinely confessing one's sins in
true heart sorrow for sin, and receiving forgiveness. That is exactly what
the publican did in the parable; and, Jesus said, he went down to his
house justified! So justification cannot be very complicated.
Justification
is not the forgiveness of your future sins. That is the error which Tetzel
sold with his indulgences (see Great Controversy, 127-129); and it is akin
to once-saved-alwayssaved. A like error is the "finished
atonement," the concept that we were saved 2,000 years ago at the
cross. You are not, personally, made right in God's eyes until you
actually fall down before Him and seek forgiveness for past sin.
It
is for this reason that the atonement continues, in heaven, on down to
the present day.
When it ends, human probation will forever close. Christ, our High
Priest, pleads on our behalf before the Father.
Then
there is sanctification. These "—ion" words are often hard to
understand. Sanctification simply means obedience and growth. We are
being sanctified when, by His grace, we obey God's Written Word, live
clean lives, and continue on in Christian growth and maturity. But we do
it all connected to Christ and in His strength.
Sometimes
the result is termed imparted righteousness. But never imagine that you
have anything of yourself. All the goodness you have, you hold in Christ.
Without Him, you quickly fall right back into sin. Apart from Christ, you
cannot resist Satan.
"It
is the work of conversion and sanctification to reconcile men to God by
bringing them into accord with the principles of His law." Great
Controversy, 467.
"What
is perfection?"
Perfection
is another word which people become confused about The half-converted
like to complain about those who believe in perfection of character, and
they call them "perfectionists."
But,
by perfection, all we are really talking about is obedience. Are we to
throw out the Ten Commandments? We are to obey them.
Some
say they do not believe in perfection, yet they are actually saying that
they do not believe in ongoing obedience. God asks us to be His children
and obey Him every day. "Do not worry about the road ahead. Just
follow Me today," He says. But following Him means submitting to
Him and obeying Him!
"What
does 'righteousness' mean'?" Righteousness simply means
"right-doing." It means clean, honest living—the kind a
genuine Christian exhibits. However, as with everything else, we cannot
produce or have justification, sanctification, obedience, or righteousness
by ourselves! Christ provides it. Christ enables it. Christ clothes us
with it. We have it and do it in Him.
Christ
clothes us in His own righteousness. That means two things: When we come
to God in repentance for sin, Christ forgives and accepts us as though we
had never sinned. We are justified. We are accounted as right-doing.
But
the next instant, we start down the road of sanctification. Through the
enabling grace of Christ, we begin resisting sin and obeying the Inspired
Writings. We are being sanctified. We are right-doing in action.
"What
is righteousness by faith?"
This
is another frequently misunderstood term. Yet it is not complicated,
either. It just means right-doing by faith.
Most
people think that righteousness by faith is equivalent to justification,
but it is extremely significant that nearly every Spirit of Prophecy
statement on the subject is, in context, referring to our actively obeying
God. So the term is generally synonymous with
obedience by faith.
Prior
to 1888, the brethren were strong on obedience. At Minneapolis, the
balance was presented: obedience by faith. In the decade after
Minneapolis, Ellen White detailed the concept in her 1890 books: Steps to
Christ. Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, and Desire of Ages.
Read
Steps to Christ and you will know what righteousness by faith is all
about. It is neither mysterious nor complicated. Christianity is so simple
a child can understand it. If anyone tells you otherwise, point him to the
Word of God. It was written for common folk. Much of the religious ills
of mankind have been caused by men who got too much theological learning
at the feet of skeptics in worldly universities.
"What
is the atonement?"
The
atonement is simply the entire process whereby Christ makes us acceptable
to God the Father—by forgiving us, empowering us to obey, and making us
like Himself. The atonement began on the cross, was continued in the
first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary, and will soon be completed in
the second apartment of that massive structure in heaven.
"What
are the Bible words for how we enter this relationship with God?"
God
describes the entrance to this relationship in several ways, including:
(1) adoption, (2) the new birth, (3) engrafting, and (4) baptism.
For
our purposes, all four concepts have essentially the same effect; we
begin our close relationship with our heavenly Father.
We
come individually—in repentance to God; and, as we are forgiven and
accepted by Him, we are born anew. As this is done, we are engrafted
into Christ, the vine, and adopted out of the world into God's family.
In
public recognition of our entrance into this relationship, we are then
baptized into Christ. In Him we then associate with other obedient-by-faith
believers, all of which constitute His true church.
You
will notice that nowhere are we told that we are adopted into
justification or born into righteousness by faith. Those are wonderful
qualities; but only out of the experience of a personal, ongoing
connection with Christ in the heart flow the issues of life.
"Such
a close relationship is not really the emphasis in the Bible and Spirit of
Prophecy, is it?"
The
Bible and Spirit of Prophecy speak of an intertwining, totally connected
relationship: the engrafting into the vine. The branches are connected,
fiber by fiber, to the parent stock. Those who come to the fountain are
the ones that Christ washes, the believers who drink the water of life by
eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The faithful ones are those who,
in this life, sit in heavenly places with Him, the en Christos experience
of living His life in Him. Those who are bone of His bone and flesh of
His flesh, the sheep carried in the bosom of the shepherd, and the lost
coin in the hand of the rejoicing householder.
Anything
less than the best is really not much at all.
"How
do these different aspects, such as justification, righteousness by
faith, and all the rest, relate to this child/parent relationship?"
We
are dealing here with causes and effects vs. a relationship. Let us
briefly categorize some of the concepts we have discussed, in order to see
how they relate to each other:
Causes
and enablers of the relationship:
Christ's
earthly life
Calvary
Heavenly
Sanctuary Atonement
Forgiving
and enabling grace
Entering
upon the Relationship:
Conversion/New
Birth
Adoption
The
ongoing relationship:
Child-parent
relationship
Sons
and Daughters of God
Walk
with God
Effects
of the causes and enablers:
Justification
(forgiveness and imputed righteousness)
Sanctification
(empowered obedience and imparted righteousness)
Righteousness
by faith
Fruits
of the spirit
Peter's
ladder
Keep
in mind that it is the relationship—from start to finish—which
connects us to God. Without the relationship, the causes and enablers
are not operative. Without the relationship, the effects do not occur.
"Are
you not advocating some strange, new concept which we have not had
before?"
Several
centuries ago, there was a man who spent his adult life working in the
kitchen of a monastery. Lame from birth, by his own admission he was
somewhat clumsy. Very much aware of his frailty, he sought solace by
comforting himself with the assurance that God was near. He called it
"practicing the presence of God," and later wrote a booklet by
that name. In it, he alluded to his experience, without telling much
about it. Very likely his experience was the one many of God's children
have had, the one described in this present volume. Walking with God is
not new. Men have done it since the days of Enoch; and, before his time,
Adam walked with God in the Garden...
"Why
do you call this a child-Father relationship, when normally it is the
mother which the child closely attaches to and is his caretaker throughout
his early years. Should we not pray to a Father/Mother God?"
You
may have noticed that, throughout this study, we have discussed
child-father relationship, but not a divine child-mother relationship.
Here
on earth, it is the mother who leads out in raising the child for heaven.
There is a Spirit of Prophecy statement that, because of this, women have
a more important work in this life than that of men. Christian women train
the next generation, hopefully, for citizenship on earth and in heaven.
Men work with what women have produced. Theirs is a second-class
activity.
Yet,
in relation to heaven and eternal life, there is no mother god and no
women priests. The concept of divine motherhood is totally non-Scriptural.
It
is only in paganism that we find the women priestesses at Delphi; the
vestal "virgins" at Corinth; Diana of the Ephesians; and
witches, with their incantations, at Endor and throughout the world.
Mary,
the Queen of Heaven and Co-redemptrix is a concept which comes from
pagan roots of Isis and Horus in Egypt, and earlier still to Athena,
Venus, and other loose women of antiquity who were worshiped as gods.
We
do not need prayers to women saints or men saints; we need speaking to,
and walking with, God.
Is
there no place for women in God's Word?
Yes,
we are told they can minister in the home, to the children and youth, to
their spouses, and to other women. They actually have a wider range of
ministry than do men! In addition, Scripture is clear that God has, at
times, selected women to be inspired prophets. Women can be counselors
to children and women; but, never in Scripture, are they to be priests
or ministers to mixed groups. Although women are frequently more
spiritually devoted than are men, yet we must abide by the plain words of
Scripture.
The
Fatherhood of God, and our relation to Him as our Father, is of extreme
importance in saving our souls. For this reason, Satan has, for thousands
of years, counterfeited this with women gods, women priests, women
mediums, and channelers.
Appendix
2.: More Questions and Answers
"To
do what you suggest in this book would be an effrontery to my manhood! I
am a strong, capable adult, well able to handle my affairs. And you tell
me I must become a little child again! Why does it have to be a
child-parent arrangement; why not a meeting of two responsible beings? I
am willing and able to serve God as an adult."
To
paraphrase Matthew 22:29: You err, knowing neither Bible facts about God
nor His power and authority; and John 5:44: "How can ye believe,
which are so anxious to receive honor for yourself, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?"
Nearly
two centuries ago, some of the leading writers, intellectuals, and
scientists in England met in a social gathering. At one point, someone
asked what they would do if Shakespeare were to enter the room. They
happily said they would say this or that. Then, while they had a toast to
that departed celebrity, another asked, “And what would we do if Dante
walked in?" More light bantered as several more names of famous men
of the past were mentioned.
Then
someone spoke: "What would we do if Jesus Christ walked into the
room?" Stunned silence fell upon these, the leading modernists of
their day; and then Charles Lamb, a leading English essayist of the day,
hoarsely replied, "I believe, gentlemen, we would all fall on our
faces."
According
to the Bible, you and I are as worms in comparison with God. Scripture
supports this fact (Job 25:6; Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 41:14).
The
child-parent relationship agrees with the facts in the case. Consider the
infinite power of your Creator, exercised every moment over the vast
reaches of space. Then get out one of your baby pictures and look at them.
It was not too many years since you were that infant, a time span that is
a mere drop in the bucket of eternity.—And you imagine that you have
a right to not fall down in worship before your God and to plead with Him
as a child?
Some
will enter and some will not. Yet, to those who do, this relationship is
one of sweetest happiness. In response, your kind Father lifts His
little child up, and lets him sit in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians
1:3; 2:6).
In
the world, parents scold and cuff. But as God's loving child, the meek,
submissive one is the recipient of a King's ransom. Can such a life be
belittling to anyone's supposed dignity? Banish the thought.
If
you stepped into a room where the Queen of England was sitting, you would
not treat her as an equal,—yet you appear to have no fear nor quaking
before the most powerful Being in the universe.
We
are told it is those who take a lowly place before God, who can take a
high place before men. That is, it is those who are little children of
God, who have the best intellectual powers, the strongest will power to do
right, and are able to present the firmest defense of the right in the
face of wrongdoing.
The
most capable people in the world are the ones who take a lowly place
before the God of the universe.
Yet,
despite the true facts in the case, men, when they pray to the King of all
worlds, will dare to stand before Him as an equal!
"My
problem is different: All those numerous qualities needed by the
Christian; I just can't seem to achieve them all."
While
you work on one, another seems to slip away. Just listing them all seems
like a difficult task to keep track of, much less fulfill in the life.
Toward others, we need patience, perseverance, meekness, gentleness,
firmness, and much more. Toward God, we need trust, love, obedience, and
more besides.
How
can we fulfill all these objectives and qualities? How can we,
individually, be the godly man and woman that Heaven would have us be?
The
solution is to become God's little child. Daily, hourly, minute-by-minute.
In His enabling strength, you can fulfill all His requirements. There are
requirements! His law has not been abrogated. But His rules for your
betterment are not difficult,—when you are with Him.
When
you are His humble, trustful, obedient child,—all the pieces fall into
place! He guides your entire life into better paths of thought and action;
That which you cannot do, He can do in you.
"It
would weaken the brain to be that dependent on another. It would make a
person more susceptible to control by another mind."
Not
if it is God whom you are dependent on! Never! Submission to Him
strengthens the mind, the will, and the degree of self-control. None of
the angels in heaven are weak-minded.
The
danger comes when we grant to another human being, the submission we are
to give alone to the God of heaven. According to the manual Loyola wrote,
the Jesuit is trained to be "a staff in the hand of his
superior." That is devilish! Submission to God is far different than
submission to man! You were created to be submissive to God; and, we are
told, in Desire of Ages, 324, "Everyone will be under the control of
one or the other of the two great powers [God or Satan]." In
reality, no one is really independent.
Anyone
who is not in submission to the Lord, will, erelong, be in bondage to the
devil. Either choose the Lord by your own free choice or, by default, be
enslaved by Satan.—And his tender mercies are a misery to behold.
Compare 1 BC 1113, col. 1 with DA, 337. Moses, the greatest leader on
earth, was meekly submissive to God; the demoniacs became such because
they totally managed their own lives, thus giving them into the hands of
Satan.
"Can't
I be saved without a relationship with God?"
Well,
it might be presumed that maybe you can—if you want to hang your
salvation on such a frail possibility. But why would you want to get into
heaven on a ticket marked "absentee Christian who says he has been
justified?" Are you really happy with just saying hello to God at
morning and evening worships (if you have that) and, hopefully, while
listening once a week to other people at Sabbath School and church service
talk about Him? Is that really all you want out of Christianity? Is
"go-to-meeting religion" going to be sufficient to save you? How
much do you really value the presence of God? When you get to heaven, if
you get there, will you go off into some corner so you can continue to
avoid Him?
Many
professed Christians want to be able to make an occasional phone call to
Heaven; but, horrors, they do not want God living day by day with them!
The attitude of some toward God seems to be "Save me, but don't get
too near to me in the process,"
We
are told in the Spirit of Prophecy, "to be almost saved is to be not
almost, but wholly lost." Some people believe that, having
"accepted Christ" in some earlier decade, they can have the
world for a lifetime—and afterward go to heaven and have that too. They
spend all their time getting all they can; but, unfortunately, most of
what they are trying to get is secular. Salvation in sin is poor
planning; according to God's Word, it will be fatal planning.
"I
would not want to live such a stilted, controlled life."
Living
with God may seem like a sacrifice, but it is extremely happy. The only
reason it appears miserable is because the devil tempts people to think
it is. It is actually a self-controlled life. And such people always do
better in life, even when they are not Christians.
We
all know that the angels in heaven and the beings on the other worlds are
extremely happy.—Yet they live like this all the time! Fully yielded to
the control and guidance of God, they have the fullest freedom. In marked
contrast, the poor creatures on earth who do not have the Lord are the
ones who are miserable and in slavery,
"The
Lord told Jeremiah not to say he was a little child. So why should I think
I am?"
You
are referring to the first chapter of his book. When the Lord called him
to do a special work for Him, Jeremiah replied, 'Awe, Lord God! behold, I
cannot speak: for I am a child,
"But
the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for thou shalt go to all
that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak, Be
not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the
Lord," Jeremiah 1:6-8.
It
was because Jeremiah considered himself a humble child in ability and
self-confidence that the Lord called him!—But Jeremiah was not to
imagine that, therefore, he could not be used by the God of heaven. The
context of the chapter reveals that the young man was told that he was
going to be used of Heaven to do a man's work! In order to carry it out,
Jeremiah would have to set his face as flint, Yet if he had been
self-confident, the Lord would never have called him in the first place.
Without
exception, every other person in the Bible, whom we know much about, which
God called to a special work—was initially humble and childlike in his
attitudes. It is only such men and women that God can use.
Walk
humbly with thy God. Do not presume to think you are smart enough to
improve on His guidance. A thought will come to mind to think or do
something, which you sense you should not do. Train yourself to sense the
danger in such a situation. At such a time, quickly resubmit yourself to
the Lord, and do what you know to be right. A favorite approach of Satan
is to suggest the thought that you are able to take care of yourself. You
are not. You must remain close to your Father, or you are headed for
trouble. John the Baptist had carefully studied the science of guarding
against the stealthy approach of the enemy of mankind (DA 102). We must
do it also.
"I
would far rather have the brains of an adult, than return to the
blitherings of a child?"
If
that is your decision, after learning all this, it will be written in the
records of heaven, "He chose to remain a foolish man."
Why
such strong words? Consider Moses, who was so childlike before God that he
was called the "meekest man" in the world, with the men who had
chosen fully to follow their own will—the Gergesene demonics . .
"What
is the fundamental aspect of conversion? What is that moment, at which
time the changeover from a worldling to God's property occurs?"
A
good place to look for the answer is in Christ's conversation to
Nicodemus.
"In
the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus unfolded the plan of salvation and
His mission to the world. In none of His subsequent discourses did He
explain so fully, step by step, the work necessary to be done in the
hearts of all who would inherit the kingdom of heaven."—Desire of
Ages, 176,
As
we might expect, the best analysis of John 3 is to be found in Desire of
Ages. Yet, as we thoughtfully read the chapter, we find that in two
consecutive paragraphs the moment of conversion is explained in some
detail.
We
are trying to find that act which marks the point of transition. It is not
an act of God, for He is always ready to grant our request. It is
something that we must do. What is the key word here?
"By
an agency as unseen as the wind, Christ is constantly working upon the
heart. Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, impressions
are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ. These may be received
through meditating upon Him, through reading the Scriptures, or
through hearing the Word of God from the living preacher. Suddenly, as the
Spirit comes with more direct appeal, the soul gladly surrenders itself to
Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of
long wooing by the Spirit of God,—a patient, protracted process.
"While
the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt.
So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of
him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession
of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil
deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger,
envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance
reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden,
or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes
when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which
no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God. . The
beginning of redemption we may know here through a personal experience.
Its results reach through the eternal ages." Desire of Ages,
172-173.
The
key word is "surrender," It is when we give up, give in, and
give all—to God—that we become His!
As
mentioned in the last sentence above, the results of this are momentous,
reaching into eternity. You can live forever; but the key that opens the
door is genuine surrender.
"Well,
I experienced that years ago. I surrendered to God in a church meeting
so long ago, I can hardly recall the time."
You
are missing the crux of the matter: Surrender is not a point in time, it
must be an ongoing experience—Or you are not going to heaven! It is
not the person you were at an instant in time, twenty years ago, which
will be saved; it is you, every day now, living and breathing.
Thus
there are two crucial aspects to your part in the salvation process: (1)
the act of entering the experience, which is the initial surrender and
(2) continuing that experience, maintaining an ongoing surrender.
How
is that done?
By
becoming God's sincere, little child and, as a little child, remaining
with Him. All the qualities of continued surrender are contained within
that sweet walk with God.
This
concept is reflected in a paragraph in the next chapter in Desire of Ages:
"We
can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of
self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith,
unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the
obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without
measure. In Christ 'dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and
in Him ye are made full.' " Desire of Ages, 181.
"Is
there another time when Jesus fully explained how to come to God and live
with Him?"
An
outstanding, step-by-step clarification is recorded in the Beatitude
section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), Thoughtfully read
Desire of Ages, 299-302, the detailed explanation of the first six
beatitudes which concern our relationship with God,—and you will see
that they can best be fulfilled in your life by becoming God's little
child. (The last two beatitudes deal more with our relationship to
others.)
LIFE
IN A CRISIS HOUR
"Why
is it so necessary that we live on a higher plane of Christian experience
at this time? Christ saves us, and that is all that is needed. "
Some
people want to live life on earth as effortlessly as possible, with an
attitude that “Jesus does it all." Others are willing to make any
sacrifice, go anywhere, do anything, if it may please their Saviour.
But,
it is important that we remember that, at this time in history, we face
special challenges and opportunities. Never before, except just before
the Flood, has mankind faced such a worldwide crisis.
As
we near the onset of this global calamity, God needs men and women who are
totally surrendered, quick to hear, and quick to obey.
This
is one of the reasons our Father gave us the Spirit of Prophecy in these
last days.—We needed an extra measure of divine guidance!
In
order to be prepared for what is ahead, and the part we must act at this
time, we must adhere to the highest standards. They are to be found in
God's Word, the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy; and we must read in those
books most earnestly every day.
If
you and I were adults, we could manage ourselves, but we are only
children—God's offspring,—as are all the other beings in the universe.
In order to be more manageable, we need to maintain a simple, healthful
diet.
"If
the Israelites had been given the diet to which they had been accustomed
while in Egypt, they would have exhibited the unmanageable spirit that the
world is exhibiting today.
"In
the diet of men and women in this age there are included many things that
the Lord would not have permitted the children of Israel to eat. The human
family as it is today is an illustration of what the children of Israel
would have been if God had allowed them to eat the food and follow the
habits and customs of the Egyptians." 1 Bible Commentary, 1102.
How
very thankful we can be that God has called us out from the world, and
taken us as His own children. He intends that we live carefully and be
quick to listen, quick to obey.
With
all this in mind, it is obvious that we need sensitive consciences. If you
will go on the program outlined in this book, you will find that your
conscience will become more sensitive.
“What
is needed to attain such a conscience? What is the effect of this in the
life?”
As
mentioned earlier, the basis is laid by being in close contact with God
through the reading of His Word and prayer to Him through the day.
But
that which is especially needed—and can easily be overlooked—is the
need to be alert throughout the day, so that we make the right choices, do
the duties which need to be done, and listen for His guidance. If you will
carefully do this, you will sense that guidance more clearly than before.
This is happening because you are His little child, intending to be fully
submitted to His will. Not only at the time of prayer, but throughout
the day you are surrendering the will to Him.
While
we want to avoid "being guided by impressions" (see 2T 505; GC
7-8; AA 279; 28M 93), yet, with greater clarity than before, you will find
that you are being quietly cautioned as you go through the day.
Avoid
every wrong step, even though it be ever so small. As you do this, your
walk will deepen. It is quite obvious that, in what we are discussing
here, there could be room for fanaticism if someone wanted to veer off in
that direction. But the genuine child of God, who has Christ for his
righteousness—and is not attempting to produce his own—will be kept
free from slipping under the power of Satan, through pride in his own
accomplishments of apparent "sinlessness," It would seem that,
amid such dangers, it would be difficult to draw especially close to God,
Yet it is not a bit difficult! The only problem is our own will. As we
submit, God will guide and protect us. Remember Peter on the water: Look
to Jesus, not to the water nor to the others.
Yes,
we live in the crisis hour of earth's history. If ever there was a time
when the Creator needed people on earth who would stand in defense of
the truth, it is now.
Will
you and I be faithful to the end? In His strength, we may do it—and, in
Him (only in Him), be conquerors in all things.
All
that needs to be done—can alone be done in His enabling strength, Yet,
without our part, our continual choices and actions—He will not do
His.
This
is no time for vaunted boasting; it is a time for pleading, for drawing
nearer to Him, for careful following and a willingness to stand in His
defense, carrying a cross and going with Him to the death.
May
God help you and I to be faithful to the end. God can only use little
children. Let us fall before Him and say, "Here am I, take me. Here
am I, send me,"
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