Status in Eternity
Here is an interesting quote that you will enjoy, just like I do, and it is from an ancient periodical, which was published in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald in March 1895 and I quote: “The kingdom of heaven is of a higher order than any earthly kingdom. Whether we shall have a higher position or a lower position, will not be determined by our rank, wealth, or education, but by the character of the obedience rendered to the word of God. Those who have been actuated by selfishness and human ambition, who have been striving to be greatest, who have been self‑important, who have felt above confessing mistakes and errors, will have no place in the kingdom of God. Whether men will be honoured as members of the royal family of God, will be determined by the manner in which they bear the test and proving of God that is brought to bear upon them in this life. Those who have not been self‑denying, who have not manifested sympathy for the woes of others, who have not cultivated the precious attributes of love, who have not manifested forbearance and meekness in this life, will not be changed when Christ comes. The laws of Christ’s kingdom are unalterable; for they have their foundation in his own unchangeable righteous character. Not one of his precepts will be weakened or altered in the slightest degree. Heaven and earth will pass away rather than one tittle of his law shall fail. There can be no amendment made to the law of God; for “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Should the voice of the highest human authority announce an amendment or an addition to the law of God in any human legislature, such an announcement would be registered on the books of heaven as treason. It would be placed on the same list as the presumptuous claims of the first great rebel who was cast out from heaven.”
Quote; “Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness‑‑godlikeness‑‑is the goal to be reached. Before the student there is opened a path of continual progress. He has an object to achieve, a standard to attain, that includes everything good, and pure, and noble. He will advance as fast and as far as possible in every branch of true knowledge. But his efforts will be directed to objects as much higher than mere selfish and temporal interests as the heavens are higher than the earth.” {ED 18}
We have this very interesting verse as found in Matthew 11:11 “Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” After all John the Baptist went through and all the amazing things he saw, by some weird circumstances his lack of Faith has made him the last, least and bottom person on the “Totem Pole” as it were, so we all must in our daily walk and lives, better this position or else we are outside the door to the Kingdom of God.
Philippians 3:8-12 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Here Paul is admonishing us, and the Philippian Believers, that it is all about being a Christian; Living, Breathing, Walking, Talking, Preaching, Praying and in just every single facet of our lives, that we “Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk.” As the Quote says, “Godliness‑‑godlikeness‑‑is the goal to be reached.” We certainly can only have godlikeness when we are actually living and behaving and representing God, and living in the image of Jesus Christ.
Quote; “The Christian life is constantly an onward march. Jesus sits as a refiner and purifier of His people; and when His image is perfectly reflected in them, they are perfect and holy, and prepared for translation. A great work is required of the Christian. We are exhorted to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Here we see where the great labour rests. There is a constant work for the Christian. Every branch in the parent vine must derive life and strength from that vine, in order to yield fruit.” {CCh 51}
Dear Reader; The path is set before us and we are going to be rewarded by what we did and did not do while living here on Planet Earth. Our “Status in Heaven” is not judged by our position, wealth, Political or Religious Position held, but purely on our “Obedience.” 1 Samuel 15:22b “Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.” It is all about what we did and did not do while sojourning here, our Obedience to Scripture and how well we followed it; 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
