p. 342 | AS IT IS IN HEAVEN." by Elder R. A. Underwood

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 2, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 22.

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."

By Elder R. A. Underwood

THE LORD'S PRAYER. NO. 2.

BY ELDER R. A. UNDERWOOD.

WE have already seen that when an individual is converted, or receives divine transformation from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God, then the kingdom of God is come to that individual. The condition of a person under the two kingdoms (Satan's and God's) is expressed by the apostle as follows: "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 5:21.

We all have experienced the reign of sin over the soul. How needful, and yet how blessed, that we can pray in faith, "Thy kingdom come," that righteousness might reign in us. Then with perfect submission we can ask, "Thy will be done in earth—

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."

Here the same mistake is often made by many supposing that this could not be answered until the earth should be renewed from the curse, and none but the righteous inhabit it, in the ages of eternity to come. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Rom. 1:16. Man needs present deliverance from sin as well as in the world to come.

It is man's work to yield his will in perfect submission to the will of God, and it is God's work to furnish the grace and power to do the will of God in the earth even as it is done in heaven. Some think this cannot be done by man in this life. We inquire, What is the will of God? and how is it done by the angels in heaven? These are questions easily settled by the word of God, and will help us to a better understanding of the meaning of the Lord's prayer. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. To one class will be said, "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity [or violate the law]." Verse 23. But he that is a doer of the words of Christ is likened to a wise man that builded upon a rock. That man is blessed in his deed. Verse 24; James 1:25; Rev. 22:14.

From earth, where few are doers of the will of God, with one boundless leap we enter heaven, to learn how the will of God is done there. "The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure." Ps. 103:19-21.

It will be noticed from the above that the angels not only do the commandments but are in the attitude of hearkening to the voice of his word. When God speaks, they at once obey. Take one instance of the many to illustrate this. In Daniel, chapters 8 and 9, Christ called to his special angel to send him to earth with a message of instruction for Daniel. Christ said: "Gabriel, make this man [Daniel] to understand the vision. . . . Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, . . . informed me, and talked with me, and said, . . . At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."

There was no parleying or quibbling over the plain command to go and make Daniel understand the vision. He says, "The commandment came forth, and I am come." When God's word speaks to us, it matters not on what subject, and it matters not how much it may conflict with our ideas, it is enough, we should obey at once; and we will if our will is fully yielded to the will of Christ. If the will is fully surrendered to Christ, then the Spirit of Christ enters our hearts. Of him it is written: "Then said I, Lo, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Ps. 40:7, 8. "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. 8:9. Christ in us and his Spirit controlling us makes it easy to obey the law, or will, of God. It is clear that this is what is comprehended in the petition, "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." It can mean nothing else but perfect surrender and obedience to God now and all the time.

"But," says one, "I am so liable to sin." Yes, we all are, but Christ knows all about our liability to sin better than we do, and has provided the power to keep us from sin. There is an abundance of power to keep us. We must simply connect it by faith, and then hold it by faith. "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:5. The only way that we can receive Christ and his power is by faith; well, then, that is the only way we can keep them. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so [in the same way] walk ye in him." Col. 2:6. Notice a few texts of Scripture, which need no comment:—

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matt. 5:48.

"Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed [Christ] remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:7-9.

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 4:4; 5:4.

Thus it is that the great apostle writes in his closing words to the Corinthians:—

"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 2 Cor. 13:11.

This is what the gospel has always been able to do for men when by faith they would appropriate its power. Moses exhorts the Israelites concerning the law, which is the expressed will of God, embodying the same thought expressed by Christ in the Lord's prayer, in these words:—

"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thine house, and upon thy gates; that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth." Deut. 11:18-21.

John saw a people of whom he said, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep [not trying to keep] the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. When this can be said of an individual or individuals, then is fulfilled in them the answer to the prayer, "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven," and their days are "as the days of heaven upon the earth." This the gospel is able to do for men; yes, to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through Jesus Christ with an abiding faith.

For the provisions of such a wonderful present salvation, let every son and daughter of the Almighty give glory and honor, due unto him that hath washed us and redeemed us by his own blood, and will present us without fault unto God at his second coming. (To be continued.)