Standing by Principle

Let those who talk of principle as if they would not on any account depart from it be sure that they understand the principles laid down in the Word of God for our guidance. There are some who follow false principles. Their idea of principle is misleading. Following right principle means the faithful doing of the first four and the last six commandments. In obedience to these divine commands, we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ, appropriating all that is embraced in the atonement made on Calvary. Christ will stand by the side of all who receive Him as their Saviour. To them He will give power to become the sons of God. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

The One here referred to as the Word is the Son of God, who was the Commander in the heavenly courts, and who came to this world to open heavenly things to fallen human beings. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Word that was with God before the world was. In clothing His divinity with humanity, He became possessed of two natures, the divine and the human. And because of this, He was fully able to accomplish for the human race their complete redemption, and their restoration to the privileges of the higher life.

He began His earthly life as human beings begin theirs, coming to this world as a helpless babe. And while here, He lived the life that every human being may live who will receive the great gift that the Lord made to our world in sending His Son to work out the plan of salvation.

Christ bore the penalty of sin, the stroke of divine justice, that human beings might not be left to perish. He bore in His body the sentence pronounced against sinners. This is the science of salvation, which can safely be searched into, and which it is profitable to strive to understand….

Those who continue in transgression will be judged according to their refusal of light. They choose to stand on the side of the prince of darkness, to become the helping hand of him who, if it were possible, would deceive the very elect. They refuse the wonderful gift of heaven, and though they may profess righteousness, and talk of “adherence to principle,” they are at the same time following principles opposed to the noble principles of heaven, and they teach others to follow the same corrupting principles.—Manuscript 161, July 1, 1903, “The Peril of Rejecting Light.”
The Upward Look p. 196
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Prayer Requests
—-At this point I could really use some prayers. Kallie
—-Today I discovered I have an aggressive cancer, lymphoblastic leukemia. I would appreciate your prayers and any guidance from experience. Donna
—-I am in need of prayers. Could you pray for me to start feeling better and have more energy to do the work that I need to do in and around my home. I have arthritis and hypothyroidism. I am only 58 years old but feel much older. Susan
—-I work at a hospital in the ICU. I had a patient who went home but has bone cancer. I asked if I can keep this person in prayer and ask others to pray. I can’t give the name but I am asking for prayers for this person. Therese
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Esther and some friends went to a weekend retreat on top of a mountain. While there, her friends decided to go sledding and invited her to come along. She had not warmed up from snowmobile riding earlier in the day and declined their offer. The friends would not take “no” for and answer and finally persuaded her to go. Esther did not have warm clothes like the rest of them did, and she did not realize how far they were going to slide; so dressed in only a jacket and jeans, she went along. The only thing she suitable for the frigid weather and the many feet of snow was her boots.
She had not been sliding down the mountain long before she realized that they were going much farther down than she had thought that they were going to go. Soon she was terribly cold and her jeans were frozen solid to her legs. She told the others about her predicament, but they didn’t seem to be concerned. Laughing at her, they washed her face in the snow. They were having too much fun to stop and called her a sissy. Her friends told her to sit down and wait for them to finish their fun, but she knew that if she did, she would soon be a victim of hypothermia. Finally, she was able to convince them that they had to go back up to the top. By this time, they were about a mile from the top of the mountain. Her friends were not happy at having their fun interrupted, but went with her anyway. This was no easy climb. The snow was chest high and Esther Marie had to scoop the snow away enough so she could take a step and move forward. There were many times that she felt so tired and weak, that it was all that she could do to continue on; but she knew that if she stopped, she would not make it. She was praying all the way up.
At last they reached the cabin. Poor Esther Marie was nearly frozen and in great pain. She knew that she had to thaw out slowly or she would have even more trouble. She took off her jeans and noticed that her red and blue splotched legs had hard knots where the skin appeared frozen. Crying in pain, she rubbed those frozen areas. By this time, her two girl friends realized that she was not being a sissy but was really having problems and began trying to warm her. After what seemed like forever, Esther was thawed out but was still very weak from the ordeal.
Just as Esther Marie knew that she needed to continue to climb up that mountainside or perish, so we must continuously climb the rugged and narrow path to the Heavenly Kingdom. Our Dear Saviour bids us, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13,14 How easy it is to slide down the broad way. How difficult is the narrow path which leads to life eternal.
How vital to our future it is that we continue the climb Heavenward with Him. How important it is that we co-operate with Him every step of the way. We must keep going even when we are so weary that we want to rest. We must continue climbing no matter how difficult the path. Stopping would have grave consequences. The way may be steep. The way may be painful, but we must keep going step by step.
Our Dear Saviour promises, “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 24:13 We must endure ” a great fight of afflictions” unto the end. Heb 10:32 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 Paul tells us, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 2 Tim 2:4,5 ; 1 Cor 9:24-27
As we see the steep mountain before us, our hopes sink, but praise God, we do not have to climb that rugged path alone. Our Heavenly Friend, the One Who “sticketh closer than a brother,” has trod the way before us. Prov 18:24 He is by our side leading us, guiding us, encouraging us to “keep on keeping on” all the way if we will just listen to His voice assuring us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8
May we daily determine to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” fighting “the good fight of faith,” laying “hold on eternal life.” 2 Tim 2:3; 1 Tim 6:12 May we place our hand in our Great Redeemer’s strong and mighty hand and allow Him to help us every step of the way to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose