All The Counsel of God

As children of the Lord, we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is going to return in person for us. What should be our attitude to Him and to His second advent? Knowing that that glorious day is drawing nearer, our lives should be consistent with such a blessed hope. We should be:

LOOKING FOR HIM

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). The glorious appearing of our Saviour should not be simply a doctrine to us. We should be looking forward to His return with eager expectancy.

It is not to be regarded only as a truth to which we give our assent. It should also be a glorious prospect. Looking forward to meeting a dear friend can give great pleasure; but with what intense joy we anticipate meeting the One who has died for us, and who has planned so glorious a future for us!

LIVING FOR HIM

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14). Our lives should be very different because we believe our Lord is returning for us. Everything should be done in the light of that day. How different some of our lives would be if we commenced each day with the thought that “perhaps today” the Lord will come. It would have a purifying effect on our conduct.

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). Of course, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us: that is our standing; but God expects us to seek to live purified lives, and by His grace to bring our state up to our standing. The truth of the Lord’s coming surely should make us “… strangers and pilgrims …” (Hebrews 11:13). on this earth. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that “…your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

LABOURING FOR HIM

We should work for our coming Saviour because it is His command. In His parable of the pounds, the Lord Jesus says, “… Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). Therefore, if we are not serving the Lord according to the talents He has given us, we are disobedient. Our Lord has given us a job to do. Let us do it faithfully and in love.

In his daily thanks to God, Paul remembered the “…labour of love …” (1 Thessalonians 1:3) of the Thessalonians. The Lord tells us, “I know thy works, and thy labour …” (Revelation 2:2). Let us not labour for Him merely as a duty, but because we love Him – doing whatever task He has entrusted to us gladly and patiently. Service that is undertaken in love will bear fruit. It will also receive rich rewards.

We should labour for Him because many fields “… are white already to harvest”(John 4:35). There is much to do before our Lord comes, and there are many indications that He is coming quickly. Hands to the plough, therefore, and no looking back! What a joy it will be to share in the harvest.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

LEARNING OF HIM

The Lord Jesus said, “…learn of me …” (Matthew 11 :29). During this time of sojourning here, we should be learning of Him. We ought to be learning of Him through the Scriptures. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). In the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus Christ makes Himself known, and He reveals Himself to any seeking soul.

We also learn of Him through prayer. What sweet fellowship we can have with our Saviour in this way. It is only as we spend time with our Lord that we get to know Him and learn of Him. Prayer is vital to the Christian, yet how difficult many of us find it to spend unhurried time with God.

Because our Saviour is coming, let us give ourselves to prayer and Bible study. What a joy it will be to anticipate meeting the One with whom we have blessed fellowship now!

LEANING ON HIM

We should put our “Trust in the LORD… and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3: 5). He has promised to return for us, that “… where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

As we have His promise to come back for us, then we can surely trust in Him now. If we can trust Him for our future, we can trust Him for the present. All our circumstances are known to Him, and He controls everything. How inconsistent is worry and anxiety and fear in the light of the Lord’s coming. We can have His blessed leading day by day.

In His Word He has sought to encourage us during our time of sojourning on earth, and yet how many of us have a limited spiritual experience through lack of faith! May the fact of His glorious appearing quicken our faith.

LOVING HIM

“Whom having not seen, ye love…” (1 Peter 1:8). The Holy Spirit has revealed the wonderful things of Christ to us who“… he hath chosen…” (Ephesians 1 :4). What precious things He has shown us in the Word of God about our Saviour and Lover. As we wait to meet our Lord and be together with Him, how we should love Him and serve Him.

Choose your weapons! How shall we live? Each one of us has already made a choice. Perhaps we do not even realize we have made the choice, but we have. We are either living by force or by faith.

The Bible says in I Samuel 17:45, Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee In the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of lsrael, whom thou has defied.”

David summarized the battle that was about to take place. It was not really a battle between a shepherd by and a giant. It was not even a battle between the army of lsrael and the army of the Philistines, though it may have appeared at first glance to be a national conflict represented by two champions, one representing each nation. David

declared, “… Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts… “

Notice how carefully God states this for us. Again we read, “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me…” This is the way the giant was coming, “… with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield…” Then David said, ” … but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts…”

“…Thou comest to me …” and “…I come to thee…”; it is always one way or the other, but it is never both. We must decide whether we are going to face our problems with a spear, and with a word, and with a shield; or if we are going to face them in the name of the Lord. We are all going to live either by force for by faith.

It goes without saying that the world’s way is the force way. “I can overpower you. I can out-run you. I can out-scheme you. I can out-talk you. I can out-anger you. I can out-scream you. I can out-fight you. I can out-spend you. I can out-force you.” That is the world’s way. That is the only way those who do not know Christ operate, whether it is in business, at home, or in personal conflict. It may manifest itself in many different forms, but it is always the same. It is not the Lord’s way.

The Lord’s way is to trust in Him. That is the faith way. There is one open secret that reveals whether we are living by force or by faith -our secret, private prayer life. No matter what we say about how we are living, we are not living the faith way if we do not have a prayer life.

Do you know that once you come to the place where you trust God, everything else is settled? The fact that Goliath was a soldier, a giant, and a Philistine champion did not have anything to do with whether David would go down into the valley or not. It was all dependent on whether or not David would trust God. Once David placed his faith in God, everything else was settled. I think we fight many battles we do not need to fight, and get involved in many skirmishes we do not need to be involved in. The truth is that we have one great thing to decide; it is whether or not we are going to trust God.

How are you going to live? In your personal life, family life, and business life, are you going to live by faith or by force?

There is only one way to know Jesus Christ. Do you know Him? You may have grown up in a Christian home and have a Christian mom and dad, but this does not make you a Christian. There is only one way to God. That is to know Him by personally trusting Him by faith as your Saviour. Have you trusted Him?

This decision to live by faith cannot be made by anyone else. By faith, take every need in your life to the Lord. Many people are crushed under a weight God never intended for them to carry. I Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Cast all your care upon the Lord Jesus.

A Man and His Soul

“I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir” (Isaiah 13:12).

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

The Redeeming Blood of Christ

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1: 18-19).

The Inspired Word of God

“…the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:9-10).

Wisdom and Understanding

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold” (Proverbs 3:13-14).

The Knowledge of God

“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold” (Proverbs 8:10).

A Good Name

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).

The Trial of Your Faith

“…ye greatly rejoice…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 1:6-7).

1. Happy is the man whose sins are forgiven.

“…Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:7-8).

2. Happy is the man who delights in God’s Word.

“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word” (Psalm 119:14-16).

3. Happy is the man who keeps God’s commandments.

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him … “ (1 John 3:22-24).

4. Happy is the man who dwells in the house of the Lord.

“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee” (Psalm 84:4).

5. Happy is the man who waits on the Lord.

“…blessed are all they that wait for him” (Isaiah 30: 18); “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength …” (Isaiah 40:31).

6. Happy is the man who puts his trust in the Lord.

“O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (Psalm 84:12).

7. Happy is the man who has grace to endure.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12).

A man was visiting a lighthouse, and he said to the keeper, “Are you not afraid to live here? It is a dreadful place to be in constantly.”

“No,” replied the man, “I am not afraid; we never think of ourselves here.”

“Never think of yourselves! How is that?”

The reply was a good one, “We know that we are perfectly safe, and we only think of having our lamps brightly burning and keeping the reflectors clear, so that those in danger may be saved.”

This is what Christians ought to do. They are safe in a house built on a Rock which cannot be moved by the wildest storm; and in a spirit of holy unselfishness they should let their light gleam across the dark waters of sin, that they who are imperiled may be guided into the harbors of eternal safety.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14). “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

When it is hard to tell a Christian from a man of the world, something is wrong with the Christian. Too often in our day the line between the two is indistinct.

A high standard for believers was set forth in one of the famous letters of Samuel Rutherford. Writing to his friend, John Clark, he said, “Ye may put a difference betwixt you and reprobates, if ye have these marks:

1. If ye prize Christ and His truth so as ye will sell all and by Him and suffer for it.

2. If the love of Christ keeps you back from sinning more than the law or fear of Hell.

3. If ye be humble and deny your own will, wit, credit, ease, honour, and the world, and the vanity and glory of it.

4. Your profession must not be barren and void of good works.

5. Ye must in all things aim at God’s honor; ye must eat, drink, sleep, buy, sell, sit, stand, speak, pray, read, and hear the Word with a heart purpose that God may be honoured.

6. Ye must shew yourself an enemy to sin and reprove the works of darkness, such as drunkenness, swearing, and lying, albeit the company should hate you for so doing.

7. Keep in mind the truth of God, that ye heard me teach, and have nothing to do with the corruptions and new guises entered into the house of God.

8. Make conscience of your calling, in covenants, in buying and selling.

9. Acquaint yourself with daily praying; commit all your ways and actions to God, by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving; and count not much of being mocked, for Christ Jesus was mocked before you.”

If this standard seems too high, it may be because we have fallen into the easygoing ways of the world; nor is it unscriptural, for the New Testament passages can be found to sustain all the nine points. They are unattainable in our own strength, but not in His, for “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Moreover, they are quite in accord with Paul’s admonition to “…do all to the glory of God”(I Corinthians 10:31).

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). It is said that George Muller kept on his desk a motto bearing the central words of our text, “AND TODAY.” Well might he do so, for surely few men have demonstrated better the truth of it. It is not difficult to believe in Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and He will prove one day that He is the same forever. But “Jesus Christ the same “… to day …” – what a time we have with that middle span! Amid the dull monotony of things as they are, when the skies seem leaden and nothing breaks on the uninteresting scene, it is easier to visualize the Christ of the Galilean past or the Christ of the glorious future than to expect great things from the Christ of the glamour less now.

But our text stoutly insists “…and to day …” We may not see Him in the flesh as they saw Him yesterday, and we see not yet all things put under Him as one day we shall, but He said He would be with us “all the days,” and that includes today. Is not many a Christian experience like this verse with “…and to day…” in very fine type- strong in faith in the Christ of yesterday and forever, but very weak in faith in His presence and power today?

One day during his great mission in London, Mr. Moody was holding a meeting in a theater packed with a most select audience. Noblemen and noblewomen were there in large numbers, and a prominent member of the royal family was in the royal box.

Mr. Moody rose to read the Scripture lesson. He attempted to read Luke 4:27, “And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet…” When he came to the name of Eliseus, he stammered and stuttered over it. He went back to the beginning of the verse and began to read again, but when he reached the word Eliseus, he could not get over it. He went back the third time, but again the word was too much for him.

He closed the Bible with deep emotion and looked up and said, “Oh, God, use this stammering tongue to preach Christ crucified to these people.” The power of God came upon him, and one who heard him then and had heard him other times said that he had never heard Mr. Moody pour out his soul in such a torrent of eloquence as he did then, and the whole audience was melted by the power of God.

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

It is a strange day! With food dehydrated, fast frozen, precooked, or ready to serve, the average housewife need spend only one quarter of the time in the kitchen that her mother did. With wash and wear and drip-dry materials, laundry takes a fraction of the time it formerly did. With jet engines, travel is reduced to a minimum. Yet with it all, people have never been so busy, never so rushed as they are today.

The norm seems to be more time for pleasure, more money for less toil, and as much profit as possible for as little energy expanded as possible. With the average wage increasing, savings accounts are increasing, and investment in stocks are soaring; and back of it all is an attempt to get a little more for less work.

The great tragedy is that this same attitude has spread over into spiritual work. Far too many born again men and women want all the blessing that comes from the Gospel but are very reluctant to assume the responsibilities. Overall giving to the church is less than one percent of income, and the shortage of Christian workers is desperate indeed, for we have long since ceased equating salvation with service.

Christians in America have never had it so good, have never been so well off, and yet there is every evidence that hoarding is the order of the day. Have we forgotten the incident in Moses’ day? In Exodus 16:19-20, we have the inevitable result of hoarding, “And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank… “

Every blessing from God is a responsibility. We have no right to receive the things of God without putting them to use, without working. A dying world is at stake. Let us not fail it by our selfish hoarding.

Multitudes of kind, honest, sincere religious church members, when they come to the end of life’s journey, will awaken to the fact that they have missed Heaven because they had never been born again. They substituted church membership, conformation, baptism, and communion for the new birth.

Nicodemus was a ruler and teacher in Israel, but Jesus said to him, “… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3); “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).

There are many preachers, deacons, church officials, and members of churches who have never experienced the new birth, who think they can enter Heaven because of their profession. But faithful attendance at all the church services, wearing a religious garb, trying to keep the commandments, giving money for the Lord’s cause, being kind

to loved ones and neighbors, and helping the poor and needy will not give us a passage to Heaven. Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).

There is only one way by which we can enter Heaven and that is by the way of the new birth. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1).

The Scriptures declare that we are born in sin, “… I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5); that by nature we are “… dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1); that “… There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that without the new birth, we are “… without Christ… having no hope, and without God… “ (Ephesians 2:12). The old nature that we have inherited through the fall of our first parents cannot be changed by reformation or by being religious.

Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh…Ye must be born again” (John 3:6-7). Only God can work this miracle in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, for it is His mission to convict of sin and to cause us to repent and take Christ as our Saviour. As we do this, we do not only receive the assurance of forgiveness and cleansing, but an impartation of a new divine nature, and we can say with Paul, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This is the new birth. This is the crisis experience. We do not grow into salvation; but we pass from death unto life. There is a definite time when we are born again. It is just as real as when a man is rescued from a watery grave or from a burning building. We cannot save ourselves, nor can anyone impart eternal life, save our Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing that we can substitute for the new birth.

Dr. James M. Gray, who became an outstanding preacher of the Gospel, said that before he was saved he knew the Lord’s prayer and the ten commandments, and he was confirmed and had joined the church; but it was not until years afterward that he was converted. God used a traveling salesman and the preaching of the Gospel, which he did not hear in his own church, to awaken in him the need of being saved.

Charles Wesley preached the Gospel with much diligence, yet he did not know what it was to have peace with God. When he was thirty years of age, he took seriously ill. A young Christian man visited him and, realizing that Wesley was not saved, led him to see that through the Lord’s finished work we are justified.

Religion and good works without a definite experience of salvation will not give us an entrance into the kingdom of God, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

Heaven’s door will open only to such who have been regenerated and washed from their sins through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. All others, no matter how religious or sincere, or how many good works they have done, will not find favour with God, for “…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6) in His sight.