North Pacific Union Gleaner
1910
March 9, 1910
A Promise of Life Eternal
[Portion of a talk before The Pacific Union Conference, Mountain View, Cal., January 29, 1910.]
In the first chapter of second Peter there are many precious assurances, which, if often read and meditated upon, will prove a source of great comfort and constant encouragement to every follower of Christ. Upon those who are of like precious faith with himself, through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” the apostle pronounces a blessing; and he also exhorts the believers to continued advancement in the Christian virtues. He writes: NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 1
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 2
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and can not see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 3
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 4
These assurances constitute an eternal life assurance policy to those who, in the strength of their divine Lord, advance grace to grace, and give diligence to make their calling and election sure. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 5
The terms with which the follower of Christ is to comply, are plainly stated. No one need make any mistake regarding the course he is to pursue in order to make sure of life eternal. The way has been made plain. As he follows on to know the Lord, he will learn that the goings forth of his Redeemer are prepared as the morning, and the light shining on his pathway will ever grow brighter. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 6
“Wherefore,” the apostle Peter continues, “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” No matter how long the Christian pilgrim may have been traveling in the way of life eternal, he needs often to recount the mercies of his heavenly Father, and gather hope and courage from the promises of the Word. Daily he is to remember that an eternal life insurance policy is offered to every one who gives diligence to do those things that will bring growth in grace and in a knowledge of the truth. Laying aside all manner of foolishness and unprofitable conversation, he is to seek to come into right relationship with God, that he may reveal the fruits of the Spirit. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 7
The apostle Peter realized the value of constant vigilance in the Christian life, and he felt impelled by the Holy Spirit to urge upon the believers the importance of exercising great carefulness in the daily life. “Yea,” he writes, “I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 8
“Always in remembrance.” O, if those who claim to be Christians would always keep before their minds those things that pertain to their eternal welfare, they would not engage in any foolishness or idle speaking! Their life-work is set before them with unmistakable clearness. It is for them to give diligence to make their calling and election sure, by giving heed to the plain instruction contained in God's holy Word. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 9
There are many wrong things that are often allowed to pass by unnoticed, when by a godly conversation the people of God might set an example of right-doing that would be a standing rebuke to evil-doers. None can afford, by unwise actions, even to seem to sanction wrong-doing. There is a heaven to win, and a hell to shun. In large churches of believers, especially in connection with important institutions maintained for the advancement of the cause of God, there is a special danger of lowering the standard. Where many are gathered in one place, some are more liable to grow careless and indifferent than they would be if isolated and made to stand alone. But even under circumstances more or less adverse to spiritual development, the child of God may watch unto prayer, and set an example in godly conversation that will be a powerful testimony for the right. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 10
“He that lacketh these things is blind.” Unless transformed in character, from grace to grace, there are many who will be unable to discern the needs of a dying world. May God help those who are now indifferent to be reconverted, and to realize their responsibilities in these times of well-nigh universal apostasy, when so many know not that the time of their visitation is near. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 11
Brethren and sisters, Christ is soon coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. He desires us to act our part faithfully in the closing work of warning the world. But unbelief is heavy; it presses upon the soul; and having been received and cherished, it is revealed in our apathy and indifference toward those who are as yet unwarned. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 12
Let us put away our unbelief. Let us humble ourselves before God, and with sanctified tongue begin to witness for him wherever we are. Thus we shall give proof to the world that we are indeed followers of Jesus. Our words and actions should be of a character that will win souls to the One whom we have professed to love and obey. O, we must have more of the love of Jesus in the soul. We must dwell more on the things that have to do with our eternal destiny and the salvation of precious souls all about us. We must seek to come into harmony with the mind of God, as revealed in his Word. We need to feel intensely over these matters, and look constantly to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 13
O that we might allow our minds to dwell on the rich promises, the comforting assurances, set before us in the Holy Scriptures! I desire an inheritance among the sanctified. I desire to share with you the reward of the faithful. I long to do all I can, while in this world of sin and darkness, to enlighten those who as yet have no hope of heaven and of life eternal. NPUGleaner March 9, 1910, par. 14