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Not Every One

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 28, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 39.

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Not Every One

By Mary Valliant Nowlin

MARY VALLIANT NOWLIN
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;” but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” How many are saying, Lord, Lord, but how few are doing the will of God! Yet we are judgment-bound people, every one of us; soon, very soon, to meet the Searcher of all hearts, the Judge of all men.
Who is ready for that event? What is the condition of the soul? Has the blood of Christ been applied for its cleansing and purification? Let us examine ourselves daily, and daily call on the name of the Lord, that we may know his will.
This thought sometimes comes to me with force: Suppose God should at this time translate into his kingdom of glory the people called by his name. What kind of place would their presence make it? Would its glory be increased? Would it remain a heavenly place indeed? Could each of these new voices join readily with the voices of the dwellers in the heavenly land in songs of praise to God? Nothing that defiles can enter there—nothing unclean, no tongue that speaks evil or backbiting words, no heart that harbors vain or impure thoughts. Let us think of these things with fear and trembling, lest we come short of the glory God has prepared for us.
Dear reader, what do you think about it? Take a look at the community of professed Christians to which you belong. Would you like to go with them—just as you are, just as they are—and take up your abode in the kingdom of God, living with them forever in the close communion of the heavenly life? Would you be glad to meet them on the streets of the New Jerusalem? Could you greet them heartily, with a warm hand-clasp,—all of them,—or would you greet in this manner only those who were congenial, or whom it would be an honor to know? Remember the test in the judgment: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Come closer; take a look at your own household. Is it representing the heavenly household? What are you doing to make it like that home to which we all hope to go sooner or later, where all will be peace and harmony? Come still closer; look into your own heart. Look long, look close, look deep, until you see it as God sees it. Ask him that you may see it thus.
Beloved, are you ready to live in heaven, and to converse with angels? Would you talk with them as you do with those with whom you daily come in contact? The searching eye of God is soon to be turned on each and all of us, without Christ as mediator. Who is ready to stand? Are you? Am I?
Soon the sky will be aflame with the glory of the King of heaven and earth, coming to take his faithful children home to live with him forever; but the sinner he will cast into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Friend, are you ready for that day? If you are not ready, when are you going to get ready? To-morrow?—Nay, to-morrow may never come to you, or coming, may find your probation ended. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” In the name of the Lord Jesus, get ready. Do not wait for the fires of persecution to burn sin out of your heart. Seek earnestly that your barren life may be made green and flourishing with the heavenly fruits.
A man once said, “I will . . . build;” but God said, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
Reader, let us, with clean hands and pure hearts, be ready to meet our Lord when he comes. Whether it be at evening, or in the morning, or at the cock-crowing, may he find us arrayed in his own spotless, faultless robe of righteousness, and may we go in with him to the place he has prepared for us, to come out no more forever.
Takoma Park, D. C.