Look And Live
We are all classified in the Bible as “virgins,” because we “profess a pure faith.” C.O.L. 406.
We all have lamps, the word of God. Ps. 119:105. As Christians living in the last days, we are supposed to be looking and preparing for the return of the Saviour to take us to heaven for His marriage feast (the Marriage Supper of the Lamb).
But He also expects us all to participate in a special work to usher in His coming. We are to prepare the way for the Bridegroom by using our lamps to shed light into the darkness of this world:
- light about His glorious character of love and mercy
- light as in a message which is “illuminating us in its influence and saving in power.” C.O.L. 415.
- light in a message which will bring the whole world to a final decision for or against God, and so allow Him to make an end of sin and bring everlasting righteousness.
A Special Time Coming
But there is more. Even though we should always shed light into the world, including now, the critical time for doing that work will be at the time when the Mark of the Beast is enforced, and we will have to present the message, and reveal the character of God, while resisting the tremendous pressures and deceptions of the Mark-of-the-Beast system.
Those who stand up for God and His truth then will be alienated and ostracized, branded as traitors and heretics. With no rights in this world, and unable to buy or sell (Rev. 13:7), they will have to depend on God for everything, they will have to exercise complete faith and trust in Him, they will be required to ‘Look and Live,’ to depend on the promises of God.
But this is not something that we can get up one morning and do, when we hear that the crisis has begun. It is something that we must be doing all the time. It is a practice that must be engrained in us, as a daily habit, so that when the crisis hits with a frightening jolt, we wouldn’t be shaken from our allegiance to God, but will continue to trust Him as we have always done.
But the verdict on the foolish virgins is that they will not have prepared for that time.
“The foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live.” C.O.L. 411.
God’s Character Foundational
God is the source of all life in the universe; and the knowledge of His character is the foundation of all our relationships with Him. It is the basis on which we are able to trust Him, come to Him and depend on Him. When Adam and Eve rested securely in the knowledge of God’s trustworthiness, His love for them, and His care for their well-being, they were happy, content, and joyful, always eager to enjoy God’s presence and communicate with Him. However, once they believed Satan’s charge that God could not be trusted, and that He didn’t have their well-being at heart, they lost faith, they hid and ran away from God, and sought to cover themselves by their own works.
Such also was the case in heaven with the angels – original happiness through confidence in God’s love, sin and disaster through doubt and unbelief.
And so it is that, foundational to the plan of salvation, is the revelation of the truth about God’s character.
We are “saved by grace THROUGH FAITH,” and, says the scripture, “The just shall live By Faith.” Eph. 2:8; Rom. 1:17.
But how does faith come? “Faith cometh by hearing… the word of God.” Rom. 10:17.
And what is there in the word of God that causes faith to come?
“Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.” Rom. 1:17.
Looking And Living
The righteousness of God, revealed in the word of God, is the means by which faith is born, strengthened, and maintained, in the human soul.
As that righteousness is presented before us, and as we fasten our spiritual eyes upon it, we behold our Heavenly Father, who loves us so much, that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us, that we through Him might be redeemed from sin unto eternal life.
We note with amazement that He did not wait for us to become good first, for that was impossible. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.
As we behold such amazing love, we are encouraged, and emboldened by the thought, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32.
And, buoyed with such faith and hope, indeed confidence and assurance, we come to God with boldness, claiming His promises, and laying hold on His salvation – full, free, and complete.
But we shouldn’t stop coming. We should find His presence sweet and enjoyable; we should commune with Him often, for He, too, loves to commune with us; and as we do so, our love for Him, our trust and confidence in Him, will grow, so too, will our knowledge of Him, and so we will be learning, and practicing, to look and live.
By so doing, we shall be receiving more and more of the Holy Spirit. God will be able to work in us, ‘‘both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’’ Phil. 2:13. He will work in us and through us, thus uniting us to Himself, and transforming us into His likeness; and as we are thus transformed, we shall be having our vessels filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Thus we will be transformed unto wise virgins, able to withstand the pressures of the final crisis, and proclaim the last great message, thus enabling Jesus Christ to come, and take us to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
And it is all based on the knowledge of God’s character, revealed to save and sanctify our souls, revealed to immunize the universe against the scourge of sin.
And so the scriptures says:
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jer. 9:23, 24.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John.17:3.
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa.45:22.
“O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” Isa.40:9.
Yours in Christ
Elder O. Newton
2-11-2002
