For What Are You Preparing?

It is our privilege to understand the great responsibilities that God has placed upon us so that we shall not be in darkness as to what is coming upon our world. We cannot afford to meet that day without a preparation. But when we think of this great and solemn event of Christ’s coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, we should live in great humiliation before God lest we fail of the grace of God and prove ourselves unworthy of eternal life….

We see that the world at large have no thoughts of this great day, and many of them do not care to hear anything about it. But we must meet the record of our lives. We must remember that there is a witness to all our works. An eye like a flame of fire beholds us in all our actions of life. Our very thoughts and the intents and purposes of our hearts are laid bare to God’s inspection. As the features are produced upon the polished plate of the artist, so are our characters upon the books of record in heaven.

We ask you, “How stands your character in the sight of God today? Are you preparing your souls for the grand review, that you may have the white robe of character in that day?” You cannot afford to indulge in sin and iniquity. You cannot afford to be found a transgressor of God’s great moral rule of righteousness….

The God of heaven has given us reasoning powers and intellect, and He wants us to use them. He has given us this body which He wishes us to preserve in perfect health so that we can give Him perfect service. The Lord God is an ever-present witness to the deeds of wickedness done among the children of men upon this earth. How does He look upon men and women for whom He has paid an infinite price, but who refuse to obey His laws? …

We cannot wait until the judgment before we consent to deny self and to lift the cross. We cannot then form characters for heaven. It is here in this life that we must take sides with the humble, self-denying Redeemer. It is here that we must overcome envy, strife, selfishness, love of money, and love of the world. It is here that we must enter the school of Christ, and learn of the Master the precious lessons of meekness and lowliness of mind. And here it must be our aim and earnest effort to be loyal and true to the God of heaven by obeying all of His commandments and thus be fitting up for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for all who love God.—Manuscript 6a, June 27, 1886, “Preparation for the Judgment,” a sermon by Sister White in Orebro, Sweden.
The Upward Look p. 192
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for RA and BD that things will go better at work. B
—-Praise—I was sick and now I am well and able to work. Anward
—-My friend just died and I need prayer and so does her family. Paula
—-Pray for Becky, my daughter-in-law who is nine months pregnant and her father just passed. Sara
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Dear Friends,
When I was eight, my mother had the opportunity to go to Nashville, Tennessee during the Christmas holidays with a friend of hers named Don, who was a nightclub singer. He was on his way to Florida to sing in a nightclub there. To see a show at the Grand Ol’ Oprey in Nashville had been a dream of hers as she loved country-western music. She took me along. We had a wonderful time. She was more relaxed and happy than I had seen her up to that point. She was very grateful to Don for inviting her.
Over the years, my mother lost track of Don as he went from one small nightclub to another. She talked of him sometimes, though. He had been raised in the church, but had never given his life to Jesus. As he got older and found that he had a real talent for singing, he began to desire a career in the entertainment industry. Instead of committing his life to Jesus and letting Him lead, he gave himself totally to the persuit of show business. The fame that he was sure he deserved eluded him, and he spent his life in small clubs singing for people whose minds were clouded by alcohol. He was not really happy. He had no family, no true friends, nothing but what he could carry in his car. His was a wasted life.
How much different Don’s life would have been had he used the musical talents that our Great Creator had given him for God’s glory. Jesus told a story about our use of the talents He has given to each of us. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt 25:14-30
May we use all of our talents for our Wonderful Saviour’s glory. And, as we do, may we daily “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
Rose