Be Ye Also Ready

Suppose that today Christ should appear in the clouds of heaven, who . . . would be ready to meet Him? Suppose we should be translated into the kingdom of heaven just as we are. Would we be prepared to unite with the saints of God, to live in harmony with the royal family, the children of the heavenly King? What preparation have you made for the judgment? Have you made your peace with God? . . . Are you seeking to help those around you, those in your home, those in your neighborhood, those with whom you come in contact that are not keeping the commandments of God? . . . Remember that profession is worthless without a practice that enters into the daily life. God knows whether we are keeping His law in truth. He knows just what we are doing, just what we are thinking and saying. Are we getting ready to meet the King? When He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, will you be able to say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us” (Isaiah 25:9)? To those who can say this Christ will say, “Come up higher. Upon this earth you have loved Me. You have loved to do My will. You can now enter the Holy City and receive the crown of everlasting life.” {Mar 298.2}
If it were possible for us to be admitted into heaven as we are, how many of us would be able to look upon God? How many of us have on the wedding garment? How many of us are without spot or wrinkle or any such thing? . . .
This is our washing and ironing time–the time when we are to cleanse our robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. John says, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)…. Shall we not let our sins go? . . .
I entreat you, brethren and sisters, to labor earnestly to secure the crown of everlasting life. The reward will be worth the conflict, worth the effort. . . . In the race in which we are running, everyone may receive the reward offered–a crown of everlasting life. I want this crown; I mean by God’s help to have it. I mean to hold fast to the truth, that I may see the King in His beauty.

Maranatha p. 298
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—– Please pray for my friend Martha – she has a job interview at 11:30. Wanangwa
—–Please pray for Shirley who is mourning the loss of her cousin. Rose
—–Tiana wants God’s guidance in her future plans. RJ
—–Please continue to pray for T that God will continue to bring him back to Him and to become free from addiction and guilt. L
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends

When I was four, a lady my mother worked with invited many of her co-workers to see her television. In fact, it was one of the first TV’s in Kalamazoo. There were a lot of people in the house that evening all gathered closely around the TV viewing a very snowy picture. Although all were amazed at this new invention, I was disappointed because it was so difficult to tell what was on that tiny circle.

The next time I saw a TV was when Queen Elizabeth was coronated. The lady who owned the dry cleaners next door invited us to watch this event on her TV. The picture was clearer and much larger. Even though I was only seven, I enjoyed all the pageantry and this time, I was filled with wonder over an invention which was to become America’s favorite pasttime.

The third time I saw TV, was when there was a circus on “the tube.” Our neighbors, the Francisco’s, had a set. Mrs. Francisco invited me to watch it. Although the circular screen was as tiny as the set when I was four, it had a clear picture.

When I was ten and went to live with my mother and step-dad, we had a Muntz TV of our own. The screen was large and the picture clear. Yet, over the years improvements were made to television sets until today the picture is very large, in color, clear, and life-like.

So it is in the Christian’s life. When we first come to Christ, we give forth a very tiny and snowy picture of what He would like us to be, yet His heart is full of joy that we have made our first steps toward Him. Praise God! He does not leave us to shine with a dim light. He works with us and molds us to become more like Him as Isaiah exclaims, “O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isa 64:9 Some of the experiences that we must pass through are not pleasant. He says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Rev 3:19 “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isa 48:10

Paul, speaking of this honing process, advises, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Heb. 12:5-11 Step by step, shaping by shaping in the Hand of the Potter, the picture of Jesus shining forth in our life becomes clearer and clearer until we fully “show forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

May our “light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 May that light grow and become clearer and clearer until our character sends forth a true picture of our Dear Saviour is my prayer.

Rose