p. 186 | CHARACTER THE TEST

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 12, 1878

CHARACTER THE TEST.

ADMISSION to Heaven is not a leveling process, but a recognition of individuality in its deserts and capacities. “Have thou authority over five cities?” and “thou over ten.” This does not look like a monotonous row of pictured saints staring out into vacancy, with folded hands and nothing to do.

It becomes, then, a serious question what sort of a Heaven is in our thought, and whether we are more intent to go somewhere than to be something—to go to Heaven than to be fit to go there. It is righteousness, not genius, which makes Heaven resplendent. It is not the vision of an Oriental paradise, with a profusion of bowers and flowers, pearly gates and golden streets, but that of the glory of God in the splendors of love and righteousness, which kindles the Christian soul. The man who is thinking more of an indolent eternity of sensual delights, or of clasping friends who have passed on before, than of being holy as God is holy, is certainly on the track of a lowering conception of the life of the New Jerusalem.

Still worse is the wholly mistaken notion, the utterly vague and senseless expectation, that Heaven lies just before the race as its goal, irrespective of character. What has he to do with Heaven who is not cultivating the spirit of Heaven, and enthroning righteousness in his heart and life? Let him disabuse himself instantly. There is no figure of speech to be evaded or explained away in the words which affirm that “there shall in nowise enter into it anything that defileth, neither worketh abomination, nor maketh a lie.” Were it otherwise, what would the story of redemption mean? What empty rhetoric the invitations and warnings of Jesus become! But now, from a world that sin has cursed; from hells on earth where the worm now gnaws and the fire is already kindled; from eyes blear with sin, and hearts livid with blackness; from far-off, strange lands of prodigal wanderings; from haunts lurid with evil-thinking, evil-speaking, evil-doing, and ghastly with near proximity to the pit; from heights where pride looks coldly down in self-righteousness—men are bidden to look away to the Mount of God; to flee from the wrath to come; to lay hold of eternal life; and in their impotence, their uncleanness, their pride, their madness, their despair, to look to Him, who in love and might comes forth to save that which is lost, and bring the wanderer home! Laying hold of him, following him, the defiling thing is left behind; the defiling haunts are forsaken; the true and upright life is entered upon; the righteous character is in process of formation. Think not to enter Heaven but through Christ, the door. Think not to climb up some other way. The song of sweetest note in heavenly places is in honor of redeeming love. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Let men hasten to the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness, and wash and be clean. Let them cease to do evil, and learn to do well, who would see the face of the King in peace. Let them welcome Heaven to their hearts, who would be welcomed into Heaven when God shall bring his children home; for Heaven is a realm of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. These are the pure waters from the celestial spring, these are the fruits of the Tree of Life. —From “Death and Beyond.”