Digging For Truth

            P R E P A R a t i o n     e s s e n t i a l          (  4  RELATED  PHRASES  )                     

   A You should have a clear apprehension of the gospel. The religious life is not one of gloom and of sadness, but of peace and joy coupled with Christlike dignity and holy solemnity. We are not encouraged by our Saviour to cherish doubts and fears and distressing forebodings; these bring no relief to the soul and should be rebuked rather than praised. We may have joy unspeakable and full of glory. Let us put away our indolence and study God’s Word more constantly. If we ever needed the Holy Ghost to be with us, if we ever needed to preach in the demonstration of the Spirit, it is at this very time. If we will not work without it now, we shall have it in every emergency in the future, and be prepared for what is coming upon the earth. We need to dwell more upon present truth and the preparation essential in order that sinners may be saved. If the Spirit of God works with our efforts, we shall be called out not only to present repentance in its true light but pardon also, and to point to the cleansing fountain where all pollution may be washed away. { 1888 72.1 } 

  God has given His people positive instruction, and has laid upon them positive restrictions, that they may obtain a perfect experience in His service, and be qualified to stand before the heavenly universe and before the fallen world as overcomers. They are to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Those who fall short of making the preparation essential will be numbered with the unthankful and the unholy. { RH October 8, 1901, par. 5 }  also  { BLJ 66.3}  and  { KC 149.5 } 

  Pointing to the Bible he said: “The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are to be combined in the work of fitting a people to stand in the day of the Lord.  Earnestly improve your present opportunities. Make the word of the living God your lesson book. If this had always been done, students lost to the cause of God would now be missionaries. Jehovah is the only true God, and He is to be reverenced and worshiped. Those who respect the words of infidel authors and lead students to look upon these books as essential in their education lessen their faith in God. The tone, the spirit, the influence of these books is deleterious to those who depend on them for knowledge. Influences have been brought to bear upon the students that have led them to look away from Christ, the Light of the world, and evil angels rejoice that those who profess to know God deny Him as He has been thus denied in our schools. The Sun of Righteousness has been shining upon the church to dispel the darkness and to call the attention of God’s people to the preparation essential for those who would shine as lights in the world. Those who receive this light will comprehend it; those who do not receive it will walk in darkness, knowing not at what they stumble. The soul is never safe unless it is under the divine guidance. Then it will be led into all truth. The word of Christ will fall with living power upon obedient hearts; and through the application of divine truth the perfect image of God will be reproduced, and in heaven it will be said: ‘Ye are complete in Him.’” Colossians 2:10. { 2TT 433.1}  also   { 6T 166.2} 

  The Lord is soon to come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. Is there not enough in the truths which cluster around this event and in the preparation essential for it, to make us think solemnly of our duty? “The Son of man shall come in His glory; ... and before Him shall be gathered all nations.” This subject should be kept before the people as a means to an end,— that end the judgment, with its eternal punishments and rewards. Then God will render to every man according to his work. Enoch prophesied of these things, saying, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.” And Solomon, the preacher of righteousness, when making his declaration and appeal, presented the judgment to come. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter,” he said; “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” { RH June 18, 1901, par. 8 }

  If your great aim has been to learn Greek and Latin, and all these things, you need to go back to the beginning, and in love and the fear of God learn the A B C of spirituality. This is the preparation essential if you see the King in his beauty, and behold his matchless charms. The purpose of education is to glorify God. { Advocate February 1, 1902, par. 11 }

  The great work for the salvation of your own souls and the souls of your fellowmen is not the best done in a state of excitement, when the feelings are stirred. The preparation essential to do the work of God acceptably and successfully must be obtained in searching the Scriptures and in humble, earnest prayer, in quietness, in peace. There is a work to be done, not merely when the soul is stirred with fervor and emotion, and feeling takes the place of thought, and the helm of control is lost in excitement and busy conflict. God’s Spirit moves upon the mind and controls the emotions of the soul. { 5MR 236.1 } 

  In His interview with Nicodemus, an influential member of the Sanhedrin, Christ struck down deep to foundation principles. He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The new birth is the beginning of a new life, a new shining forth of light because of a change in the character. The old life of selfishness has died, and the Christ-life is revealed. This is the first preparation essential for men and women who desire to be laborers together with God in medical missionary work. { 17MR 359.2 } 

  Our teachers need to be constant learners. The reformers need to be themselves reformed, not only in their methods of labor, but in their own hearts. They need to be transformed by the grace of God. When Nicodemus, a great teacher in Israel, came to Jesus, the Master laid before him the conditions of divine life, teaching him the very alphabet of conversion. Nicodemus asked: “How can these things be?” “Art thou a master of Israel,” Christ answered, “and knowest not these things?” This question might be addressed to many who are now holding positions as teachers, but who have neglected the preparation essential to qualify them for this work. If Christ’s words were received into the soul, there would be a much higher intelligence and a much deeper spiritual knowledge of what constitutes a disciple, a sincere follower of Christ, and an educator whom He can approve. { 2TT 427.2}