Skip to main content

Abide part 2: What Are You Building?

Related image

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2)

We are in a decisive time in earth’s history.  The scenes of earth are drawing to a close.  Now, more than ever, is the time to build our character aright before God, because the test ahead will not be easy. 

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Gold, silver, and precious stones represents the character traits spurred by love.  Wood, hay, and stubble represents the character traits spurred from self.  In the end, the wood, hay, and stubble will be burnt up, and the gold, silver, and precious stones will be purified and will shine through eternity. 

Fire represents trials that purge the dross from our characters.  “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:7). 

Trials reveal the hidden traits of the heart.  Those that have cultivated faith, love, self-denial, self-control, and patience will stand through to the end.  When trials beset them, they will look to Christ, and endure in His strength.  Those who have not cultivated these traits will either fall away or be saved “so as by fire”, as firebrands plucked from the burning. 

So what is the solution?  How can we cultivate gold, silver, and precious stones in our characters?  Mrs. White once wrote to the youth, “If you will give yourself fully to Jesus He will create in you an intense desire for the friendship of God, and you will have deep longings to reflect the goodness and the love of Jesus in your life and character to your family and to those who know not the love of God. By cultivating patience, meekness, forbearance, by showing respect and rendering obedience to your father and mother as it is fit in the Lord, you will be giving testimony in your everyday life that the truth has power to sanctify the character." {4MR 194.3} 

Fix your gaze on Christ!  

~Lilienne Stafford

Comments

Post a Comment

Please keep your comments/questions uplifting, without the use of any slang or swear words.

Popular posts from this blog

Peace

What is peace?  What must be done to obtain it?  Is it even possible?  In the midst of the billows of waves life sends our way, peace seems to have sunk out of existence.  Our lives are compassed about with worry, stress, grief, and fear as one after another calamities befall this old world.  But you can still obtain peace while the tempest rages.  But what is peace? Peace is calm assurance from God when you yield all to Him, trusting fully in His plan rather than your own.  So many people are vainly striving for peace, unable to locate its source. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul says, " Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understandin g, shall keep your heart s and minds through Christ Jesus."  - Philippians 4:6,7    First of all, we must "be careful for nothing", ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Friend of God

Being a friend of God. Can we really be friends with God? Or is He a God that doesn’t want our friendship?  Well, take a look at Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. Genesis 5:22 and 24 says that Enoch walked with God. Genesis 6:9 said that Noah also walked with God. And what about Abraham? James 2:23 says that he was a friend of God! Let’s take a look at Moses. He conversed with God face to face! Was this kind of relationship only for them? No! Take a look at Joshua 1:5. “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” God will always be with us! He will never leave us, or forsake us. Incredible!  What is it like to be close to God? Psalm 16:11 says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Fullness of joy! That’s amazing. Being close to God is having fullness of joy. Wh...
Post a Comment
Read more

Roadblocks

Faithful to the End Part 6 By Caleb Tam If you are traveling along a dusty road, and there is a huge roadblock in the way, are you going to reach your destination?  No!  You and I are on that narrow road which leads to heaven.  Are their roadblocks in our way?  Could there be some sin we are clinging to?  Some grudge we're holding, some thought, feeling, habit, or addiction we're not willing to give up?  If we leave those roadblocks sitting there in the middle of the road, we are not going to reach our heavenly destination.  Perhaps you're thinking you're not strong enough to move those roadblocks out of the way.  You're right!  You and I aren't strong enough to move them out of our lives.  But there is good news.  That's not your job!  In fact, the master road builder has been wanting to remove the roadblocks for years, but he hasn't been able to  because you have chained them to the g...
Post a Comment
Read more