The Last Message

"It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth."

I have been really grappling with this and pondering this message lately.

Tonight I re-read this chapter, "To Meet the Bridegroom," from the book Christ Object Lessons. It looks at Matthew 25:1-13.

Wow!

I just feel like, "wow," pretty much sums up my experience.
I have just had a stripping away experience that has left me with a pretty clear conception of my lack.

I have not been falling upon the Rock and living broken.

It is such an interesting thing to be a living sacrifice. Yet, this is what we are called to. We are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). Dead sacrifices stay on the altar… When self is truly dead then I can live the alive, yet staying on the altar, experience.

As I read this chapter it was as if my heart was laid bare before the eyes of heaven. I have not been living the connected, abiding life.

How do I know? Well I will just ponder a couple concepts. The author pointed out that we are called, not to strive to shine to the dark world, we are urged to LET our light shine. It is a picture of the obstructions being removed so all can see the Glory of God clearly. Those who have Christ abiding in their hearts will shine forth His glory.

In the trial and in adversity the true character is revealed. I am all too aware that in the trial and in the moment of temptation what is revealed is an un-sanctified life.

I am not trusting Jesus. I worry and fret and don't rest and trust.

I don't have His joy abiding in my heart.

So when I go back to the top quote…

It is not just the world that is shrouded in the darkness of the misapprehension of God. It is my mind. My life is not a testimony to the truth, but to the darkness.

I have been living a lie.

But the truth is TRUTH, even when I have not been living it.

The Light WINS!!!

God is light (1John 1:5) in whom is NO darkness, at all. NONE!!!

The promise is available to me and to you and to the world… The light(2 Cor.4:6) has illumined our hearts. The knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus.

He has promised to finish (Philippians 1:6) the work He has begun,

To make all things new(Rev. 21:5).

Do I believe Him?

He says that it is His goodness that leads us to repentance(Romans 2:4).
So I am deciding to bask in light of His goodness. I am going to draw close, fall broken, surrender, lay aside my pride and take off my filthy robe and let Him clothe me in His righteousness. I want the truth!

I am going to lay claim to His promise. My need is my right to the Promise. He has promised that He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him, because he trusts in Him.

I am going to stay my mind, by His grace and by His power. I am going to abide so that I can receive the sap from the vine.

I want my mind to be lightened with the truth of the Glory of the goodness of God. I want the Truth of who He is to change my thinking and change my living so that He can use me as a vessel to pour His love thru onto a world that is hurting.

I am pleading with Him to take my life and use it to bear witness to the power He has to transform a life. I don't want to be used by the darkness and I don't want to testify to the darkness I want to testify to the LIGHT and to the TRUTH.

God is good. He is trustworthy. He is love. He is Light.
"But in our contemplation of Christ, we are only lingering round the edge of a love that is measureless. His love is like a vast ocean, without bottom or shore." Review and Herald May 6, 1902