GOD'S MEASURING ROD

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 19, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 37.

GOD'S MEASURING ROD

FROM the psalmist, we learn that as Christ came to earth, the law of His Father was in His heart. See Ps. 40: 7, 8. Through the prophet Isaiah, we hear the prediction that Christ would "magnify the law, and make it honorable." Isa. 42: 21.

From the great Teacher Himself, we get the personal statement that on the two great principles of supreme love to God and loving our neighbor as ourselves, all the law of God is suspended. Matt. 22: 37-40.

An inspired apostle tells us that "love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. 13: 10.

The revelator presents before us the Judgment scenes. He calls attention to the anger of the nations when the Judgment is pending. He graphically brings before us that then the time is reached for God to reward His saints and to destroy the corrupters and destroyers of the earth. And in that supreme time, the prophet saw in God's temple "the ark of His testament." See Rev. 11: 18, 19. The ark of God's testament contained the Ten Commandment law; and thus did the prophet call to our notice the fact that when the Judgment of God is pending, God's law as enshrined in the sacred ark is the great rule by which the world will be judged.

The remnant church, which would certainly embrace all the true followers of Christ that live in the last generation, will finally be drawn together as commandment keepers, or observers of God's law; for we read, "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12: 17. Notice that the wrath of the dragon is aimed at commandment keepers who are also Christians; for they not only keep the commandments of God, but they have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, we read, in that great warning against the worship of the beast and his image, that "the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14: 9-12.

Wrath Against "Beast" Worship

GOD'S wrath is to be visited upon those who worship the "beast" and his "image." The beast, his mark, and his image are more fully described in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. This beast and image power commands worship, and utters its decree that all who will not worship according to its prescribed plan must be killed. Rev. 13: 15. But God's message against that false worship is one of the most intensely expressive to be found anywhere in the Bible. And observe that those who join with God in the giving of this message reach the climax in point of character, where God Himself says of them, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

Three pronounced characteristics are shown in those who get the victory over the beast and his image. They have "the patience of the saints"; they "keep the commandments of God"; and they have "the faith of Jesus." Then they are Christians who live in the new dispensation; and not only so, but they are commandment keepers. They observe the commandments of God; and the love of God that is so strongly expressed in the law of God, has developed in these devout Christians "the patience of the saints."

Those Who Have a Right

THE world finally reaches the time when the word goes forth from Jesus, "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22: 12. And right in connection with this supreme moment in earth's history, we find the words, "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." Verse 14. God's benediction is upon the keeping of His commandments. Those who keep them are to have a "right to the tree of life," and to "enter in through the gates into the city."

And we are furthermore told that "without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Verse 15.

Within the city, then, are the pure in heart, who are to see God. Within the city are those who have learned the great principles of love that are enshrined in the law of God. They have learned to keep those commandments which Jesus bore to humanity in His divine heart; they have learned to love God supremely; they have learned to love their neighbor as themselves; they have learned to exemplify, not only in their outward acts, but in their heart life, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

But those who are without the city are such as tell falsehoods, idolaters, murderers, whoremongers, and sorcerers.

In view of the clear teaching of the divine Book concerning the place God's law occupies in His plan, how carefully should we study that law! Are our lives in harmony with the law as Jesus taught it? Are we keeping every one of its precepts? A record of that law is found in Ex. 20: 1-17. Study it carefully; for those who enter the beautiful city to enjoy the blessings of immortal life are they who, like their divine Master, have had the Father's law enshrined in the heart, so that every act of life, both in motive and in outward deed, has been made to conform to the standard of divine excellence.