Living In The Light

July 31, Service Now And To Come

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
—Matthew 20:28 LL 225.1

“The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister” (Matthew 20:28). Christ’s work below is His work above, and our reward for working with Him in this world will be the greater power and wider privilege of working with Him in the world to come. LL 225.2

“Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God” (Isaiah 43:12). This also we shall be in eternity. LL 225.3

For what was the great controversy permitted to continue throughout the ages? Why was it that Satan’s existence was not cut short at the outset of his rebellion? It was that the universe might be convinced of God’s justice in His dealing with evil; that sin might receive eternal condemnation. In the plan of redemption there are heights and depths that eternity itself can never exhaust, marvels into which the angels desire to look. The redeemed only, of all created beings, have in their own experience known the actual conflict with sin; they have wrought with Christ, and, as even the angels could not do, have entered into the fellowship of His sufferings; will they have no testimony as to the science of redemption—nothing that will be of worth to unfallen beings? . . . LL 225.4

In our life here, earthly, sin-restricted though it is, the greatest joy and the highest education are in service. And in the future state, untrammeled by the limitations of sinful humanity, it is in service that our greatest joy and our highest education will be found—witnessing, and ever as we witness learning anew “the riches of the glory of this mystery;” “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). LL 225.5

“It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). LL 225.6

Then, in the results of His work, Christ will behold its recompense. In that great multitude which no person could number, presented “faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), He whose blood has redeemed and whose life has taught us, “shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11).— Education , pp. 308, 309. LL 225.7

Further Reflection: : How does it feel to know that when you get to heaven, Jesus will see you as the precious reward of His work on earth for your salvation? LL 225.8