Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:45, 46.
hat a work there is before us! Who comprehends it? Christ would have all understand that the end of all things is at hand, that the solemn scenes of the final judgment are soon to take place. In that great day, those whose characters the Judge of all the earth can vindicate will stand before the world glorified and honored. On this earth they manifested forth the light and glory of God, and He now rewards them according to their works.
The whole world will then receive sentence. Of all the question will be asked, “Have you diligently studied the Word of God that you might know the will of God, that you might be enabled to understand the difference between sin and righteousness?” Sad will be the fate of those who would not come to Christ that they might be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Then sinners see the character of God as it is. And they see, too, the sinfulness of the sins that have drawn souls away from Christ, and placed them under the banner of rebellion, to war against Him who gave His life for them.
Because Christ was one with the Father, equal with Him, He could make an atonement for transgression, and save man—not in his sins, but from his sins. Those who have despised His grace will see what they have lost by treating with contempt the One who humbled Himself to stand at the head of humanity. They hear the words of condemnation, “Depart from Me. By your example you have caused many to err. You have led them astray from the commandments in obedience to which they would have found eternal life.”
Far different are the words spoken to God’s faithful ones. “Come, ye blessed of my Father,” Christ says, “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Then from the host of the redeemed there rises the triumphant chorus, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” O that our minds could comprehend the greatness of the theme and the wonderful importance of the occasion.
“Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” God’s chosen ones may fall at their post of duty, but they have only fallen asleep, to rest till Jesus awakes them to share with Him an eternal weight of glory.—Letter 363, September 15, 1904, to her son Edson White.
The Upward Look p. 272
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my son Anthony. He was severely burned by chemicals in the face. Hydrochloric acid. Pray that he isn’t in too much pain and that there isn’t any scarring. Nancie
—-Let us continue to pray for those on the Pacific Coast dealing with the fires. Jennifer
—-David is struggling again. Please pray for spiritual, mental, and emotional healing. Buck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
My mother was blessed with an excellent memory, but she did not put it to good use. Until the last few years of her life, she could remember things that happened to her from the time she was just a toddler. Because of this, she remembered all of the things people did to her or said about her, all of the heartaches, all of the slights, all of the unhappiness of normal life. What most people forget because it is unimportant or too painful to remember, was a fresh memory to her. Things we “forgive and forget” were like an open wound to her. Even when her memory failed in her mid-eighties, she could remember little except the painful memories and would feel the hurt and anger all over again. How sad to live life in that manner.
As I think of the years of sorrow and pain that she had caused herself by not forgiving, it reminds me of a story in the Bible. One day Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” He continued to explain, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Matt 18:21-35
Our Dear Saviour “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,” loved us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Eph 1:7 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor 5:21 As the Creator of this world allowed Himself to be nailed to the cruel cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 During the entire time He hung upon that cross, suffering the most severe agony, He, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” that we might be forgiven. Heb 12:2 What complete forgiveness! What wondrous love!
We all are in need of that forgiveness for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23 All have said of done things that have caused someone sadness and pain. David prayed, “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Ps 130:3,4;86:5
Just as our Dear Father in Heaven “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,” so He desires us to do the same. 1 John 1:9 In fact, our future depends upon it. Jesus admonishes, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:24-26 Fearful warning!
May we daily pray for the power to forgive freely, that we may be forgiven. May we “put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another…even as Christ forgave [us]. Col 3:13,14 May we “[forget] those things which are behind, and [reach] forth unto those things which are before, [pressing] toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Rose