“HEAVEN is not reached at a single bound;
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies,
And we mount to its summit round by round.”
The Christian should never be satisfied with present attainments. He should gain day by day some victory over temptation and sin. If this is not experienced in his life, he should seriously consider his condition, because it is almost impossible for any one to occupy the same position spiritually from week to week. If we do not advance and become more like Jesus, we gradually retrograde and become more sinful.
There is a heaven to gain. It is for the good, the pure, and the holy. God has fixed the standard. Christ is the way. “By me if any man enter in he shall be saved,” are His own words. He prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth (John 17:17); and in Heb. 12:14, we are told to “follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” These high attainments are truly desirable and we should earnestly pray and labor to reach them.
Some people in their misguided judgment imagine that a work so great can be accomplished in a moment. That is, that holiness is a blessing which the Lord is waiting to confer upon an individual the very instant that he in faith asks for it.
PERFECTION
is but rarely found in mortals. It is to be reached only by a gradual and sometimes painful process. The case of Job is an illustration of this.
When we are converted to God, we are like the rough unpolished block of marble. The sharp edges and rough surfaces must be made smooth, so that the work of polishing may be done. We are simply babes in Christ who have for a time to be fed on the milk of the Word. The apostle Paul in admonishing this class of believers, who were only familiar with “the first principles of the oracles of God,” says, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” Heb. 6:1. And just at this point many falter. Here they are met by Satan. He tries first to discourage them by tempting them to doubt that God has accepted them. Who has not been assailed on this point ! If you have not overcome the tempter here, and you still feel crushed by your sins, remember that Jesus died for sinners; that His blood cleanseth from all sin; and that He is the propitiation for our sins. Should you gain the victory here, Satan will next try to tempt you to feel that as you have been justified by faith it is all that is necessary for you to do, and that you need not be particular about your works. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Is it not grandly true that “A noble deed is a step toward God” ?
Faith alone was sufficient for our justification, but after we have consecrated ourselves to God, our works are taken into consideration. “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19. “I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” Titus 3:8.
All should consecrate themselves to the Lord. This can be done any moment when we realize the power of God to save from sin. And when this step is taken, we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling, following the Bible rule: “Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, . . . . 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.” 2 Pet. 1:4-7.
Thus by overcoming temptations and trials —surmounting every obstacle which comes in our pathway heavenward—we climb faith’s ladder; and walking in the light of God’s word, having our souls purified ” in obeying the truth ” (1 Pet. 1:22), we become sanctified through the, truth. Amid all our sorrows and difficulties, it is our privilege to have the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. In the thorny narrow path which we have to travel, we can trace the footprints of Him who was “wounded for our transgressions,” and by whose “stripes we are healed.” And the fragrance from His sinless life is ever wafted by breezes from Calvary to revive the drooping pilgrim. Thus in the strength of Him who conquers all, we press forward to the heights beyond. A little while and all our struggles will be over. The righteousness of Christ will be imputed to the overcomers. Then instead of the sigh of grief the song of triumph will be sung, the cross exchanged for the star-decked crown of immortality, the journey ended, the rest gained. Safe Home !
“There are depths of love that we cannot know,
Till we cross the narrow sea,
There are heights of joy that we may not reach,
Till we rest in peace with Thee.”
A. A. John
The Present Truth Vol. 1 Num. 10 Feb. 1885