Note: This post comes with a plea, that we must realize that there is a cost to enter God’s kingdom–it costs you your life, that is, a changing from a sinful life into a holy life. A careless attitude of “I got my Jesus free pass card” must be changed to a ” I want to walk upright with my Lord everyday”.
It really saddens me to think that being called a “Christian” or even a “Seventh Day Adventist” will soon be a thing of the past. Sadly, the Lord will finally have had it , with those names. The degrading and mis-representation of those who profess something wonderful, yet do what is wrong in our Lord’s site, will have finally reached the heavens.
Speaking to those who falsely profess His name, He says ” You will leave your name for a curse to my chosen ones, and the Lord God will slay you. But My servants will be called by another name. ( Isaiah 65:15) And just so you don’t think our Lord means calling us a new name in heaven, but here on earth (Isaiah 62:2) reads “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name.”
So we see the converted life really involves careful warnings to our brother and sisters.
One of the great deceptions produced from the evil one, is the old belief we have no accountability per se.We think ” Our Lord died for me and paid my price, therefore I’m safe. I don’t have to be concerned with my walk, just as long as I’m fairly good and live a good clean life, I’m fine.” It’s the twisted belief in “righteousness by faith”. A completely false idea of just what that means. Let’s look at how narrow the path to life really is. But as narrow as it is, anyone can stay on it, they just have to want it badly enough.
How bad? Let’s let scripture answer this. ” If you look for Me with all your heart, you will find me”. (Jer.29:13) How about when we seek Him with half our heart, what then? Well, I don’t know about you but that sounds like lukewarmness to me. The kind our Lord will sprew out of His mouth.
The purpose of this post is not to make you feel all is helpless, rather it is a real account of what it takes to enter the kingdom. The solemn fact is that our Lord cannot compromise on His word, and it specifically call us to repentance. Repentance that is true, a turning away from sin.
Let us remember, there was one family in all the world saved in Noah’s time. There was very few saved in Sodom and Ghamorah. There was only two (above the accountability age of 20) that God allowed into the promised Israel. He has always been loving but He cannot compromise with sin and unrighteousness.
It’s so sad that many of us think our Lord is but a big Santa Claus up there in heaven saying ” Oh, Oh, Oh, come on in all you sinners, no need to repent, just some on in, Oh, Oh, Oh”.
Ellen White says “If we have any regard for our soul’s salvation, we must make a decided change. We must seek the Lord with true pentience; we must with deep contrition of soul confess our sins, that they may be blotted out.” (1 Selected Messages p.125) Should we be so foolish to think we can continue to purposely sin and without repentance be forgiven? No, true repentance means we’re sorry for doing a certain sin, and then turn away from that sin. Asking our Lord to help us with His power to overcome.
Sometimes I truly wonder how many in our church, in God’s true loving way, reach out to a wayward brother or sister and say ” You know brother, you rally shouldn’t be smoking, that’s not right before the Lord.” Or “you know sister, you shouldn’t be listening to that rock in roll music, the Lord can’t be pleased with that music.”
(Isaiah 58:1) tell us what we must do about this. “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob thier sins.” Some may think this verse describes our Lord showing His people their sins–it does not. The “your” in your voice is not captilized in the scripture. So it’s a direct plea to–us, His people.
As we have wrote about in a prior post, the sealings of God is happening now. This sealing is not being lightly and carelessly placed on His people. A converted life is the foremost requirement to receive this eternal seal. Just how converted ? Let’s look at the prophetess’ inspired words.
“…everyone must deliver his own soul by his own righteousness.” (Test. for the church, p.215) Whoa, wait a minute. What about Christ righteousness is our righteousnes? He’s our righteousness, so we are always righteous.
Yes, our Lord’s righteousness is ours indeed! But we claim that righteousness (which means –right doing) ONLY when we have made a full commitment to live a right doing life. You see, even after we make that commitment we’ll fall short, but then we can claim His righteousness because we are striving with our whole heart. His righteousness is no longer a cop out or convient excuse and claimed by us as we walk sinfully through our professed “Christian” life.
Let’s now look at some examples of a “converted life”.
— You know the Holy 10 Commandments 1 to 10 and 10 to 1. If someone asks you–“What is Commandment no. 7?” you know immediately. For the original short form of the 10 Commandments, see this link http://www.levitt.com/hebrew/commandments.html
— Come Friday sunset, you are well aware this is the Holy Sabbath, honoring God is the primary focus you have, and this lasts through out the Sabbath
–At the store the cashier gives you back 10.00 extra, you notice it after you get to your car. You walk back in to that cashier and hand it back.
–A close friend or relative calls and invites you to their wedding this coming Saturday. You don’t even hesitate, and politely decline.
–At work you notice a co-worker wants to take a small item from the office, you gently remind them that they shouldn’t do that, and you have a chance to share God’s Law with them (No.8 -Thou shall not steal)
–On Friday, you know it’s preparation day, so you make sure to get gas, meals ready, clothes ready, etc. It is dreadful to you if you do these things on Sabbath
–You no longer watch TV every night, instead you are studying God’s word, alone or with family or friends.
— You bring your bible with you each and every week to church. Your bible is marked up, due to numerous passages you have noted and love. His word is in your mind and heart. Especially each and every Commandment.
— A Friend calls you on Friday night to fill you in on the big news at work, you politely explain it’s the Sabbath and you’ll call them back on Saturday night or Sunday
–You dress on the Sabbath as if you are going to see the president of the USA. But in this case you know you are seeing a much greater than that!
–Worldly music is out, you shun it in the car, home and work.
Those are just a few of the examples. The Holy Spirit will guide you on so much more as you make an effort to convert.
I gave a short sermon in our church a few weeks back explaining how many members look at going to Sabbath services as “punching in their time card.” They do as they please during the week, and when Sabbath comes they get well dressed and “do their time” and so the Lord is pacified. No, the Sabbath is the culmination of our “right doing” during the week, and so we come before the Lord, arms stretched out and ready to faithfully worship Him. This is the converted life in action!
We must remember the devil has took over Christianity to a great degree. This has been so at least from the 2nd or 3rd century. And one of his greatest deceptions is to get you to feel complacent. Our Lord described His people in His last church (the Laodicean church) “Because you say, ” I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”(Rev.3:17) This lukewarm attitude tells us to relax, don’t worry about our walk, or even learning new light and truth. We’re safe, no need to search any further for His truth.
We should “fear” Him in a healthly way. Frequently we should ask Him to guide us, and warn us. This is so important in our walk. We are admitting we can’t rely on our own strength and even our own knowledge, we need more! Why do I bring up knowledge? His solemn words. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee..”(Hosea 4;6) The ones who come to us seriously saying “listen brother or sister, I want to show you this light that has been revealed to me” –we should not blindly ignore them, if it is something we don’t agree with or understand, we must search it out. Zealousness comes from the Lord, and if someone has it and wants to share it, it should always be listened to, and studied.
One of the most solemn areas of study, we will do once we are converted is the upcoming Ezekiel prophecy. In Manuscript releases, Vol 1, page 260, Ellen White says “Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble themselves and be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience.”
In case some of you are not familiar, Ezekiel 9 is the sealings of the 144,000 as spoken of in Revelation 7:3. This is where are Lord will begin the judgement of the living in the house of God, His church. EGW knew this, yet today very few speak of this from the pulpit — Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel.
What are some of the keys to knowing a brother or sister is coming to us with a message from God? 1) They are zealous (Rev. 3:19) 2) They are “blowing the trumpet” (giving many warnings) “Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of Israel. Because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My Law.” (Hosea 8:1) 3)They stand solidly on the Law and the testimony (Isaiah 8:20) 4) They are willing to study with you and want to share knowledge (Hosea 4:6).
When a brother or sister comes us to do a study, engage it, find out the matter. Don’t think you’re above it and don’t need it. Afterall how do you know, that the Lord Himself did not specifically send that person into your life to learn some important truth you need?
“Whatever may be a man’s intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures for greater light..” (Gospel workers, p.300)
“We should now feel the responsibility of laboring with intense earnestness to impart to others the truths that God has given for this time. We cannot be too much in earnest.” (Test for the Church, Vol. 6, p.16)
EGW was given these words from the Lord, please read and understand them, as it clearly shows our path we must follow will require a sincere effort.
“In concluding this narrative, I would say that we are living in a most solemn time. In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and saved.” (Test. for the church, Vol.1,p.608) Why is this so startling? Because sadly, few of us want of make the whole hearted effort to live the converted life to the Lord.
Does that mean our own individual life will become a never ending struggling tight rope, always worrying about whether we are right with God? No, when we convert and start overcoming temptation after temptation, we gain a power from God, a type of momentum that keeps us strong and steady. A true feeling that we are indeed walking on that straight and narrow path.
My brothers and sisters, let none say what EGW pointed out in (Christ’s Object Lessons, p.331) “Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to that decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining life.”
So in closing, we must realize that just going through the motions won’t do it now. Anyone of us could have tomorrow be the “close of probation’ for us. Our Lord said near the end of His final book (Revelation) “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.” (Rev.21:7) Overcome what? It can be none other than- continual sinning.
I remember my Dad told me something when I was a kid that really stuck with me. He said God gave us only one thing that is only ours, and everything else is His. That one thing is our will. When we will truly want to find the Lord with all our heart, we’ll find Him. This half way stuff won’t cut it. We’ll no longer cherish sins, rather we’ll change and commit to the life we must have— The Converted Life.
In Christ, from Whom all knowledge flows, –Rob
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
May 26, 2012 at 7:37 pm |
Rob this is so beautiful i posted in my page and had to say how I feel……GOD IS SOOOOO LOVING SO WONDERFUL AND SO AWESOME, I PRAISE HIM!
May 27, 2012 at 12:12 am |
Praise the Lord! Thanks dear Sister for spreading this message, may they be blessed.