Sabbath, July 02, 2011 - "Our works
follow us to the Judgment"
- “Our work has
been marked out for us by our heavenly Father. We are to take our Bibles and go
forth to warn the world. We are to be God's helping hand in saving souls. We
are to be channels through which His love is day by day to flow to the
perishing. The realization of the great work in which he has the privilege of
taking part ennobles and sanctifies the true worker. He is filled with the
faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Nothing is drudgery to the one who
submits to the will of God. "Doing it unto the Lord" is the thought
that throws a charm over the work that God gives him to do.” --Letter 43, 1902.
- Revelation 20:12-13 “And I
saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and
another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up
the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their
works.”
- Revelation 14:13
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may
rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
- “There is a great work for us to do if we
would inherit eternal life. We are to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and
live a life of righteousness. Many teach that all that is necessary to
salvation is to believe in Jesus; but what saith the word of
truth?--"Faith without works is dead." We are to "fight the good
fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life," take up the cross, deny self,
war against the flesh, and follow daily in the footsteps of the Redeemer. There
is no salvation for us except in Jesus; for it is through faith in him that we
receive power to become the sons of God; but it is not merely a passing faith;
it is faith that works the works of Christ. Jesus has said, "If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me." We have a part to act as well as to believe; for we are to be judged
according to our works.” {RH, March 6,
1888 par. 2}
- “Great and small,
high and low, rich and poor, are to be judged "out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works." Day after day,
passing into eternity, bears its burden of records for the books of Heaven.
Words once spoken, deeds once done, can never be recalled. Angels of God have
registered both the good and the evil. The mightiest conqueror upon the earth
cannot call back the record of even a single day. Our acts, our words, even our
most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny for weal or
woe. Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to
justify or condemn. They go before us to the Judgment.” {Vol. 4 Spirit of Prophesy pg.311 par.1}
- “As judgment
passes upon the house of God, the angels keep a faithful record of every man's
work, their sentence is recorded by their name, and the angel is commissioned
to spare them not, but to cut them down at the time of slaughter. And that
which was committed to their trust is taken from them. Their earthly treasure
is then swept away, and they have lost all. And the crowns they might have
worn, had they been faithful, are put upon the heads of those saved by the
faithful servants whose means were constantly in use for God. And every one
they have been the means of saving, adds stars to their crowns in glory, and
increases their eternal reward.”
{Spiritual Gifts Book 4 pg.38 par.1}
- Matthew 25:14-30
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who
called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he
gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according
to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had
received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other
five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's
money. After a long time the lord of
those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five
talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have
gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou
good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that
had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two
talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said
unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a
few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of
thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew
thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering
where thou hast not strowed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in
the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto
him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed
not, and gather where I have not strowed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put
my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine
own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which
hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall
have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which
he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- “In this parable
two classes are presented,--the workers and the idlers. All have received
talents, and all can use them in the service of the Master; but many choose to
use them to please themselves. They put skill, tact, perseverance, and energy
into their business transactions. They see opportunities to do good, but their
feelings are, "Some one who has been doing this work, understands it
better than I. I will let him do the work. I will go to my farm." Another
says, "I will go to my merchandise. I do not like the rigid requirements
of God's word that leave a man no chance to build up his own interests."
There are many who act out these words, if they do not say them. Too little is
said to stir up these non-workers; but if anything is said, many pay no
attention. The Lord Jesus is soon to "be revealed from heaven with his
mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." You who have hid your
Lord's talents, may think that this plain, decided warning is not the way to
preach the gospel of peace; but it is just the way that Christ preached it, and
it will be his way of fulfilling what he has said would take place. Men neglect
all the claims of Jehovah, disregard his holy law, disappoint his expectations
in everything, and yet they feel that they are not the ones who will be
punished. It is the blasphemer, the murderer, the adulterer, who deserves
punishment. They themselves have really loved to hear the gospel preached.
True, they have spent their lives in caring for their own interest, instead of
helping to build up their Master's kingdom; yet they would be surprised to hear
the words, "Take the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten
talents." "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." How terrible is the
self-deception of those souls who are at ease in Zion! They believe everything
in God's word which flatters their self-love; but they heed not the warnings
and denunciations that make them uncomfortable. Like the Jews, many mistake the
enjoyment of their privileges for the benefit they should derive from
them.” {RH, January 12, 1886 par. 3}
- “... who can be
against us?' However craftily the plots of Satan and his agents may be laid,
God can detect them, and bring to naught all their counsels.” --Southern
Watchman, April 19, 1904.
- Romans 8:31
“...If God be for us, who can be against us?”
- Romans 8:28 “And
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose.”
- “We may have a right
to enter into the city, to eat of the tree of life, and to share in the
unending joy of the redeemed. We may listen to the voice of Jesus, sweeter than
any music that ever fell on mortal ear, as he welcomes his children to their
eternal home. Those who have chosen his service will hear him say, "Come,
ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world." And oh, what a kingdom! There will be no night
in the city of gold. God and the Lamb will be its light. There are homes for
the pilgrims of earth. There are robes for the righteous --crowns of glory,
palms of victory. All that perplexed us in the Providences of God, will then be
made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find an explanation. The
mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered
only confusion and broken purposes we shall see the most perfect and beautiful
harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered these experiences that seemed
the most trying and hard to bear. As we realize the tender care of Him who
makes all things work together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory.” {ST,
January 27, 1888 par. 10}
- “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of
love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the
saints, and do minister.“ Hebrews 6:10
- Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my
reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
- “Remembering without ceasing your work of
faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in
the sight of God and our Father.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
- "Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord" (Col. 3:16). Here is the privilege of the Christian.
{Heavenly places pg.289 par.5}
- Romans 15:33 “Now
the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
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