Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." As our heavenly Father is perfect in His sphere, so also those for whom Christ died are to be perfect in their sphere. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We are to believe in salvation through Christ, and make manifest that faith in our life, not by our own strength, but by trusting in the strength and efficiency of Christ. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel."
THE LAST SUPPER
The Lord wills not the death of any sinner, but that all should come to repentance. His mercies are without number; and He will not leave those for whom He has given the ransom of His life, to become the sport of Satan's temptations. All heaven is given to those who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. No soul can more dishonor God than by professing to believe in Christ, and yet going in mourning and sorrow to present to the world the aspect of orphans. "The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."
The Lord does not leave His wounded and bruised sheep to the power of Satan to be torn to pieces. He is ever strengthening His own in their weakness. He delivers those who are tried and tempted, from the power of Satan.
Otherwise is to disown the fact that He loves us. When we go mourning and full of depression, covering ourselves with the garments of heaviness, we represent Christ to the world as a hard, tyrannical Master. But this is untrue. This is misrepresenting the One who gave His own life for us, that He might make it possible for us to believe in Him, and trust in His interest and love for sinful man. "He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper." Speaking of His watchful care over us He says, "I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day."4
What great injustice is done to the Saviour, who gave His life for us, when those who profess to believe in Him walk in the shadow of darkness. Jesus has said, "He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." If you have been walking in darkness, you have been following another leader than Jesus, and it is time for you to turn about and follow Jesus, the Truth, the Life, the Way, and the Light of the world. Is the Lord pleased to have you tossed about as the restless waves of the sea? — No, no. I tell you
He Wants You to Be Strengthened
Established, rooted and grounded in the truth, and built up in the most holy faith. You are not your own; you are bought with a price which can not be estimated. You belong to God, the mighty God, bought with the price that was paid for you on Calvary's cross. Then when you keep yourself in a state of fluctuating fear and doubt, you grieve the heart of Christ, who has given you unmistakable evidence of His love, and of His desire to have you with Him in His kingdom. He says, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you."
Do not lose sight of Jesus, and separate from His companionship, and keep company with the prince of darkness, entertaining his suggestions, and heeding his directions, and acting out his plans. Cling to Him who has promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." That you should take up with Satan, the apostate and traitor, and do after his works, after you have had a knowledge of Jesus Christ, is a mystery to the universe of heaven.
