Obedience | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 5, 1877

Obedience.

Eternal life is promised to the children of men upon conditions of obedience to the requirements of God. If we willfully disobey our Maker, or carelessly neglect to perform those duties he has enjoined upon us, we need not entertain a hope of the life to come.

The whole duty of man is summed up in the following sentence: “Fear God, and keep his commandments.” Eccl. 12:13. The commandments require us to love God supremely. Says Jesus, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” Obedience is the test of that love. We may make ever so high a profession of love to our Creator, we may even deceive our own hearts, flattering ourselves that we do love God, yet while we live in disobedience of any known requirement our profession will avail us nothing. Our sincerity is tested by unqualified obedience to the will of God.

We may flatter ourselves, if we choose, that some of the obligations enjoined upon us are not essential to our salvation; that God will overlook the non-performance of them if we are only otherwise devoted, and live in strict accordance with the more important requirements of his Word. But, “He who doeth all things well,” surely doeth nothing in vain. Every purpose of God toward us is founded in infinite wisdom; and only those who will accept the guidance of his unerring judgment can be made meet to become partakers of his holiness.

Why should we deem that to be of minor importance which the great Creator of the universe has thought best for us to perform? Are we a better judge than the high and holy One, of what is, and what is not, necessary to fit us to dwell in his holy presence? If we would manifest that wisdom which will prove of infinite value to us, we will yield our own wills and opinions, and by cheerful obedience show forth our respect and reverence for our Creator.

Hear the Saviour’s admonition: “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.” Matt. 7:21. And again, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46.

Oh! that we may strive to render that implicit obedience which will secure to us the favor of God, and insure us everlasting life in his kingdom.—Sel.