AN INVITATION TO THE HONEST IN HEART
By Charles E. Holmes
CHARLES E. HOLMES
(Watsonville, Cal.) “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” “If we keep uppermost in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of others, we shall find it impossible to love them as Christ has loved us, but if our thoughts dwell upon the wondrous love and pity of Christ for us, the same spirit will flow out to others.” — “Steps to Christ,” pages 154, 155. For the Word says: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” God’s character is fully expressed in the word “love.” In character Christ is the perfect image of God. By contemplating the wonderful love and pity of Christ for us we are changed by the Spirit of the Lord, our characters becoming more and more glorious, until we come to perfect love, even His character, His righteousness. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” “God’s people were strengthened by the excellent glory which rested upon them in rich abundance.” — “Early Writings,” Spiritual Gifts, page 139. “A compelling power moved the honest.” — Id. This is none other than the invincible argument referred to by Christ: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” All the honest in heart will come out of Babylon, and join themselves to the children of God. The Laodiceans were counseled to buy (1) gold tried in the fire—faith and love; and (2) white raiment—Christ’s righteousness. When we have gained the first, the second will come quickly. For example, read the experience of the apostles. On this rests another of God’s precious promises: “For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Whose righteousness?—Christ’s righteousness,—the white raiment, which we will put on when we cease to permit our thoughts to dwell upon the unkind and unjust acts of others, and bring ourselves to think upon the wondrous love and pity of Christ for us. This will draw all the honest in heart toward us as the children of God. The third point of the counsel to the Laodiceans follows quickly: “And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve [the Holy Spirit], that thou mayest see.” “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” “Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers. God was in the work, and every saint, fearful of consequences, followed the conviction of his own conscience, and united with those who were keeping all the commandments of God; and with power they sounded abroad the third message.” “I saw that this will close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry.” “Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to earth to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel. And as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory. The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” What could be more glorious than God’s character revealed in His servants? What could be more powerful than Christ’s own words that we are His disciples? At this time there are two classes in the true Church of God. One class have heeded the counsel to the Laodiceans, have acquired the gold tried in the fire, and are ready to put in practice the admonition referred to on pages 154, 155 of “Steps to Christ,” and make the quick, unerring steps by which God shall close the work. The other class lack the first requirement. Therefore they can not bring themselves to take the next step, and can not be used by the Holy Spirit. Read the parable of the ten virgins. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”