WORKS GOOD AND EVIL by S. N. H.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 16, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 16.

WORKS GOOD AND EVIL.

By S. N. H.

BY S. N. H.

FAITH can never take the place of works. Genuine faith always produces good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” These works are Christ’s works; for it is he that dwelleth in us. Our will is to be placed on the side of Christ’s will, and then we work out what God works in. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The heart must be open to receive every ray of light that shines from the throne of God.

But there are works that God can not bless to the salvation of others, and such a life of such works must be a failure. The great apostle exhorted Titus to “bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them, and let ours also learn to profess honest trades for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” The man who deals out intoxicating drinks has the wo of God upon him, for he not only destroys soul but body. “Wo unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that putteth thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Thou art filled with shame for glory.” Hab. 2:15, 16. To him that drinketh the wo is also pronounced, “Wo to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!” “The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet.” Isa. 28:1, 3. There is no salvation in that which works evil and only evil continually.

It is the life of Christ, and the works he engaged in, that bring salvation to the one who yields himself to do the same work. But the works even which he did, as far as the outward acts are concerned, may be performed and there be in them only sin. The same motive that actuated Christ must actuate the doer. That motive was for the good of those for whom he worked. They were unselfish; his life was one of disinterested benevolence. He had an object, and that was to relieve suffering, bring happiness to the homes of all that would receive him. This was Christ’s life. This should be our life. By so doing we lift up Christ, and others see our works, and are thus led to glorify God. It is pure, disinterested benevolence; it is lifting the fallen; it is aiding the unfortunate, and relieving the suffering. This brings us nearer God and heaven.

Christ came as the Restorer, the Healer, the Deliverer, the Binder up of wounds which sin had made, and brought blessings to every one who would receive him. He delighted in purely unselfish acts of mercy; and wherever that spirit is manifested, there he is; for all such work is begotten by him.