Apri, 1, 1917 those who will be members of the body. He has a great plan that contemplates the overthrow of sin and the blessing of all the families of the earth; and he is now looking for a class who is in sympathy with all his plans and arrangements. He is seeking for those who would rather suffer death than violate his Word, or shrink from doing his will. This is our glorious position, and we are considering one who never made a mistake in carrying out the Father’s will. Yet he suffered as though he had made a great many serious mistakes. He suffered as a disloyal person, although he had always been loyal. The Jews declared that he had no patriotism at all, yet he was loyal to his own nation in every respect. As Jesus said, “They hated me without a cause.” HIS TEMPTATIONS SUBTLE Turn these things over in your mind! Consider him! This kind of suffering is necessary; for the Father would not be wise in exalting to such a high position any one who was not thoroughly loyal. He could not give even his own son the divine nature without a thorough testing. Our Lord, as a new creature, was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. He was not tempted as a fallen man or as a father; he was not tempted with liquor, etc. The temptations coming to the new creature are different from those which come to the sinner. Jesus was tempted to grow weary and faint in his mind. This was one of the ways through which special temptations from Satan were placed before him. Satan told our Lord that he would get rid of these difficulties if he would codperate with him and would avoid those things which would necessarily and surely come to him if he should continue in the way marked out by Jehovah. Our Lord’s answer was, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” Another temptation was to show the great power which he had received as a spirit-begotten Son, to use this power either to gratify his own natural appetite or to make a display before the people. So it is with those of us who may wish to do things in a showy way instead of in the humble way marked out for us. We may expect to have the same temptations that our Lord had. Therefore we should be on guard that we may prove loyal! to the Father. CHRIST CALLED TO SACRIFICE—“‘THE BODY’’ ALSO TO SACRIFICE “If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him.” The reason why the Father is so careful in making the selection of the church class, is that they are to reign. He could not take hypocrites or any disloyal ones or even careless ones to be rulers and teachers of the people in the coming kingdom. He would not select those who had first learned humility before he could use them to teach humility to others. God desires such a company of priests and judges to be associated with his Son for a thousand years in ruling and blessing the world as will prove faithful under all circumstances—those in whom he can place absolute confidence, who have been tested aud found faithful. This is the reason that he tests and proves during this Gospel age every one whom he will receive for that future work. The call of the Gospel age is, therefore, one to sacrifice. God does not hide this fact from us. He does not cali us to simply stand up and say that we wish to be followers of Jesus. No! Our Lord says, “If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” There ia no deception about the matter. If we have been deceived, it is our own fault, The Old Testament says the same thing: “Gather my saints together unto me; those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’ There is nothing hidden. Whoever would follow Jesus must prove his faithfulness by his willingness to sacrifice, In the past, false doctrines confused us; but now “we see Jesus”—we see what he accomplished, and how he endured without growing weary or giving up. It makes our course plain when we consider him. We sometimes say that we have not been careful enough in this’ or that matter, and have consequently made some mistakes, We can often find some fault in ourselves, thus demonstrating that we are partly to blame for our sufferings. But in our Lord’s case it was different. He received the slanders, the misrepresentation, and everything else that came against him, without having any fault in him at all. “He was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners,” still he endured. We, though following in his footsteps, have not as much to endure as had the Master. THE OUTCOME OF OUR FAITHFUL ENDURANCE We are also to consider the outcome. While the Father let Jesus die on the cross as a malefactor, yet he did not let THE WATCH TOWER (100-101) our Lord go permanently, but kept his promise to raise him from the dead. We have the promise that, as the Father raised Jesus from the dead, so also will he raise those up who are found worthy by being faithful unto death. In raising up Jesus the Father has given us q testimony to his faithfulness. In the case of Jesus, no one had set him an example. It was all by faith with him; none had gone before. With us it is different. Besides, we have not so much to lose as had our Lord. However, if we trust God, he is faithful to keep us and to do what he has promised—to raise us up with our Head. Consider what great things God has done for his Son. Consider also that he has promised us a share in our Lord’s glory if we be found faithful. It is amazing—almost beyond conception! Unless God had made it plain, I fear that I would not be able to receive it. If he had said it but once, I might have doubted it; but since he has stated it over and over again in so many ways as to remove all grounds for doubt, J must believe it. How wonderful it seems! Consider him! Consider that God has highly exalted him! Consider what a great privilege has been afforded us of walking in his footsteps, especially as our lives are so imperfect, so unsatisfactory even to ourselves, and as life is all that we have to give. What a thought that God will count our little sacrifice as a part of that which Jesus gave! We are to be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed at the last time.” Then to think that we are in the last time now! We are right at the close of the age. The new dispensation is opening all around us, and the great majority of the people are so bewildered that they do not know what to make of the wonderful things of our day. “None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10) The Lord’sa true people are the only ones who have a correct understanding of these things. How carefully the people of God, therefore, should weigh their thoughts and deeds! “Seeing that these [present] things are to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God! . . . According to his promise we look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless” in his sight. ‘Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware leat, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”—2 Peter 3:13-18, CLOSING EXHOERTATION In view of what we see ahead of us as sharers with Jesus of his glory, honor and immortality, we should be leading holy lives. We should be living in the future rather than in the past. Do not think too much of the past. Let us not live in the past and dwell upon our mistakes and shortcomings, and thus be cast down; but let us believe that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) And we should have such an appreciation of these mercies and blessings of forgiveness as to show it forth in our conduct, Let us give heed more and more to the suggestion of our text, and consider him whom the Father has so greatly exalted—so highly exalted. Let us remember that he has called us with the same high and heavenly calling and has promised to help us all the way through! If we remember this, we shall cease to be weary and faint and shall become strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; we shall go on from grace to grace, from glory to glory; we shall be transformed by the renewing of our minds, more and more proving what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Then, finally, we shall attain unto the glorious things which he has in reservation for those who love him more than parents, or children, or self, or any other person or thing. “Hold on thy way with hope unchilied, By -faith and not by sight; And thou shalt own his Word fulfilled— At eve it shall be light.” [6065]
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