I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. Deuteronomy 30:19.
Those who are carrying forward the work of God must stand firm and steadfast, as faithful sentinels in the Lord’s army. They must stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel…. The last message of mercy is to be proclaimed. Men and women are to be aroused to prepare for the great issues before them….
The reason why men and women today do not believe the truth is because it condemns their life practices. They see that the truth calls for a reform, and they fight it because they hate the work involved in sanctification….
He whose conscience is a sure guide will not stop to reason [i.e., rationalize away] when light shines upon him out of God’s Word. He will not be guided by human counsel. He will not allow worldly business to stand in the way of obedience. He will lay every selfish interest at the door of investigation, and will approach the Word of God as one whose eternal interest is hanging in the balance.
There is a right side—the side of Him who declared, “I have kept my Father’s commandments” (John 15:10). “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7). There is a wrong side—the side of the one who in heaven rebelled against God. With his sympathizers he was expelled from the heavenly courts, and from his action we may understand that no matter how high a position a man may occupy in the church or in the world, if he is disloyal to God, if he accepts human laws instead of the laws of Jehovah, he can never enter heaven, for he is living in direct opposition to God. He will receive punishment in accordance with the power of influence which instead of being placed on the side of God was placed on the side of Satan. The greater the talents and influence given him, the greater will be his punishment. God will require at his hands the souls he has turned aside from truth to falsehood. Instead of leading them to God, he led them away from God, and their blood will be charged to him….
In the day of judgment those who have refused the light and have led others to honor the false sabbath will see the course Satan has pursued in causing men to transgress the law of God. They will see and fully comprehend the virtue of God’s sign….
God’s people have a serious, solemn work to do. He bids them, “Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1).—Manuscript 27, May 6, 1900, “Obedience and Disobedience.”
The Upward Look p. 140
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Prayer Requests
—-I have a special prayer request for for my sister Pat. who is semi comatose. she hasn’t eaten for several days. please pray for her salvation and for her to go to sleep in the Lord. Also pray for their distressing home situation. thanks M
—- Attained a hairline fracture in my left wrist on February 2nd. Still sore and unable to crochet and do normal things still, still sore. Please pray it heals quickly and properly or I will need to be sedated and have it broke it again to reset it! Heidi
—-Please pray for E who is greatly discouraged. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Ron’s Grandpa Taylor was an excellent gunsmith. Because he was such a fine craftsman, he had customers from all over the state. One day he was telling us a story of a man who had asked him to make a very powerful rifle for him. Grandpa Taylor was glad for the business and told that man that he would call him when the gun was ready.
The man agreed to wait.Unfortunately, the man couldn’t wait. The more he thought about that gun, the more he wanted to shoot it. He decided to visit Grandpa Taylor’s workshop and see how it was coming. When he arrived, he was told that the gun was not quite ready. It had not yet been tested. Grandpa Taylor, himself, would be the first one to shoot it. After that, adjustments would be made until it was perfect. Under no circumstances was he to touch that not-quite-finished gun.
The man seemed to understand; but as he looked at that rifle, he began to rationalize. The gun looked perfect. “Surely it is done,” he thought, “Mr. Taylor is just too fussy. I can test it as well as he can.” When Grandpa Taylor’s back was turned, the man quickly picked up the rifle, and sighted down the barrel. Everything looked fine. He aimed toward the indoor target and fired the powerful rifle. In his hurry to shoot it before Grandpa Taylor could stop him, the man did not have it sitting quite right on his shoulder. Grandpa Taylor told us that as a result of his rash action, the man lost his arm.
How often we are like that man. We think that we know best. We think that we can disobey our Great Creator’s direct commands without any consequences. We seem to think that He does not mean just what He says, that He is too loving to allow us to suffer the consequences of our sin. Yet, the life of David is an example of cause and effect. When he sinned in the matter of Bathsheba, there were very great consequences. Nathan told him, “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” 1 Sam 12:9-12 Although, David was forgiven, he and all Israel bore the consequences. As a direct result of his sin, their baby died. vs. 15-19 Moreover, David lost the respect of his subjects, lost the ability to rebuke them and his children when he saw them taking the wrong path. As a result, his son Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon for an incestuous relationship with his sister. Beyond this, Absalom attempted to take over the kingdom causing David and those loyal to him to have to flee for their lives. In the ensuing battle, Absalom lost his life. (chaptera 13-18) From that point on, there was war and bloodshed, troubles and trials, and a great weakening of the kingdom.
Jesus, Himself, obeyed. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb 5:8,9 Paul urges us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:5-13
When our Great Redeemer shall return in the clouds of glory with his all His mighty angels, He will take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel. (2 Th 1:7,8) How important, then, that we do as He has commanded us. Paul continues, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Rom 6:18 John adds, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:2-4
Our Loving Saviour pleads with us today as He did so long ago, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 Let us obey His Voice. Let us be “doers of the word” from a heart filled with love for our Dear Saviour. James 1:22 Let us purify our “souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:22 Let us “walk as children of light:(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” is my prayer. Eph 5:8-11
Rose
Right or Wrong Side—Which?