The Cross
Quote: “The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honour and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the suffering of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God.” 5sdabc 1132
A statement like this certainly stretches things very wide, and the “Sin Problem,” needs to be addressed so that nobody in the vast expanses of the Universe, will ever doubt the perfection of God or the integrity of his word. God gave up his son, his only son (John 3:16), so even our Heavenly Father has been adversely effected by the consequences of sin, and sin does separate, and that is eternal separation, as sin and sinners becomes ashes under the feet of the redeemed. We have this insight in 2 Corinthians 5:19 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” To develop this concept, when Christ was Crucified, then God was in Christ, the Holy Spirit was in them both, so Calvary was not some way off thing to the God Head, but each member was adversely affected by it, and was intimately involved.
Quote: In the City of God “there shall be no night.” None will need or desire repose. There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering praise to His name. We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning and shall ever be far from its close. . . . All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar—worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. . . . The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all flow life and light and gladness throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.” {GC678}
Quote: Live While You Have a Chance; “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10. It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change. . . .
I appeal to the members of the church to be Christians, to be Christ like. Jesus was a worker, not for Himself, but for others. . . . If you are Christians you will imitate His example. . . Awake, I beseech you, from the sleep of death. It is too late to devote the strength of brain, bone, and muscle to self-serving. Let not the last day find you destitute of heavenly treasure. Seek to push the triumphs of the cross, seek to enlighten souls, labour for the salvation of your fellow beings, and your work will abide the trying test of fire. Let us remember that while the work we have to do may not be our choice, it is to be accepted as God’s choice for us. Whether pleasing or unpleasing, we are to do the duty that lies nearest. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
If the Lord desires us to bear a message to Nineveh, it will not be as pleasing to Him for us to go to Joppa or to Capernaum. He has reasons for sending us to the place toward which our feet have been directed. At that very place there may be someone in need of the help we can give. Whatever the line of work in which we engage, the Word of God teaches us to be “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11. .. “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:24. {FLB 169}
So, what is the evidence in your life and my life that the Cross is central, or do we just claim to be heavenly bound but are in our life and actions bonded to this Earth and living more like the Lost than the Saved. Matthew 7:20 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” So with all this eternal consequences to our daily activity or inactivity we read 2 Peter 3:11 “[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,” we are challenged once more to “Repent and be Converted” and Paul advised us that “I die Daily,” so we should be very proactive in our life as there are few days left for this world to run on its current course. Dear Reader; will you resolve to pick up the pace and live more Christ like always?
