Editorial

Come Before Winter

by

During his last imprisonment before his martyrdom, the apostle Paul wrote Timothy a second letter—the last letter written from his pen. He ended this letter to Timothy saying, “Do your utmost to come before winter.” 2 Timothy 4:21, first part

Paul made this request for several reasons.

  • He knew that he was going to be martyred for the gospel, but he did not know when—that was up to the fickle-minded Nero.
  • He had important things that he wanted to discuss with Timothy who was like a son to him, and if Timothy delayed until it was not possible to travel by ship because of winter, he might not see him at all.
  • He had not been allowed any privileges at his second arrest and, therefore, had not been able to bring his outer coat with him. He would suffer cold in the winter without this garment.
  • He wanted access to inspired writings for study that were not with him, and he wanted Timothy to bring them.
  • Ellen White says that “The desire for love and sympathy was implanted in the heart by God himself. Christ in His hour of agony in Gethsemane, while bearing the guilt of sinful men, longed for the sympathy of His disciples. And Paul, though almost indifferent to hardship and suffering, yearned for sympathy and companionship. God would have His people cherish love and sympathy for one another. Humanity, elevated, ennobled, and rendered Godlike, is worthy of respect and esteem. The sons and daughters of God will be tenderhearted, pitiful, courteous, to all men, ‘especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ ” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 309

Is there someone that you are acquainted with or related to who needs you to come before winter? If you wait, you may be unable to minister to them at all. There comes a time when you cannot minister to your parents. There comes a time when you cannot minister to your children. There comes a time when you cannot witness to your neighbor, fellow worker, or relatives. Why is this? Because we are limited by time which comes to an end. Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:4

Come before winter.

Every Man’s Destiny Decided

by

The God we serve is merciful and longsuffering. He loathes to punish, but righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne, and the time will come when He must pass judgment and determine every man’s destiny. For God’s children, that is in progress right now. For those who have not accepted the gospel, the judgment takes place during the millennium spoken of in Revelation 20.

The judgment should always be in our view because we are living in the most solemn period of earth’s history, when the eternal destiny of everyone who has ever professed the name of Christ is being decided. If you are uncertain about these facts or do not understand them, you are invited to go to the Steps to Life web page to enroll in our Bible course. These studies will enable you to not only understand what the Bible says about the judgment and that it is taking place right now, but also to help prepare you to be ready for that grand and awful day when the judgment is finished and every man’s eternal destiny is fixed by an unchangeable decree.

Here are a few facts about the judgment:

We will be judged by our deeds: Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:10.

We will be judged according to the words we have spoken—for the recording angel has recorded them all: Matthew 12:36, 37; Ecclesiastes 5:6, 7.

We will be judged according to the thoughts we have espoused and cherished: Isaiah 66:18; Matthew 15:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Our name must be retained in the book of life in order for us to be saved: Revelation 20:13–15.

For our names to be retained in the book of life, we must overcome sin: Revelation 3:5.

We must be Christlike in character: 1 John 3:1–3; Colossians 1:27, 28.

The standard of character by which we will be judged is the ten commandments: James 2:10–12.

“Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.” Psalm 50:6

“Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men.” The Great Controversy, 491

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming … lest, coming suddenly, He find you sleeping.” Mark 13:35, 36

Why do you believe what you believe?

by

Before Jesus ascended to heaven He promised His disciples that He would send to them another Helper who would guide them into all truth and bring to their remembrance what He had taught them. This promise has lost none of its force for Christians today, but like every other promise it is given on conditions and will only be fulfilled to those who ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they study God’s word. God has given us His word to study and He does not intend to study it for us.

“It is of the greatest importance to us that we obtain a knowledge of the Bible. … Our only safety is in becoming personally acquainted with the reasons of our faith. …

“The law of God will be made void in the world; its authority will be despised just as it was in heaven in the first great rebellion … .

“God has made full provision in the Scriptures for our equipment against deception, and we shall be without excuse, if, through neglect of God’s word, we are unable to resist the errors of the evil one. We need to watch unto prayer. We need daily to search the Scriptures diligently, that we may not be ensnared by some delusive error that seems like truth.

“Our greatest danger lies in our tendency to refuse increased light, and our only safety is to see and understand for ourselves ‘what saith the Lord.’ …

“The prophet [John] described the faithful ones, saying, ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ This is the class that excite the wrath of the dragon because they obey God, and are loyal to His commandments. …

“There is safety alone in taking the Scriptures as our rule of life, and as the test of our doctrines. Martin Luther exclaimed, ‘The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the foundation of our faith!’ Our work is to hold up the law of God; for Christ has said that ‘it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the law to fail.’ ” The Signs of the Times, April 22, 1889

The Christian’s Inheritance

by

If a Christian said to me that the Christian’s inheritance was eternal life in heaven, I would not argue with his statement. But, to my mind, eternal life in heaven is actually a side benefit of the Christian’s inheritance.

The natural inheritance of all human beings is explained briefly and succinctly in the counsel given to ministers: “Tell the people in clear, hopeful language how they may escape the heritage of shame which is our deserved portion.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 182

If you look up the word heritage in the dictionary, you will see that it is something inherited, a birthright. The dictionary definition of the word shame is a strong negative emotion caused by guilt or a painful sense of guilt and unworthiness.

So, our natural inheritance is guilt. This is our deserved portion, and therefore, our natural destination is everlasting death. When Adam sinned, there was only one Person in the universe who could save the human race from everlasting death. Salvation involves an exchange. Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, came to this world and took our inheritance of guilt, shame, and death upon Himself. He took our place and bore our punishment, while offering to us His place, His inheritance.

What was Jesus’ inheritance when He came to this world? He did not have a human father, so He did not inherit from Adam what we inherited from him. God was His Father. Jesus, even as a man, inherited from His Father perfect everlasting righteousness, and this inheritance He offers to you and me. If we have the faith of Abraham, we will inherit, by adoption, the inheritance of Christ, and will no longer be children of the devil (see Ephesians 2:3, 1 John 3:8). Having been born again, we become the children of the Most High and joint heirs with Jesus Christ to an everlasting kingdom. If Adam had not sinned, he would have given to us—his posterity—an inheritance of purity and perfection. “If faithful to God’s requirements, he [Adam] would have had perfect descendants, as pure and uncorrupted as he himself was when he came from the hand of God. … But by his disobedience he spoiled God’s plan for himself and for his posterity.” The Review and Herald, December 15, 1896

The only way that we can receive purity and righteousness is through the second Adam, Jesus Christ.

Editorial – Higher Ground

by

“When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

“The enemy presents bribes to win us to the world, as he presented bribes to Christ in the wilderness of temptation. Unless we depend upon a power out of and above ourselves, the enemy will succeed in accomplishing our ruin. But in looking to Jesus, by studying His life and character, by earnestly desiring to be like Him, our minds will be balanced in the right direction, that we may overcome selfishness, and choose a course of righteousness. Looking unto Jesus, we shall hear a voice saying, ‘This is the way; walk ye in it.’ ‘If any man will come after me [now the conditions], let him deny himself, and take up his cross [which cuts directly across the natural inclinations], and follow Me.’

“… Jesus says, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ He invites you to step upon new and higher ground than that which you have occupied in the past. If your heart is filled with love to Christ, it will be demonstrated that He is stronger than the passions which have ruled you, whose indulgence have undermined noble impulses, and left the soul to the mercy of Satan’s temptations. …

“In serving their own lust, they make it manifest that they are not subject to the rule of Christ, but day by day are robbing God of that which is His due. … They refuse to be the children of Christ, and choose rather to be the slaves of Satan. …

“Christ invites the sinner to come to Him. With what loving entreaties He follows the sinner! When the heart of the sinner is touched, he yields his will to God’s will, and selfish inclination is no longer the controlling power; for the slavery of Satan is broken, and the soul brought into subjection to Christ. Impressed with the sense of the Saviour’s long-suffering, forbearance, compassion, and measureless love, the repenting soul is deeply conscious of his own unworthiness and guilt. He yields his will to the will of God, and longs to reveal his loyalty to Christ, watching for opportunities to speak forth His goodness and love. He sees in Jesus matchless charms, and his heart is captivated. … He becomes a partaker of the divine nature.” The Youth’s Instructor, October 27, 1892

Editorial – Effort or Luke 13:24

by

“Said the Prince of life, ‘Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.’ ‘Agonize,’ says the margin. There are vastly more seekers than strivers. Tame, half-hearted efforts will not insure. There must be determined, persevering, untiring effort, proportionate to the value of eternal life, the object of our pursuit. We cannot trust to another to win the crown for us; we must individually fight the battles of the Lord.” The Review and Herald, August 23, 1881

“We must put forth earnest effort to overcome the evil tendencies of the natural heart. Our efforts, our self-denial and perseverance, must be proportionate to the infinite value of the object of which we are in pursuit. Only by overcoming as Christ overcame shall we win the crown of life.” The Ministry of Healing, 455

“… In the struggle for immortality we have a part to act. Christ will help those who pray and then watch unto prayer. He calls upon us to use every power He has given us in the warfare against sin. We can never be saved in inactivity and idleness. We might as well look for a harvest from seed which we have not sown, and for knowledge where we have not studied, as to expect salvation without making an effort. It is our part to wrestle against the evil tendencies of the natural heart.” The Youth’s Instructor, March 5, 1903

While we must strive for that perfection of character that Jesus has enjoined upon all His followers (Matthew 5:48), we must also not fail to show mercy to others (Micah 6:8).

“A man may be trying to serve God, but temptations from within and from without assail him. Satan and his angels urge and coax him to transgress. And perhaps he falls a prey to their temptings. How then do his brethren treat him? Do they speak harsh, cutting words, driving him farther from the Saviour? What a sad sight for Christ and the angels to behold.

“Let us remember that we are struggling and toiling, failing in speech and action to represent Christ, falling and rising again, despairing and hoping. Let us beware of dealing unkindly with those who like ourselves are subject to temptation, and who, like ourselves also, are the objects of Christ’s unchanging love.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 7, 400

If You Inherit the Righteousness of Christ

by

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11, 12

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30, 31

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” Romans 5:17, 18

“In the gospel of Christ Jesus, … the terms of salvation were fully revealed. The law stands in all its original force and purity; not one jot or tittle was to be set aside or altered; for the law is the transcript of the character of God. But the Lord made a covenant of grace whereby His mercy is extended to fallen man, and provision is made so ample and powerful that souls ruined by the fall may be uplifted to glory, honor, and immortality. … Encircling the throne of God is the rainbow of the covenant, a symbol of the pledged word of God that He will receive every sinner who gives up all hope of eternal life on the ground of his own righteousness, and accepts the righteousness of the world’s Redeemer, believing that Christ is his personal Saviour, able to save him from his sin, and to keep him from falling. Unless Christ is the ground of our hope, we shall not inherit eternal life.” The Signs of the Times, September 5, 1892

“We need to ask ourselves the question, What shall I do to inherit eternal life? … The sinner may be pardoned if he accepts Christ as a personal Saviour. There is only one condition—the acceptance of the robe of Christ’s righteousness.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 138

Editorial – Our God is a Consuming Fire

by

“Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the Lord spoke, saying: “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy.” ’ ” Leviticus 10:1–3, first part

We are living in a generation that seems not to understand what holiness is. He who is not holy will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). An unholy person does not talk or act in harmony with the law of God. But the thoughts, feelings, words, and actions of a holy person are in harmony with the ten commandments, because the law is holy, just, and good. (Romans 7:12.)

One of the chief aspects of holiness is purity. The Bible says concerning God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” Habakkuk 1:13

We are told that the glory of God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and the work of Jesus for His people in the last days is likened to a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2). Fire is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was manifested to the apostles as tongues of fire resting on each of the apostles.

“The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse His people from their iniquities ‘by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.’ The word of the Lord to Israel was, ‘I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin.’ Isaiah 4:4; 1:25. … In all who submit to His power, the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them. …

“Wherever men came before God while willfully cherishing evil, they were destroyed. … The light of the glory of God, which imparts life to the righteous, will slay the wicked.” The Desire of Ages, 107, 108

When the Lord looks upon you does He see that you have been baptized with fire and now are living a holy life?

Editorial – “As We shall Forget the Way the Lord Has Led Us”

by

Every statement in inspired writings has a context which includes the time when the statement is made, or the word is written. In 1893, the following encouragement was given to the Advent people: “The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history, having travelled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as Leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history. … We have everything to be thankful for. If we walk in the light as it shines upon us from the living oracles of God, we shall have large responsibilities, corresponding to the great light given us of God. We have many duties to perform, because we have been made the depositories of sacred truth to be given to the world in all its beauty and glory.” General Conference Daily Bulletin, January 29, 1893 [Emphasis supplied.]

This paragraph tell us that we do not have to fear for the future, unless we forget how the Lord has led us in the past. Although the prophet does not explicitly tell us, the implication is clear. If we forget the way the Lord has led us, we have plenty to fear for the future; in fact, our eternal life could be in jeopardy.

Do you know the way that the Lord has led you?

As a Christian, the most important goal of my everyday life is to be where the Lord wants me to be, doing what He wants me to do. By studying the Bible, I can know where the Lord is leading me. Does the Bible tell me where I should be and what I should be doing on the Sabbath day? It says that on the Sabbath I am to rest from my secular, everyday labor (Isaiah 58:12–14); I should not engage in common thoughts or words (Counsels for the Church, 263); and I should be in church to worship the Lord with His people (Hebrews 10:24, 25; Luke 4:16–23).

Friend, the Lord is leading. Will we follow?

Editorial – The Golden Rule

by

The Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12

If we want to spend eternity in heaven, we must practice the golden rule. This rule will determine our eternal destiny in the judgment.

“The standard of the golden rule is the true standard of Christianity; anything short of it is a deception.

“This is the truth as it is in Jesus. When those who profess the name of Christ shall practice the principles of the golden rule, the same power will attend the gospel as in apostolic times.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 136, 137

“Every unjust act toward a fellow-mortal, though he be the veriest sinner, is a violation of the golden rule.” The Signs of the Times, December 20, 1883

If we are studying and practicing the golden rule, we will know that an overbearing spirit is not of God, and that harshness and accusation are of the devil. He is the accuser of the brethren.

We need to understand that it is a lack of following the golden rule in all the relations of life that will condemn us in the judgment and bring the wrath of God, rather than His blessing, upon us. This should not be difficult to understand.

What would you think of a person in a boat who sees a man drowning and as the man draws near to and grabs hold of the boat in a desperate effort to save his life, the person in the boat does not offer a helping hand? Instead, he reaches down and breaks the drowning man’s grasp on the boat, leaving him to perish in the dark waters. That drowning man is God’s child for whom an infinite price has been paid.

“Divine love has been stirred to its unfathomable depths for the sake of men … . Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men. … The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of God’s child, and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger. … To those who claim fellowship with Christ, yet have been indifferent to the needs of their fellow men, He will declare in the great judgment day, ‘I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.’ Luke 13:27.” The Desire of Ages, 825