Let your light shine!

Posted : 7 Feb, 2010 01:14 PM

Let your light so SHINE BEFORE MEN, that they may SEE you good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven� (Matt.5:14-16). God wants us to let our light SHINE FORTH. If and when He grants us graciously new truth and understanding, of His Word, or the amazing prophecies for the end time, we are commanded by Christ to LET IT SHINE FORTH! It would be a sin to bury it, or suppress it or to hide it under a pot or bed!

Jesus said, �You shall know the TRUTH; and the TRUTH shall make you FREE� (John 8:32).

God's Church is a spiritual organism, not a human corporation. It comprises all those in all Churches who have truly surrendered their lives to Christ in baptism, and have repented of their sins, and are serving Christ to the best of their knowledge and understanding of the Word of God (Acts 2:38). Therefore, although all Churches today have gone astray in some measure, some much more than others, it is very possible for many true Christians to be members of several different Churches (all of which, in spiritual type, are described in Revelation 2-3), including Adventists, Church of God Seventh Day, Messianics and other groups, and various Evangelical churches. Who are we to try to sit in judgment of others? The Word of God will judge each and every individual. . A careful study of Revelation 2-3, the letters to the seven churches, shows the Church of God would become like a tree with several main branches in the end times, yet one original root.

Of course, the Scriptures show that we are justified by Faith, not by works; and we are saved by Faith, not by human effort, rituals, or works (Eph.2:8-9). Nevertheless, good deeds {works}ARE necessary for salvation (verse 10), because God has ordained that we walk in them. If we don't, we disobey Him and break His commandments. Jesus said to enter life we must "keep the commandments" (Matt.19:17

However, the word "qualify," if it is used to mean "earn" salvation, by our works, merely confuses the issue and creates a muddle of the truth. Any dictionary shows that 'qualify" does not mean "earn," as a "reward." Rather, it is a non-religious term and simply means "get ready for," to prepare for," "meet the conditions for." To be saved, we must meet God's conditions for salvation -- which are belief in Christ, repentance, and surrender to Christ, to serve Him all our lives (Acts 2:38; 5:32; Matt.24:13). Indeed, we MUST "qualify" to meet Christ -- we must "become worthy" -- we must be suitably dressed, spiritually, clothed in garments of righteousness. Those who do not "qualify," will be cast into outer darkness (see Matt.22:11-13). The bride of Christ will be composed only of those who have made themselves ready! As John was told by the angel, "for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself READY" (Rev.19:7) -- that is, she "qualified"!

Jesus Christ said He did not come to abolish or destroy ONE JOT OR TITTLE of the Laws of God (Matt.5:17-19). He told a young rich man who asked Him the way to eternal life, "If you would enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" (Matt.19:17).

The apostle Paul clearly taught that God's Law is "holy, just, and good" (Rom.7:12). He said that God's law is SPIRITUAL (Rom.7:14), and that which is spiritual is ETERNAL (II Cor.4:17-19). David also spoke highly of the law of God -- read Psalm 119. How could God do away with His Law, which is the very essence of His own spiritual CHARACTER and likeness?

So what should we do?

�Work out � cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete �your

own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling [self-distrust,

that is, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness

against temptation; timidly shrinking from whatever might offend

God and discredit the name of Christ]. [Not in your own strength]

for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you �

energizing and creating in you the power and desire � both to will

and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight�

(Philippians 2:12-13). Amplified Version

Jesus Christ declared, �You, therefore, MUST BE PERFECT, as your heavenly Father is perfect [that is, grow into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity]� (Matthew 5:48, Amplified).

God desires that each one of us �search and investigate and pour over the Scriptures diligently� (compare John 5:39), because they constitute the Word of God (II Tim.3:16) and we gain �eternal life through them� (John 5:39).

Paul warned the brethren at Thessalonica, �PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good� (I Thess.5:21).

The apostle Paul also warned us, today, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL" (1 Cor.1O:l2).

The apostle Paul also warned the Hebrews, in a warning written down and preserved for us, today, "Therefore we ought to give the MORE EARNEST HEED to the things which we have heard, lest AT ANY TIME we should let them slip . . . How shall we escape, if we NEGLECT so great salvation. . . ?" (Heb.2:l-3). Jesus warned that in the end times, many would be BLIND -- they would lose sight of the truth.

The apostle Paul warns, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. . . . But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore LET US NOT SLEEP, as do others; but let us W ATCH, and be SOBER" (I Thess.5:2-6).

Jesus warned the Laodicean Church, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor not: I would thou wert cold or not. So then because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with good, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art WRETCHED, AND MISERABLE, AND POOR, AND BLIND, AND NAKED" (Rev.3:15-17).Do we want to be part of that church which will suffer the great tribulation?

The prophet Malachi wrote, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, when I make up my jewels; and I WILL SPARE THEM, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him" (Malachi 3:16-17).

God says to His faithful servants, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: HIDE thyself as it were for a LITTLE MOMENT, until the indignation be overpast. For behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain" (Isa.26:20- 21

The prophet Zephaniah exhorts all of us, " Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be HID in the day of the Lord's anger" (Zeph.2:3).

Jesus Christ says to His Philadelphia Church:"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev.3:10-11

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted

worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and

to stand before the Son of Man� (Luke 21:36, NKJV).

I hope all of you that post on this board will be one of them!

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