Eternal Vigilance

Christ has laid down the conditions of acceptable service. “He that loveth his life shall lose it,” He says; “and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (John 12:25, 26).

It is Christ’s method of serving that is of value in God’s sight. The service of those who serve in the world’s way is worthless, for it is all for self. The selfishness of human nature takes control. They do not serve as Christ has given them example.

Let us study the life and death of Christ. Let us do all in our power to work out the plan of God. What tongue can tell, what pen unfold the mighty results of looking to Jesus and living His life? How few of those claiming to be Christians have any real right to that sacred name.

Satan watches eagerly to find Christians off their guard. O that the followers of Christ would remember that eternal vigilance is the price of eternal life. Many have a slumbering faith. Unless they are invigorated, revived, quickened into action, their souls will be lost.

Self must die, and Christ must be enthroned in the heart as all and in all. The thoughts must be stayed on Him. Then the life will be an honor to His name. The soul will receive power from on high to resist Satan’s specious devisings.

Have Seventh-day Adventists forgotten the warning given in the sixth chapter of Ephesians? We are engaged in a warfare against the hosts of darkness. Unless we follow our Leader closely, Satan will obtain the victory over us.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17).—Letter 140, July 5, 1903, to “My Dear Brethren.”
The Upward Look p. 200
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Jerri. She is still in the hospital with a racing heart. Mike
—-Please pray that Ron can find a job soon. Rose
—-Please pray for me. Megan
—-I need prayers for my mom, she has stage 4 throat cancer. Cheyenne
—-Please pray for my developing baby. Little Sparrow
—-I’m struggling with bouts of boils and probably MRSA. I am in need of prayers. Janis
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Dear Friends,
A few years ago, when we were camping by a river, we spent some of our time walking along the water’s edge. We noticed a light green plant growing on the sandy beach that we had not seen before. We stopped to look at it more closely. Most of them grew straight and tall, but the plants that were at the water’s edge were lying on their side. The wind was blowing the water into waves that were washing away the sand from under them, but those plants held on tightly to keep from being washed away. Long, white roots anchored them into the sandy shore. No matter how hard they were beaten, they could not be carried away into the river.
How often the trials and troubles of this old world beat upon us just as those waves were beating upon those plants. Just as those plants were rooted deeply into the shoreline, so we must be anchored deeply in God’s Holy Word in order to withstand the onslaughts of the evil one who is trying to shake our very foundation. Peter realized that God’s Holy Word is more reliable than what we can see with our eyes or hear with our ears. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. [speaking of his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration Matt 17:1-9] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:16-22 Paul adds, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16,17
God’s Holy Word is “is able to make [us] wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” vs 15 By beholding our Dear Saviour in its pages, ” we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. ” Ps 119:9-17
Anchoring deeply in the Word of God keeps us from being washed away by every wind of doctrine and theory of man; “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph 4:14-16 John warns us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 How can we try them? By comparing what they say and do by the precious Word of God. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20
May we “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we remember the works of the LORD and His wonders of old, meditating also upon all His work, and keep not silent but share with those we meet what we have learned of all His doings that they, too, may have an anchor in these troubling times. May our Dear Saviour grant us, “according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in [our] hearts by faith; that [we], being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that [we] might be filled with all the fullness of God” and be ready to meet Him when He comes to receive His own. Eph 3:16-19
Rose