CONCLUSION | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1859

CONCLUSION.

Dear reader, is not the inheritance God has promised good enough, especially when we consider that man, the participant of these glories, is to be clothed with immortality? "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." But "when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then will God's saints be qualified to possess an immortal inheritance. Man will stand forth perfected, beauteous in form, free from pain, the stain of sin all washed away from his heart, and his lips shouting forth the praises of Him who has thus wrought for him. Methinks your better feelings say, It is glorious. Yes, and the best of all is, that state will never end. The countless ages of eternity will roll on, and

“When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise, Than when we first began.”

Dear reader, do you not feel a longing desire in your heart to be a partaker of the saints' inheritance? Don't you want to go to glory, and dwell with the angels, hear their rapturous songs, and sing with them? The Spirit calls you, there is yet room. The heavenly city, with all its charms, welcomes you to come. The way is easy, if you seek it through Christ.

First. "Break off from your sins by righteousness, and turn away from your transgressions by obedience to God." Have you no hope in Christ? speedily obtain one. "If we confess and forsake our sins, he is just and true to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." In the very day you seek him with all the heart he will be found of you.

Second. We must comply with the conditions on which the promise was made. Christ says, "Blessed are they that do His (the Father's) commandments (the condition of the inheritance given to Abraham) that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. xxii, 14. Then leave the trifles of earth. Come away. Why will you linger and die? While mercy lingers, why will you dally with the vanities of earth, and neglect the preparation for that rich inheritance which you may obtain?

Are you a christian, striving to obtain a rich reward with the faithful? Take courage, the kingdom will be cheap enough, though you may wade through seas of blood to obtain it. Contrast all your afflictions here with that "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" at the end of the race. Cease your murmurings, heaven is cheap enough. Remember, your trials here are only workmen sent to polish you, and fit you for your heavenly inheritance.

“Why should I murmur or repine at hardship, grief or loss? They only will the gold refine, and purge away the dross.”

God is displeased with murmuring christians. Look how he recompensed those who murmured in the wilderness. Paul has told us, "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured." Be as consistent in the heavenly way, as you are with temporal matters. Let the object of your pursuit spur you forward, and instead of murmuring at your lot, let your actions tell to all that you consider that object of greater value than worldly ease or pleasure. If some lord of earth should come to your town and advertise, saying, "Ho! every one that is in my hearing! Any man who will labor for me carrying wheat, shall receive a bushel of gold for every two bushels of wheat he will carry a mule," what a rush of people you would behold flocking to the scene of action, each anxious to get a burden to carry. Behold them loading themselves to the ground almost, with their heavy burdens. Why, the more load I take the more gold I shall get, and you know I can't go but once. See them trying their loads, and concluding they "can carry a little more." On they go. Down goes one. "Well," says another, "got too much load?" "Oh, no, I'll get along." Not a word of complaining among that company. The gold spurs them forward. Have you ever murmured? Stop and think. An "eternal weight of glory" is to be worked out by this suffering. What? Why, your "light affliction which is but for a moment, is working out for you an ETERNAL weight of glory." The more afflictions the heavier the glory. Well, I can carry a little more; for I have only to carry it a moment, (compared with eternity,) and Jesus says his grace is sufficient.

“The road may be rough, but it cannot be long, I'll smoothe it with hope, and I'll cheer it with song.”

Are you a minister of Christ, striving to lead the flock in the way of God's truth, and win souls to Christ? Toil on. "Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." He who has said, "Feed the flock of God," has also said, "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." Think often of the inheritance. No aching head, no hearts saddened then by opposition of men to God's truth. No fevered lungs worn with incessant labor; but there those who have turned many to righteousness "shall shine as the stars forever and ever." Toil on! and may we meet as fellow-laborers on mount Zion with the Lamb. Amen.