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THE PROMISE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 10, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 6.

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THE PROMISE.

By M. Wood

THE promise of God is, “I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. But there are certain conditions to be complied with before God can consistently fulfill his promise to us. He cannot own us as his dear children so long as we have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Says John, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” To be recipients of God’s love we must love him. Hence he says, “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23.
In order that none need be at a loss to know whether they love the Lord and his people, John says, in chapter 5:23, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” Obedience is the surest pledge of fidelity to God’s authority that mortal man can offer to his Creator. The words of Inspiration are, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” May the Lord so sanctify our hearts that we may have no relish for the vanities of earth, but manifest by our works that we are dead to the world, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He who forsakes the world for the Lord’s sake will be received by him to sweetest fellowship and purest joys. If we walk in the way of his commandments, God will receive us when the world frowns upon us. “I will be a Father unto you.” All that a father can do, God will do, and as much more as he excels in love, wisdom, and power. He will wipe away our tears, soothe our sorrows, carry our burdens, and supply all our needs. He will provide us a princely portion; for we shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. He will bestow upon us unsearchable riches, even an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. He has promised a hundred fold in the present life, and in the world to come, life everlasting. The precious gospel is the title-deed of our glorious inheritance, the Holy Spirit is the witness of our adoption, and the arm of Jesus is our support and stay. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.
M. Wood.